Courtney Williams scored a game-high 23 points, Kayla McBride scored 21, and Napheesa Collier added 18 points and nine rebounds as the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury 82-69 on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series.
Isaiah Rodgers helped make Carson Wentz's debut at quarterback for Minnesota a rousing success, setting a Vikings record with two defensive touchdowns and forcing three of Cincinnati's five turnovers in a 48-10 romp on Sunday for the worst loss in Bengals history.
The WNBA semifinals are set and a new champion is guaranteed after all four remaining teams were challenged in the opening round. Minnesota, Las Vegas and Phoenix have all made it this far in the past few years, while Indiana won a playoff series for the first time in a decade.
Bo Naylor snapped an eighth-inning tie with his second two-run single of the game, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Friday night for their eighth straight victory.
Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in four seasons. This year, she shares the award with Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx.
David Bednar just held on to get the final three outs, and the New York Yankees held on to beat the Minnesota Twins 10-9 after nearly wasting a nine-run lead.
Wednesday night is the second game for the Lynx in the first round of this year’s playoff series. If they win against the Valkyries Tuesday after their triumph Sunday, it means they head to semifinals, facing off against the New York Liberty or Phoenix Mercury.
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