WNBA Playoff Fever Heats Up

Liberty Punch Their Ticket to the Semifinals

The New York Liberty are all business and focused on one thing: bringing home their first-ever WNBA championship. After falling just short last season, they’re now one step closer to redemption. Tuesday night, Sabrina Ionescu went full beast mode, dropping 36 points (tying the franchise playoff record) and leading the Liberty to a 91-82 win over the Atlanta Dream. Semifinals, here they come!

Sabrina was in the zone, and she even got some extra juice from Spike Lee himself! After a high five from the legendary filmmaker during the third quarter, Ionescu said, "It felt like New York was injected into me." Now that’s some serious city energy. With that win, the Liberty are heading straight into the semifinals, fired up and ready for more.

Aces Sweep Seattle

Can anyone stop the Las Vegas Aces? Apparently not. The Las Vegas Aces are making it look easy! Kelsey Plum put on a show with 29 points, while A'ja Wilson dominated with 24 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Aces take down the Seattle Storm 83-76. With that win, they locked in their sixth consecutive semifinals appearance.

And now, get ready for a blockbuster rematch—it’s the 2023 Finals all over again! The Aces will face off against the top-seeded New York Liberty starting Sunday. It’s the ultimate showdown, and if the Aces pull this off, they’ll be the first team to three-peat since the Houston Comets won four straight titles from 1997-2000. Dynasty, anyone? We’ll see.

More Sweeps?

The Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx are both one game away from dusting off their opponents and cruising into the semis. Connecticut’s got Indiana Fever on the ropes, and the Lynx are staring down the Phoenix Mercury. If both teams pull it off, the brooms will be out in full force, sweeps all around.

It's Not You, It’s Me

In other WNBA news, the Los Angeles Sparks and head coach Curt Miller have officially consciously uncoupled. In his two seasons, Miller went 25-55, not exactly the Cinderella story LA was hoping for. With a rebuild in full swing, both sides decided it was time to go their separate ways. No word yet on who’s swiping right on the next coach, but LA is definitely looking for a fresh start.

Kawhi Leonard's Knee Woes Continue

So here we go again! Kawhi Leonard had yet another procedure on his right knee this offseason, and surprise, surprise, it’s the same knee that’s been causing him problems for years. According to reports, this is the knee that knocked him out of the Clippers' playoff run last year, kept him off the Team USA roster, and now has him potentially missing the start of the 2024-25 season.

Let’s be real, Clippers fans, how many times have you heard “Kawhi is hurt, but the Clippers are still optimistic”? It’s starting to feel like a broken record. The team gave him a three-year, $153 million extension last January, and right now, that investment is looking shakier than a Clippers playoff lead. They’re banking on Leonard, who can’t seem to stay healthy, to open their shiny new arena, and James Harden is their plan B? That’s… bold.

At this point, it seems like the Clippers are gambling big, but the odds are not in their favor. Let’s hope for the best, but it might be time to manage those expectations.

Celtics Stars Are Fired Up

If there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s give Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum something to prove. Well, congratulations, Team USA, did exactly that.

First, Jaylen Brown. Despite helping the Celtics win a championship and grabbing NBA Finals MVP honors, he got snubbed from Team USA’s Olympic roster in favor of his own teammate, Derrick White.

When asked about it at Media Day, Brown laughed it off but made it clear: “I’m extremely motivated for obvious reasons.” And he’s not just talking about the Olympics. After missing out on All-Defensive and All-NBA honors last season, Brown’s got that extra fuel to prove the doubters wrong. He said, “I’m always looking for something to add to that chip on my shoulder.” Well, mission accomplished.

And just when you think the league had enough to worry about, Jayson Tatum’s coming in hungry too. After being benched for two Olympic games, Tatum’s itching to remind everyone why he’s a star.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is thrilled though, knowing Tatum’s ready to take it up a notch. If both Brown and Tatum are out for blood this season, the rest of the league might need to watch out.

The Grindfather Gets His Due

The Memphis Grizzlies just announced that they’ll be raising Tony Allen’s No. 9 jersey to the rafters at FedExForum. That means Allen will officially join Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in the Core Four club with his jersey retired.

The ceremony will take place on March 15 after the Grizzlies take on the Miami Heat, so mark your calendars. Allen was the heart and soul of the Grit-N-Grind era in Memphis, locking down opponents and bringing that defensive tenacity every single night. It’s only fitting that he gets this honor.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

— The Players Unlimited Team