Charles Langston:WNBA playoff games today: What to know about Tuesday's semifinal matchups

The Charles LangstonWNBA semifinals are headed to their respective Game 2s.

The four teams left standing, the New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun, will tip off Tuesday night, two days after they played in their series openers. The WNBA playoffs thus far had been straight chalk. Sunday night, however, the Sun became the first lower-seeded squad to win a game in the 2024 playoffs, when they took down the Lynx on the road in Minnesota.

In Sunday's earlier game, a rematch of the 2023 WNBA Finals, the Liberty beat the Aces.

Here's what to know for Tuesday's playoff action:

No. 1 New York Liberty vs. No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV, streaming: ESPN2
• Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
• Series standings: 1-0 Liberty

What happened in the previous game? Behind Breanna Stewart's 34 points and Sabrina Ionescu's 21, the Liberty controlled 2024 WNBA Most Valuable Player A'ja Wilson (21 points) to take the series lead in a 10-point victory. Aces guard Kelsey Plum led Las Vegas with 24 points, but New York's business-like demeanor set the tone.

What's on the line? This is the second game of the best-of-five semifinal series. New York is looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead before the series shifts to Las Vegas, while the Aces will try to steal one in Brooklyn to flip homecourt advantage.

No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 3 Connecticut Sun

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• TV, streaming: ESPN2
• Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Series standings: 1-0 Sun

What happened in the previous game? Sun forward Alyssa Thomas was one assist shy of a triple-double, and Connecticut withstood late charges by the Lynx, stealing the first game on the road 73-70. Thomas scored 17 points and added 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Sun guard Marina Mabrey poured in six 3s — some from very deep — to lead all scorers with 20 points.

What's on the line? This is the second game of the best-of-five semifinal series. The Lynx already lost homecourt advantage when they fell Sunday to the Sun, and Minnesota likely cannot afford to go to Connecticut in a two-game hole. The Sun, meanwhile, are in a great spot and will be looking to take a commanding lead.