It may have taken a couple of days for the second semifinals series (Seattle Storm vs. Minnesota Lynx) to finally get going. But when it did, it was a treat for WNBA fans.
The WNBA moved Game 1 up from Sunday to Tuesday out of concerns related to inconclusive Covid-19 testing, but it was then determined that all players for the Storm were cleared to play for Game 1 of the semifinal contest.
It was a welcome relief as it created many concerns that perhaps the wubble had burst. In addition, lost in the hoopla over the news regarding the tests was that it was the first game back for Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart after suffering injuries that sidelined them for a few games during the regular season.
Seattle is the favorite, but Minnesota did not look like an underdog. The Lynx had a one-point, 81-80 lead with 2:37 to play and it was tied at 86 after a layup from Napheesa Collier. Then β Alysha Clark stepped up to play hero for the Storm.
“As exciting as the end of that game was, as exciting as it is to have sports back on tv, our main goal is to get people registered to vote.” π£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈ
– @Alysha_Clark pic.twitter.com/oh3fcCR4KN
β Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 23, 2020
π πππ ππππ πππππππ ππππ πππ ππππ πππππ π@Alysha_Clark #StrongerThanEver pic.twitter.com/bjZDANCVMo
β Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 23, 2020
DAMIRIS DANTAS YA’LL!!!!! pic.twitter.com/JmIP6wVD2E
β Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 23, 2020
Playoff Phee pic.twitter.com/yyivRxkJhd
β Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 23, 2020
Playoff Phee certainly has a better ring to than Playoffβ¦well, you know. And she actually earned her nickname β 25 points, nine rebounds. It was a 19-point, five assist outing for Odyssey Sims. Bridget Carleton contributed 14 points, four assists and two steals and Damiris Dantas scored 11 with eight rebounds and four steals.
Jewell Loyd led the Storm with 25 points, six rebounds and four assists. Breanna Stewart scored 21 with 10 rebounds. Alysha Clark had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists (and the game-winner). Sue Bird added 11 with eight assists and Natasha Howard tallied 10.
The M’VP doing M’VP things.@_ajawilson22 tied @BeckyHammon with a franchise playoff-high 29 points while adding 7 rebounds, and tying a career-high 7 blocks.#ALLIN β¦οΈβ οΈ pic.twitter.com/FpSOAYPlGW
β Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 23, 2020
When the Connecticut Sun thrashed the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1, it had to provide a shock to many that tabbed Vegas as the the favorite going into its series.
It was a clear sign that the Sun were not intimidated by the Aces (and its litany of regular season awards). But Las Vegas has one of the Wβs premier coaches in Bill Laimbeer, so one knew the Aces would make adjustments.
Unfortunately for Connecticut, they were hampered by what looked to be a shoulder injury to one of its best players in Alyssa Thomas. It was an ailment that clearly caught up to the Sun as the game reached its closing moments as they could not get out of their own way with turnovers.
Add in the fact that the MVP looked like the MVP (Aβja Wilson scored 29, brought in seven rebounds, dished out three assists and rejected seven Connecticut tries) and one has an 83-75 Game 2 victory for Las Vegas.
DID NOT QUIT π€
π₯ from tonight’s win over the Sun@_ajawilson22: 29 PTS // 7 REB / 7 BLK@angel_35: 11 PTS // 3 AST // 2 STL@kaymac_2123: 11 PTS // 4 REB@dearicamarie: 11 PTS // 3 REB@justDROB: 9 PTS // 3 REB // 4 AST@JackieYoung3: 8 PTS // 5 REB // 5 AST#ALLIN β¦οΈβ οΈ pic.twitter.com/4Y5NtmpeyH
β Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 23, 2020
.@BriannJanuary came to work tonight!#SUNState pic.twitter.com/J4def1sXaA
β Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 23, 2020
.@BriannJanuary came to work tonight!#SUNState pic.twitter.com/J4def1sXaA
β Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 23, 2020
Kayla McBride, Dearica Hamby and Angel McCoughtry all scored 11 points.
DeWanna Bonner led Connecticut with 23 points with Briann January adding 20. Jasmine Thomas and Brionna Jones each scored 10 points.
