Golden State Valkyries lead Las Vegas Aces 2-0 and Atlanta Dream lead New York Liberty 2-0 in their respective WNBA playoff semifinals. Both series resume Friday with games in Las Vegas and Brooklyn. No team has ever overcome a 2-0 deficit in WNBA playoff history. Teams leading 2-0 are 20-0 all time.
Best-of-five semifinals became standard in 2016. Before that, only 11 series in league history allowed a 2-0 lead to occur. A comeback would require winning three consecutive games.
CBS Sports analysts offered differing assessments of which team has better chances. One analyst favors the Liberty, citing their superior depth, length and versatility compared to the Aces. The Liberty shot 48.8% from the field and 43.4% from three-point range in the first two games against Atlanta but committed 19 turnovers in Game 1 and 16 in Game 2. Breanna Stewart leads the Liberty's core. New York faces Atlanta's elite defense, which forced 38 turnovers in two games and converted them into 60 points, while grabbing 20 offensive rebounds for 25 second-chance points.
The other analyst views the Liberty as the likeliest to mount a comeback despite concerns about coach Chris DeMarco's adjustments. Atlanta has won nine consecutive games and 13 of its last 14.
Las Vegas faces more acute obstacles. The Aces enter Game 3 without NaLyssa Smith (out for season) and with uncertain availability for Jewell Loyd (leg injury, out Game 2) and Stephanie Talbot (questionable). Dana Evans returned in Game 2 after missing time since Sept. 22. A'ja Wilson, the recent MVP winner, and Jackie Young must carry the load. Young shot 27.7% this series after averaging 48.8% in the regular season. Golden State's defense ranks among the league's best and held Las Vegas to 38.7% shooting. The Valkyries swept the regular-season series. One analyst suggests the Liberty present a clearer path to comeback because their shooting percentages indicate they can score when given space, whereas the Aces lack offensive consistency against Golden State's defense. Coach Becky Hammon's limited rotation depth compounds Vegas' injury problems.