WNBA playoffs: Round 1 recap

The route to the 2024 WNBA Finals continues as Round 2 of the WNBA postseason began on Sunday, Sept. 29.

All teams who advanced in the first round did so by sweeping their opponents in two games.

Let’s recap Round 1.

Round 1

Round 1 includes the top eight teams in the league regardless of divisions. They play a best-of-three-game series.

No. 1 New York Liberty vs. No. 8 Atlanta Dream

Sabrina Ionescu. The guard in her fifth year with the Liberty tied a franchise record scoring 36 points helping her team sweep the Dream. Ionescu also went a perfect 11-of-11 at the free throw line in Round 1.

Entering the fourth quarter in Game 2, the Liberty held a one-point lead and were able to extend it throughout the quarter, emerging with the 91-82 victory.

Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard scored a combined 45 points in Game 2 and fought throughout the fourth quarter to keep the Dream in the game.

The Liberty lost in the Finals last year and are working their hardest to make it back this year and take home the trophy.

No. 4 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm

The Aces swept the Storm, courtesy of three-time league MVP A’ja Wilson. She scored 45 points for her team in Round 1.

She set a WNBA record, recording 20 points and at least 10 rebounds in 13 playoff games.

Struggling early on in Game 1, making one of her first six shots, she finished the game 9-of-17.

The Storm held Kelsey Plum, Aces guard, to just two points in Game 1, but she was able to find offensive footing in Game 2, scoring 29.

The Aces took Game 2 83-76 after winning Game 1 78-67.

No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 7 Phoenix Mercury

Napheesa Collier took home the 2024 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Not just a defensive weapon, she scored 38 points, her playoff high, in Game 1 moving the Lynx to a 102-95 victory.

Collier further etched her name into WNBA history becoming the first player with 38-plus points in back-to-back playoff games.

A WNBA record was also set as she recorded 80 points, the most in a two-game playoff stretch.

The Lynx continued to shut down the Mercury’s offense, winning Game 2, 101-88.

No. 3 Connecticut Sun vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever

DiJonai Carrington, winner of the league’s Most Improved Player award, along with Alyssa Thomas helped lead the Sun to a Round 1 sweep of the Fever.

Thomas dished out 13 assists in both Round 1 games.

Caitlin Clark struggled in Game 1 of the playoffs scoring just 11 points and the 2024 Rookie of the Year did not make it out of the first round.

Fellow No. 1 draft pick for the Fever in the 2023 draft, Aaliyah Boston helped the Fever offensively recording 33 points in Round 1.

Ultimately, the defense of the Sun shut down the Fever.

The Sun won Game 1 93-69 and Game 2 87-81.

Julia Henry is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism and labor and human resources, to contact her please email jbh6443@psu.edu.