Semis not short on enticing storylines

WNBA PLAYOFFS

Finals rematch, star power among the plots to follow

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Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart will lead the top-seeded Liberty against the two-time defending league champion Aces in the WNBA semifinals, which begin Sunday. The teams played in last year’s Finals. The other semi pits the Lynx against the Sun. Adam Hunger/ap

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By Doug Feinberg Associated Press

NEW YORK — Top players, a quest for a three-peat and two franchises looking for their first championships highlight the WNBA semifinals that begin Sunday.

The Aces will face the Liberty in a WNBA Finals rematch from last season while the Sun play the Lynx in the other series.

The Aces, led by unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson, are looking to become the first team since the now-defunct Comets to win three titles in a row while the Liberty are trying for a measure of revenge against the Aces after losing last year.

The Lynx were the dominant team last decade, winning four titles in a seven-year span from 2011-2017. They haven’t reached the WNBA Finals since. The Sun have reached the championship round twice since the Lynx’s run, but lost both times.

The Sun and Liberty are both looking for the first championship in franchise history.

Liberty vs. Aces

Season series: The Liberty swept the three games, although the Aces played without Wilson in the last meeting in New York.

Marquee matchup: Wilson and Breanna Stewart. They’re two of the best women’s basketball players in the world and have shined in the postseason throughout their careers. Wilson raised her game to another level this year averaging a WNBA-record 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds during the regular season to earn MVP honors for the third time. Stewart averaged 20.4 points and had more help on the offensive end with the increased play of Sabrina Ionescu.

X-factors: Liberty players have said all season that they’re more connected this year after playing as a unit last season for the first time. They added rookie Leonie Fiebich to the mix and she was stellar throughout the regular season. The 6-foot-4 wing gives the Liberty more size and shooting. The Aces added Tiffany Hayes in the middle of the season, convincing her to come out of retirement. She earned The AP’s Sixth Woman of the Year honors.

Home-court advantage: The Liberty captured the No. 1 seed this year and will play the first two games at home in the best-of-five series. Last season in the Finals, the Liberty had to go to Las Vegas and returned home facing elimination. The Liberty had a boisterous crowd all season at Barclays Center and games have become the in-place to be for some celebrities.

Lynx vs. Sun

Season series: The Sun won two of the three games, although each matchup was competitive. The Sun won in overtime in May and then by five in July. The Lynx walked away with a key two-point win during the last week of the regular season to secure the No. 2 seed.

Marquee matchup: Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas. Collier raised her play in the first round of the playoffs, averaging 40 points in the two wins over the Mercury. She tied the WNBA record with a 42-point effort in the clincher on Wednesday night. She anchors the Lynx’s defense and was The AP Defensive Player of the Year. Thomas has always lifted her play in the playoffs and this year has been no different. She had her fourth postseason triple-double in the opening win over the Fever and then had 19 points and 13 assists in the clincher.

X-factors: The winner of the series may come down to which former Notre Dame guard plays the best, Kayla McBride or Marina Mabrey. The Sun added Mabrey via trade before the Olympic break. She provides them with another consistent outside shooter. McBride has been steady for the Lynx since joining the team in 2021.

Key stat: The Lynx have been the best team in the league when it comes to sharing the basketball. They led the WNBA with 23 assists per game in the regular season. They averaged 29 a contest in their sweep of the Mercury.