WNBA semifinals underway

The GIST: Game 1s done and dusted. And if yesterday is any indication of how the rest of these five-game series will go, we’re in for a treat.

No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 4 Seattle Storm: The Storm won big in Vegas, stealing home-court advantage with a down-to-the-wire 76–73 victory. The Aces nearly completed the comeback, but Seattle’s Jewell Loyd called game with just over 30 seconds to go, adding to her game-high 26 points.

• Meanwhile, Sue Bird continues to dazzle in her final run. With 12 assists yesterday, she surpassed four-time WNBA champion Lindsay Whalen as the league’s all-time postseason assists leader. Bow down.

• As for the Aces, Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, but if the No. 1 seed plans to weather the storm in Wednesday’s Game 2, they’ll need more from A’ja Wilson, who scored only eight points in the opener.

No. 2 Chicago Sky vs. No. 3 Connecticut Sun: The Sun picked the perfect time to register their first win against the Sky this season, topping the defending champs 68–63 in another back-and-forth thriller yesterday. The difference-maker? DeWanna Bonner, who brought her experience and led the way with 15 points.

• Chicago’s Candace Parker did it all, filling up the stat sheet with 19 points, 18 rebounds and 6 blocks, but it wasn’t enough to defend home court. The Sky will need a better rebounding effort to (literally) block out the Sun in Wednesday’s Game 2.