Friday night was a reminder game, with the back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces, despite a No. 4 seed and an 0-2 hole, reminding the WNBA world that taking them down will be quite the task. Will they do it again, winning a 13th-straight home playoff game to force a Game 5? Or, can the No. 1-seed New York Liberty show that, as the season’s best team, they’re ready to take down the title-holding titans on the road?

The next chapter of Liberty-Aces tips off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 6 (ABC).

What’s the Liberty’s Sab strategy?

In Game 3, the Aces’ top defensive priority was obvious: shut down Sabrina Ionescu. Vegas certainly succeeded in doing so, preventing the fifth-year guard from getting off, much less sinking, her 3-point espresso shots that have proved powerful sources of positive momentum for the Liberty throughout the postseason. Ionescu managed just seven total shot attempts, and only two 3-point attempts, as she mostly was relegated to bystander status on the offensive end because of the Aces’ aggressive blitzes.

New York, however, also employs the top assisting point guard in WNBA postseason history in Courtney Vandersloot. Albeit still limited to 20 minutes of playing time in Game 3, Sloot had her highest usage game of the postseason, totaling her most shot attempts and assists in a 2024 playoff game. Will head coach Sandy Brondello seek to utilize her more in Game 4, including when Ionescu is on the floor? While extended stretches of a Vandersloot-Ionescu backcourt would weaken New York’s perimeter defense, Vandersloot’s creation could help Ionescu get loose for scoring opportunities.

Or, Brondello and the Liberty might choose to continue to have Ionescu serve as a decoy. Believing that the the Aces again will direct defensive attention to Ionescu, the Liberty can try to generate more scoring chances for Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich. Each of those players took just eight shots in Game 3. That strategy, along with riding the Breanna Stewart tough-shot express, could result in New York putting enough points on the board, despite Vegas’ increased defensive intensity.

A Tip for the Aces?

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Defense, with a maximum attention to detail and desire, again will be key for the home team. Led by the unstoppable A’ja Wilson, it’s easy trust the Aces’ offense. Every Vegas player again must follow Wilson’s example on defense: smart helping, sharp rotations and clear communication.

It will be interesting to see if head coach Becky Hammon has her squad employ the same Ionescu-centric defensive strategy that, as discussed above, New York surely will be prepared to more effectively counter. Or, have Hammon and company cooked up something else to throw off the top-ranked Liberty offense? Can Vegas again use their lack of size to their advantage, leveraging their speed and aggression in ways that disrupts a bigger, yet slower, New York team?

Possibly, Hammon gives more time to Tiffany Hayes. The recently-named Sixth Player of the Year saw 16 minutes in Game 3, her fewest minutes of the postseason. In that time, she made the kind of plays that Vegas will need in Game 4, grabbing three boards, tossing a pair of assists and nabbing two steals, along with scoring 11 points. Hayes possesses elite, game-changing athleticism that can cause problems for the Liberty on both ends of the floor. She has successfully defended Ionescu, bothering her with quickness and aggression. If New York puts the ball in Vandersloot’s hands more often, Hayes could overwhelm the smaller, veteran point guard. Offensively, no New York defender can keep Hayes out of the paint. Her ability to break the paint to score at the basket or kick out to a teammate can cause the disciplined Liberty defense to scramble.

In short, Tip Hayes could tip the game in Vegas’ favor.

It’s Stew’ja time!

Of course, in the end, the result could come down to the two best players in the world: Wilson and Stewart. Who sinks the tough shots? Who secures the timely rebound? Who makes the unexpected weakside block? Who finds a teammate for a crucial basket? And on and on.

In the biggest games, the best players rise to the occasion. Nothing less is expected of A’ja and Stewie. A’ja and the Aces are fighting for their basketball lives, intent upon extending this series to a Game 5 and preserving their three-peat dreams. Stewie and the Liberty want to finish the job, extinguishing any lingering demons that might emerge with a Game 5 back in New York.

Game information

No. 1-seed New York Liberty (2-1) vs. No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces (1-2)

When: Sunday, Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, NV

How to watch: ABC

Liberty injury report: none

Aces injury report: Kiah Stokes (out; concussion)

On Friday night, the No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx established some separation from the No. 3-seed Connecticut Sun, winning Game 3 of their semifinal series, 90-81.

Across the three regular-season games between the two teams, the Sun had outscored the Lynx by a mere four points. Through the first two playoff games, the Lynx had just a four-point edge. Does Friday night’s rather commanding Minnesota win suggest that the Lynx have cracked Connecticut? Or, will the Sun re-establish the competitive equilibrium between the two squads?

Game 4 tips off on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena (ESPN2).

Minnesota is nice

Since the Sun rumbled into Target Center last Sunday and stole Game 1 from the Lynx, Minnesota has been the more aggressive team, not just matching, but exceeding, Connecticut’s signature intensity. Quite possibly, head coach Cheryl Reeve’s reported confrontation with Sun players after Game 1 inspired her team to take things to another level.

Or, maybe Minnesota is just the better, more balanced team? After a pair of quiet scoring outings in the first two games, Napheesa Collier put on an MV-Phee performance in Game 3, with the DPOY displaying her enviably well-rounded game. Courtney Williams, who spent two previous stints with the Sun, has gotten her midrange game going, with back-to-back efficient scoring games. Alanna Smith has shown off the skills that earned her a first All-Defensive honor, leading the playoffs with 12 total blocks. Myisha Hines-Allen has brought her brand of bully ball from off the bench. And Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton, while both playing solid ball, have yet to unleash a bonkers 3-point shooting show.

Add up how all these players complement each other in Reeve’s systems, forming an efficient offensive machine that thrives on ball movement and a connected defense capable of matching Connecticut’s physicality, and it becomes easy to envision Minnesota again proving themselves superior on Sunday, punching the franchise’s first ticket to the WNBA Finals since 2017.

Can Connecticut come back?

Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images

Of course, it’s unwise to think that Connecticut will go down without a knockdown, drag-out fight. This organization, led by the Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones core, desperately seeks its first title. And even if the Sun’s depth is not equal to that of the Lynx, Connecticut sports a strong supporting cast, highlighted by the strapping defense of Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington and the ignitable offense of Marina Mabrey.

Both players must come to play on Sunday. Along with disruptive defense, Carrington has to contribute efficient offense. A hot 3-point shooting afternoon, in particular, would be desirable, as Carrington is shooting just 22.2 percent from deep in the playoffs. After an off night in Game 3, Mabrey must rediscover her scoring sizzle, where her tough shotmaking is punctuated by timely buckets that stunt any Minnesota momentum.

Connecticut could also use something extra from Veronica Burton or Ty Harris. Neither can be afraid to be aggressive on the offensive end. While Thomas and Bonner can be counted on to captain an all-out defensive effort, the Sun can still suffer through scoring droughts. That’s where a few fearless baskets from Burton and Harris could make a big difference.

After Game 3, head coach Stephanie White suggested the Sun “got outplayed, outexecuted and outcoached.” It will not be surprising if the Sun turn the tables in Game 4, leaving Reeve ready to charge into her own team’s locker room as the series heads back to Minneapolis for a Game 5.

Game information

No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx (2-1) vs. No. 3-seed Connecticut Sun (1-2)

When: Sunday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. ET

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT

How to watch: ESPN2

Lynx injury report: none

Sun injury report: Tiffany Mitchell (out; illness)

The WNBA semifinal series between the No. 1-seed New York Liberty and No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces shifts tonight. The Liberty have played on their home court for every playoff game so far this postseason, and as they head to Las Vegas for Game 3 against the Aces, the stakes are higher than ever. The game tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

After meeting in the WNBA Finals last season, these two teams have encountered each other earlier than expected. It’s a very different dynamic this time around, though. The Liberty won all three regular season games over the Aces, and then came into this series and won the first two games. They will now have three chances to end this series and secure another trip to the Finals.

The more interesting part of Game 3 is that the Aces are facing elimination. While they’ve certainly had a tougher season in 2024, a sweep at the hands of their rival would be a big surprise. Yet, they’ve struggled against the Liberty all season.

Here are some things to think about going into Game 3:

Sabrina Ionescu’s been on fire

One thing Vegas needs to think about going into Game 3 is trying to slow down Sabrina Ionescu. The Liberty’s No. 1 draft pick from 2020 has been absolutely lethal during the playoffs. She has scored 21 and 24 points in the first two games of the semifinals, and her defense has been excellent.

It seems like the Aces can’t keep track of Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones at the same time. One of them is always cooking, and when two are—danger!

Ionescu is highly motivated and will bring that energy right into Vegas. The crowd won’t be with her though, so she will have to dig deep to produce those results.

A’ja Wilson can’t do it all

Of course. A’ja Wilson was the unanimous MVP. But she can’t win a championship alone. The Liberty have done decently well at defending her, not letting her get to her normal 25-plus points per game. Still, her impact on both sides of the ball can’t be denied.

Kelsey Plum contributed in Game 1, but Chelsea Gray has not looked herself in this series, and Jackie Young is apparently fighting an undisclosed injury. With Kiah Stokes probably our for the rest of this series after suffering a concussion in Game 2, the Aces will have to go deeper into their bench.

Surprisingly, despite the struggles in the frontcourt, Becky Hammon hasn’t gone to Megan Gustafson yet. She likely will see some minutes with Stokes out in Game 3. Regardless, A’ja’s teammates need to step up if this team is going to survive to a Game 4.

Sweet revenge is brewing

Spooky season is upon us? The Liberty sure have looked spooky this playoff series. After the devastating loss in the Finals last year, New York has been waiting for this moment. If this series win comes as a sweep, their confidence would be at an all-time high heading into the Finals.

They have three chances to clinch the series, and it would be surprising to see this Aces team beat this Liberty team three games in a row. Still, the playoffs are where anything can happen.

Game information

No. 1-seed New York Liberty (2-0) vs. No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces (0-2)

When: Friday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET

Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, NV

How to watch: ESPN2

Liberty injury report: none

Aces injury report: Kiah Stokes (out; concussion)

From 11-29 and an 11th-place finish in 2023 to 25-15 and a fifth-place finish in 2024. Sounds like a successful season, right?

A win percentage of better than 60 percent, a top-five defense and two 2024 All-Stars (as well as two All-Star snubs and, down the stretch, the French Olympic hero), yet not a single playoff victory. That sounds like a bit of a disappointment, no?

The 2024 Seattle Storm are a conundrum. Their offseason additions—Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith—helped the team quickly escape the league’s cellar and re-emerge as a surefire playoff team, making it easy to see their season as a success. But, the lack of a postseason victory, combined with some subpar performances over the season’s final stretch, cannot be considered adequate for a team on the edge of the “superteam” conversation. They were the forgotten contenders that forgot to win a playoff game.

Was 2024 merely a mixed bag of a first season for a star-laden team that will cohere into contender in 2025? Or, did this season prove that the revitalized Storm don’t quite have what it takes to be a true title threat?

What went right for Seattle?

No doubts about Nneka

Unsurprisingly, Nneka Ogwumike was excellent in her first season outside of Los Angeles. New team, same Nneka.

In her first season in Seattle, Ogwumike was efficient on offense and impactful on defense. She averaged nearly 17 points per game, just above her career average. While almost matching her career high in 3-point attempts per game (2.0), she did sink a career-best 40.5 percent from behind the arc. The Storm’s offense was at its best with Ogwumike on the court, registering a team-high 104.9 offensive rating. For the season, the Storm outscored opponents by 223 points in Ogwumike’s minutes, the best mark on the team. Her 7.6 boards per game were a notch ahead of her career norm, while she matched her career best with 1.9 steals per game. Those stats, in combination with her intangible defensive intelligence, contributed to the seventh All-Defensive honor of her career.

Skylar’s still got it

More questions surrounded the Storm’s other splashy offseason addition: Skylar Diggins-Smith. Last time she was on the court, she was playing the best basketball of her career. But, that was in Aug. 2022, before she gave birth to her second child and entered her mid-30s. As a small point guard, any loss of oomph would make her less effective.

Diggins-Smith, however, assuaged any worries, progressively finding her All-WNBA-caliber form over the course of the season. After the Olympic break, she was sensational as a scorer, averaging 18.5 points per game. For the season, she tallied a career-best 6.5 assists per game. She also set a career high with 1.7 steals. Her 8.2 net rating only trailed that of Ogwumike (9.1).

What went wrong for Seattle?

Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images

Jewell didn’t sparkle

In 2023, Jewell Loyd authored a career year, carrying a Storm team that otherwise struggled to put points on the board. She led the WNBA in scoring, not only scoring 24.7 points per game but also totaling a then-record 939 points. She fired up 8.5 3s per game, while also getting to the line for 7.5 free throws per game, both of which were career bests. Her 31.5 percent usage rate also was the highest of her career. And, she did all that despite struggling through nagging injuries.

It’s no wonder that she was exhausted, with that load possibly hampering her ability to be at her best in 2024.

Loyd’s shot eluded her for most of the season, as she shot a career-low 36.0 percent from the field. Her 27.4 percent from 3 was her poorest mark since her rookie season. Even as Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith alleviated her offensive responsibilities, Loyd never reached peak Gold Mamba-dom. Late-season knee troubles, which caused her to miss the final three games of the regular season, sapped her effectiveness in the postseason, as she scored six and nine points in the Storm’s two playoff games.

No one, however, thinks this is the player Jewell Loyd now is. Look out for the Gold Mamba revenge tour in 2025.

End-of-season swoon

Although Loyd’s struggles might be explainable, Seattle’s team-wide issues after the Olympic break are more puzzling.

Ahead of the All-Star break, the Storm appeared to be finding their groove. In seven July games, they were 5-2 with a net rating of 13.4, the byproduct of their best monthly offensive (106.9) and defensive (93.5) ratings. Yet, following the resumption of play in mid-August, the Storm’s momentum had evaporated. They finished 8-7 over the final 15 games, registering a barely positive net rating of 0.7 as their offense cooled (101.3) and their defense lost its edge (100.7)

Instead of peaking at the right time, Seattle sputtered, with slight statistical degradations across the board adding up to significant slippage. Considering Seattle is a veteran team, equipped with some of the league’s greatest leaders, their inability to rediscover their focus and form is confounding.

What’s next for the Storm?

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Quinn it to win it?

In four seasons as head coach of the Storm, Noelle Quinn has had a wide spectrum of experiences. In 2021, she assumed control of the defending champs, only to have the team’s repeat hopes derailed by a late-season injury to Breanna Stewart. 2022 was the swan-song season for Sue Bird, as well as Stewart’s last year in Seattle. Last season, with Bird and Stewart departed, was a rebuilding one. And in 2024, the arrival of Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith brought high expectations back to the team.

Those up and downs and twists and turns seemingly should situate Quinn in a solid position; because she’s seen a lot in her short head coaching tenure, she’s prepared to navigate any storms Seattle might confront has they strive for the franchise’s fifth championship.

Yet, with the WNBA’s rebuilding teams demonstrating impatience with head coaches since the end of the 2024 regular season, it wouldn’t be surprising if Seattle, rather than seeing Quinn’s track record as a positive, is enticed by change and what could be. That Curt Miller is available is particularly interesting. After playing under Miller during her final season in LA, would Ogwumike vouch for him as an upgrade? Miller, of course, found success with another veteran-laden, defense-first team in the Connecticut Sun before his two-season stint with the Sparks.

Is Gabby gone? What about Nneka?

Gabby Williams (refreshingly) refuses to sugarcoat things when it comes to the financial inadequacies of the WNBA. Asked in her exit interview about her future in the league, she emphasized that the money will matter. After noting that no player has received the lucrative compensation trumpeted by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Williams asserted:

So it’s still not enough for us international players to want to stay here. And that’s a choice of the players. If I make a choice to make more money, whatever, and then teams are mad that I don’t come back, but that’s how it is.

The Storm will be waiting on Williams’ decision. If she decides it is worth it for her to return to the W, the organization should be willing to offer as generous a contract as possible. An athletic, versatile two-way wing, Williams profiles as the perfect fifth starter alongside Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, Loyd and Ezi Magbegor.

Seattle also has to hope that Ogwumike remains part of that starting core. Last offseason, she inked only a one-year contract. After spending 12 season in Los Angeles, it would be surprising if Ogwumike sought another new WNBA home after just a single season in Seattle. Still, the Storm should not be at ease until she is under contract through the 2025 season.

Mercedes Russell, Sami Whitcomb, Victoria Vivians and Joyner Holmes also are unrestricted free agents. Trying to retain Russell on a value contract should be part of the Storm’s plans, although the 6-foot-6 backup center might try to find an opportunity that offers more playing time. Otherwise, the Storm should look to take advantage of a frothy free agent market as they aim to build up a more reliable reserve unit for 2025.