The New York Liberty is dominating the WNBA playoffs after taking a 2-0 lead over the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. If New York manages to sweep this series, they'll continue on the path toward their first-ever league championship. The next Liberty vs. Aces game will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET. The game can also be streamed after it concludes on WNBA League Pass. Are you ready to watch the New York Liberty play the Las Vegas Aces during the WNBA playoffs? Here's what you need to know ahead of the Liberty vs. Aces game tonight and how to get live game updates.
Date: Friday, Oct. 4
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Location: Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas
TV channels: ESPN2
Streaming: Fubo TV, Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV
The Liberty vs. Aces game tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET tonight.
The Liberty vs. Aces game will air on ESPN2.
You can watch ESPN2 live on platforms including Fubo, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. The game will also be available to stream after it concludes on WNBA League Pass.
AT $90/month, Fubo TV's Elite tier gives you access to ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBA TV, Ion and 200-plus more live channels. The live TV streaming service is one of the priciest options on this list, but it still leaves you with major savings compared with a traditional cable package and will get you access to the most WNBA games you can watch with just one subscription. Fubo subscribers also get 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage.
The platform offers a free trial period, and right now you can get $30 off your first month of any tier after the trial period ends.
Yes, DirecTV will be carrying ABC and all ESPN channels again after a brief disruption in coverage on the platform. DirecTV subscribers will be able to watch every playoff game of the WNBA.
Round one of the WNBA playoffs began on Sunday, September 22. The playoffs are scheduled through October 18 if necessary.
Eight teams advanced to the WNBA playoffs, but after the first round, four are now competing in the semifinals. They are:
New York Liberty (32-8)
Minnesota Lynx (30-10)
Connecticut Sun (28-12)
Las Vegas Aces (27-13)
Seattle Storm (25-15) - Eliminated after Round 1
Indiana Fever (20-20) - Eliminated after Round 1
Phoenix Mercury (19-21) - Eliminated after Round 1
Atlanta Dream (15-25) - Eliminated after Round 1
While this season's WNBA games aired across upwards of 10 channels and streaming platforms, including Prime Video, ION, and other national broadcast networks, the playoffs will be exclusive to ABC and ESPN. Note that they will not be carried on ESPN+.
The WNBA playoffs feature an eight-team bracket; participating teams are decided based on their regular season record. During the first-round, games are played on a best-of-three series. Semifinal and final games are played as a best-of-five series.
Sunday, September 22:
Dream (69) - (83) Liberty, Game 1
Fever (69) - (93) Sun, Game 1
Mercury (95) - (102) Lynx, Game 1
Storm (67) - (78) Aces, Game 1
Tuesday, September 24
Dream (82)-(91) Liberty, Game 2
Storm (76)-(83) Aces, Game 2
Wednesday, September 25
Fever (81)-(87) Sun, Game 2
Mercury (88)-(101) Lynx, Game 2
Sunday, September 29
Aces (77) vs. (87) Liberty, Game 1
Sun (73) vs. (70) Lynx, Game 1
Tuesday, October 1
Aces (84) vs. (88) Liberty, Game 2
Sun (70) vs. (77) Lynx, Game 2
Friday, October 4
Sun vs. Lynx, Game 3 - 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Aces vs. Liberty, Game 3 - 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday, October 6
Aces vs. Liberty, Game 4 (if necessary)
Sun vs. Lynx, Game 4 (if necessary)
Tuesday, October 8
Aces vs. Liberty, Game 5 (if necessary)
Sun vs. Lynx, Game 5 (if necessary)
Thursday, October 10
Game 1
Sunday, October 13
Game 2
Wednesday, October 16
Game 3
Friday, October 18
Game 4 (if necessary)
Sunday, October 20
Game 5 (if necessary)
WNBA playoff action continued on Tuesday night with a pair of action-packed games.
An exciting Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals saw the New York Liberty take down the Las Vegas Aces and get one game closer to the WNBA Finals for a second consecutive season. The Minnesota Lynx evened things up with a double-digit win over the Connecticut Sun after a narrow loss in Game 1.
After going up 2-0 in the series, the Liberty can end the Aces' season on Friday and move on to the Finals, where they will face the winner of the Lynx and Sun. Minnesota's win on Tuesday ensured the game will go to at least four games.
Tuesday's Results
Liberty def. Aces, 88-84
Lynx def. Sun, 77-70
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Oct. 4 (7:30 p.m. ET)
Game 3: Lynx vs. Sun
Friday, Oct. 4 (9:30 p.m. ET)
Game 3: Liberty vs. Aces
Liberty def. Aces, 88-84
Fans couldn't have asked for a more exciting matchup in Game 2.
The Liberty held a 69-62 lead heading into the fourth, but the Aces came storming back to make things interesting. Locked at 81 heading into the final minute, New York managed to go up 83-81 after a made jumper from Sabrina Ionescu.
SABRINA IONESCU PUTS NEW YORK AHEAD 🗽
NYL claims the 2-point lead late in the 4Q
LVA-NYL Game 2 on ESPN2 | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/HPmho3uvBX
Las Vegas had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but Tiffany Hayes made just one of two free throws, giving the Liberty the chance to hold on and win.
After Breanna Stewart dropped 34 points in Game 1, the Aces did a better job defending her in Game 2 as they held her to just 15 points. Even with the star having an off night, New York's other stars stepped up and won by committee.
Ionescu led the way for the Liberty with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists while Jonquel Jones added 14 points and eight boards. New York also got solid production off the bench from Courtney Vandersloot, who had 12 points.
BACK-TO-BACK TRIPLES FOR SABRINA IONESCU 🔥3️⃣
Semi-Finals on ESPN2 | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/WQ7RnMrfVn
Lynx def. Sun 77-70
There wasn't as much excitement in Game 2 compared to Game 1, which saw the Sun sneak away 73-70.
Minnesota held a comfortable lead for much of the fourth quarter, but the Sun had the chance to make it a two-possession game with just over a minute to go. Connecticut squandered that opportunity as DiJonai Carrington missed a free throw and the Lynx extended their to nine points on the other end.
Courtney Williams stepped up in Game 2 following an eight-point showing in Game 1, dropping 17 points to lead the way for Minnesota. Alanna Smith also shook off a six-point game on Sunday to put together a 15-point performance on Tuesday.
The Minnesota Lynx take Game 2, leveling the series at 1-1 🔥
Final Score: MIN 77 | CON 70
Courtney Williams shines with 17 PTS, 5 REB, and 4 AST. Catch the action in Game 3 as the series shifts to Connecticut this Friday at 7:30pm/ET!#WelcometotheW | #WNBAPlayoffs presented… pic.twitter.com/Y8IVofhbty
The Sun got the best of the Lynx on their home court in Game 1, but Minnesota managed to ensure they picked up at least one win at home, and now they'll had to Connecticut with an even series and a chance to take the lead on Friday.
