NY Liberty and Las Vegas Aces sweep first round, will meet in the semis

The GIST: Front office shake ups aside, all is going as expected in the WNBA, with two higher seeded-squads clinching their semis spots last night and the remaining two berths on the line tonight — pass the milk, it’s going to be spicy.

No. 1 NY Liberty launch comeback against No. 8 Atlanta Dream, sweep series: Atlanta’s Allisha Gray made things interesting, but NY’s Sabrina Ionescu (36 points, a playoff career high) and double-double queen Jonquel Jones entertained the star-studded Brooklyn crowd, leading NY’s second-half surge in a 91–82 win over the Dream.

Two-time defending champ No. 4 Las Vegas Aces clinch sixth straight semis appearance: Despite a strong night from the No. 5 Seattle Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike (pronounced NEH-kah Oh-GWOO-mih-kay), the Aces’ Kelsey Plum netted 29 points and superstar A’ja Wilson did gilded M’VP things, dropping a double-double of her own, in Vegas’ 83–76 win.

• That sets up an Aces vs. Liberty semi beginning this weekend, a rematch of last year’s super-squad WNBA Finals, which Vegas won in four games. Clash of the titans, reloading.

No. 3 Connecticut Sun one win away from knocking out No. 6 Indiana Fever: Fever star Caitlin Clark’s rookie season may end the same way it started: with a loss to the Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, so long as Alyssa Thomas’ experienced Connecticut squad can keep the dynamic rook at bay again tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. One thing’s for sure: millions will be watching.

No. 7 Phoenix Mercury (down 1-0) fighting to extend Diana Taurasi’s career: Though the GOAT’s remained tight-lipped about her possible retirement, tonight’s 9:30 p.m. ET Game 2 vs. Napheesa Collier and the No. 2 Minnesota Lynx could be the last time the 20-year vet takes the floor. Pop that corn and pass the tissues.