WNBA FINALS: BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES
Game 3: Seattle Wins Fourth WNBA Championship
The Seattle Storm are the 2020 WNBA champions after defeating the Las Vegas Aces 92-59 in Game 3 on Tuesday to complete a three-game sweep. Breanna Stewart finished with 26 points and was named Finals MVP for the second time in her career, with series averages of 28.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 63% shooting. The Storm’s fourth title (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) puts them even with the Minnesota Lynx (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and Houston Comets (1997-2000) for the most championships in WNBA history. Sue Bird becomes the 10th player to have four titles with a record 16 years separating her first and fourth.
Game Detail / Analysis
- Game Recap: Storm Win 4th Title
- Five Takeaways From Game 3
- Social Recap: Storm Become 2020 WNBA Champions
- Video Box Score: Storm 92, Aces 59
Game 3 Video Highlights
Game 2: Balanced Effort Leads Storm to 104-91 Win, 2-0 Series Lead
The Seattle Storm are one win away from capturing their fourth WNBA championship in franchise history after winning Game 2 over the Las Vegas Aces 104-91 on Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead. Seattle’s 104 points are the most scored in the 2020 WNBA Playoffs and they set a WNBA Finals record with 33 assists on 40 field goals made. Breanna Stewart scored a game-high 22 points, while Alysha Clark and Natasha Howard added 21 apiece to lead a balanced Seattle offense. Las Vegas was led by A’ja Wilson’s 20 points, and got 17 apiece from Angel McCoughtry and Emma Cannon.
Game 1: Stewart, Bird, Loyd Lead Storm To 93-80 Win
The Seattle Storm defeated the Las Vegas Aces 93-80 in Game 1 of the 2020 WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV behind a pair of record-setting performances. Sue Bird broke the WNBA Finals and WNBA Playoffs record with 16 assists, while Breanna Stewart became the first player to ever post at least 35 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals game. Her 37 points are the second-most in Finals history. Jewell Loyd added 28 points as the Storm withstood a third-quarter Aces rally to take Game 1. A’ja Wilson had 19 points in her Finals debut, while Angel McCoughtry added 20 on 5-6 shooting from three.
SEMIFINALS: BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES
Aces Outlast Sun to Advance to WNBA Finals
MVP A’ja Wilson scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Las Vegas Aces to a hard-fought 66-63 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 5 of their Semifinal series. The Aces advance to their second WNBA Finals in franchise history (2008 in San Antonio), and first since moving to Las Vegas. The Aces will meet the Storm in the best-of-five WNBA Finals in a matchup of the top two teams in the WNBA all season long with both teams going 18-4 on the season. Game 1 is Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 pm ET on ESPN2.
Series Recap
- Game 1: CON 87, LVA 62: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
- Game 2: LVA 83, CON 75: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
- Game 3: CON 77, LVA 68: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
- Game 4: LVA 84, CON 75: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
- Game 5: LVA 66, CON 63: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
Storm Complete Sweep, Advance To WNBA Finals
The Seattle Storm are headed back to the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history after completing a thee-game sweep of Minnesota on Sunday. Breanna Stewart finished with 31 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks, while Sue Bird added 16 points and 9 assists in Seattle’s 92-71 win to clinch the series. Stewart and Bird both missed all of 2019 when the Storm defended their 2018 title. With both players healthy in 2020, the Storm are three wins away from the championship.
Series Recap
- Game 1: SEA 88, MIN 86: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
- Game 2: SEA 89, MIN 79: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
- Game 3: SEA 92, MIN 71: Recap | Box Score | Highlights
SECOND ROUND: SINGLE-ELIMINATION
Strong Second Half Leads Lynx Past Mercury and Into Semifinals
Damaris Dantas scored a playoff career-high 22 points, and Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half as Minnesota rallied from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Phoenix 80-79 in their Second Round single elimination game . The Mercury – who were led by Diana Taurasi with 28 points – had a chance with the final shot in the closing seconds, but Skylar Diggins-Smith’s 3-pointer was off target. The Lynx advance to Semifinals, where they will face No. 2 seed Seattle, the team that eliminated Minnesota in last year’s first round.
Game Details
Sun Eliminate Sparks Again, Advance to Semifinals
Alyssa Thomas (19 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL) and DeWanna Bonner (17 PTS, 13 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK) led the No. 7 Sun to a 73-59 win over the No. 3 Sparks as Connecticut eliminated Los Angeles from the postseason for the second consecutive year. The Sun went on a 15-0 run in the first quarter to take an 11-point lead and never trailed again. The Sparks closed the gap to six points late in the second quarter, but never got closer, as the league’s top 3-point shooting team shot just 2-18 from deep. The Sun advance to the Semifinals, where they will face No. 1 seed Las Vegas.
Game Details
Video Highlights
FIRST ROUND: SINGLE-ELIMINATION
Shey Peddy’s Buzzer-Beating Three Sends Phoenix To Second Round
Trailing by two with less than six seconds to play, Sklyar Diggins-Smith took the inbounds pass, drove left then launched a pass to the right corner to an open Shey Peddy. She faked to led the defender fly by then launched a 3-point shot that dropped at the buzzer to give the Mercury the 85-84 win over Washington. Peddy began the season with Washington, but was waived midseason, signed by Phoenix and knocked out her former team in the playoffs.
Game Details
Alyssa Thomas Leads Sun Past Sky In First Round, 94-81
Alyssa Thomas led all players with 26 points, 13 rebounds – including a WNBA Playoff record 10 offensive boards – and 8 assists to lead Connecticut to a 94-81 win over Chicago in their single-elimination first round matchup. The game was tied at 41 at the half, but Connecticut outscored Chicago 27-11 in the third quarter to pull away and held off a late Chicago run to earn the win and advance. The Sun outscored the Sky 44-30 in the paint and 22-5 on second-chance points.
Game Details
Playoff Schedule
FIRST ROUND – Elimination games
Tuesday, Sept. 15: (7) Connecticut 94, (6) Chicago 81
Tuesday, Sept. 15: (5) Phoenix 85, (8) Washington 84
SECOND ROUND – Elimination games
Thursday, Sept. 17: (4) Minnesota 80, (5) Phoenix 79
Thursday, Sept. 17: (7) Connecticut 73, (3) Los Angeles 59
SEMIFINALS – Best-of-Five Series (2-2-1)
Sunday, Sept. 20: Game 1 – (7) Connecticut 87, (1) Las Vegas 62
Sunday, Sept. 20: Game 1 – (4) Minnesota vs. (2) Seattle – Postponed
Tuesday, Sept. 22: Game 2 – (1) Las Vegas 83, (7) Connecticut 75
Tuesday, Sept. 22: Game 1 – (2) Seattle 88, (4) Minnesota 86
Thursday, Sept. 24: Game 2 – (2) Seattle 89, (4) Minnesota 89
Thursday, Sept. 24: Game 3 – (7) Connecticut 77, (1) Las Vegas 68
Sunday, Sept. 27: Game 4 – (1) Las Vegas 84, (7) Connecticut 75
Sunday, Sept. 27: Game 3 – (2) Seattle 92, (4) Minnesota 71
Tuesday, Sept. 29: Game 5 – (1) Las Vegas 66, (7) Connecticut 63
FINALS – Best-of-Five Series (2-2-1)
Friday, October 2: Game 1 – (2) Seattle 93, (1) Las Vegas 80
Sunday, October 4: Game 2 – (2) Seattle 104, (1) Las Vegas 91
Tuesday, October 6: Game 3 – (2) Seattle 92, (1) Las Vegas 59