The WNBA playoffs semifinals are officially here, and the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces are back in action, kicking things off Sunday against the Golden State Valkyries. But get this: the No. 8 seed New York Liberty, fresh off a major upset, are also hitting the court, facing the No. 4 Atlanta Dream. It’s a doubleheader, baby, and it’s going to be wild.
Liberty vs. Dream: The Upset Special?
Okay, so the Liberty might be the No. 8 seed, but after what they did in the first round against the Minnesota Lynx, people are starting to *believe*. Lindsay Gibbs, one of the experts, said watching them was like wiping a smudge off her glasses, like, “Oh right, *this* is what championship contenders look like!” She’s got the Liberty winning in five games. Maloney, another expert, picked them for the title before the season even started and he’s back in, going with the Liberty in four. He says they’ve always had the talent, even without Satou Sabally, and now they’ve got this newfound focus and cohesion.
Atlanta is a tough draw, though. The Dream are big, they’re athletic, and they took the regular season series 2-1 against New York. Those last two games were pretty easy wins for Atlanta, but Maloney is hesitant to read too much into it. Breanna Stewart, the Liberty’s absolute star, sat out one of those games, and the Dream had way more to play for. The X-factor for New York is Leonie Fiebich, who barely scored in those back-to-back losses. She’s gotta hit a couple of 3-pointers a game to open things up. This series is going to be physical, no doubt, but the Liberty have the best player on the court in Stewart and that championship experience you need to close out clutch games.
What’s Next for the Finals Push
Sunday isn’t just a one-off, either. Game 2 of both these best-of-five series goes down on Wednesday, with Game 3s following fast on Friday. If we need them, Game 4s are scheduled for October 11, and the whole thing could come down to a Game 5 on October 14. This is for all the marbles, a spot in the WNBA Finals. You know the Aces want to defend their title, and the Valkyries aren’t going to make it easy. But honestly, the No. 8 Liberty making a real push for the Finals? That’s the story we’re all watching unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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