The WNBA's first-round openers were played yesterday, and the results made one thing clear: getting the first win matters a lot in a best-of-three format. Four series opened with Game 1 victories, including a 102-85 Las Vegas Aces win and a 91-75 New York Liberty win.
For the Las Vegas Aces, the night belonged to A'ja Wilson. The star finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, doing it on 19 shots in a performance that immediately put the Aces in control of their series. In a short opening round, there is little time to recover from a slow start, and Wilson made sure Las Vegas did not leave any doubt in the opener.
A'ja Wilson sets the tone for Las Vegas
Wilson's line was the kind of playoff performance that can swing an entire series. She scored efficiently, controlled the paint and gave the Aces a clear edge on both ends. Four blocks only added to the pressure she put on the game, while her 16 rebounds helped Las Vegas finish possessions and limit second chances.
The 102-85 result gave the Aces an early lead in a round where every game carries extra weight. With the best-of-three showdowns set to continue tomorrow, the margin for error is already shrinking for the teams that dropped Game 1.
New York also opens with a win
The New York Liberty matched that strong start with a 91-75 win over the Minnesota Lynx. It was another decisive opening result in a round that produced four Game 1 wins, showing how quickly a series can tilt when a team takes care of business early.
That is the larger lesson from the opening night of the WNBA playoffs. In a short series, one game can set the tone, and both the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty made sure they did not give away the first step.
There is still time for the trailing teams to respond, but the opening games made the challenge clear. Win Game 1, and the path gets much easier. Lose it, and the pressure arrives immediately.
