{"id":148948,"date":"2024-09-23T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swishappeal.com\/wnba\/2024\/9\/23\/24251447\/wnba-playoffs-liberty-fiebich-sun-fever-mabrey-thomas-clark-lynx-mercury-collier-cloud-aces-aja-mvp"},"modified":"2024-09-23T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T11:00:00","slug":"higher-seeded-teams-sweep-game-1s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/23\/higher-seeded-teams-sweep-game-1s\/","title":{"rendered":"Higher-seeded teams sweep Game 1s"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Starting for the New York Liberty, Leonie Fiebich scored 21 points in the Game 1 win. | Photo by David L. Nemec\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Homecourt advantage matters, as the higher-seeded teams\u2014Liberty, Sun, Lynx and Aces\u2014swept the first round\u2019s four Game 1s. <\/p>\n

Four first-round Game 1s. Four wins for the higher-seeded teams. <\/p>\n

The 2024 WNBA<\/a> playoffs began with a sweep for the higher-seeded squads:<\/p>\n

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No. 1-seed New York Liberty 83, No. 8-seed Atlanta Dream 69<\/strong><\/p>\n

No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun 93, No. 6-seed Indiana Fever 69<\/strong><\/p>\n

No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx 102, No. 7-seed Phoenix Mercury 95<\/strong><\/p>\n

No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces 78, No. 5-seed Seattle Storm 67<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Here\u2019s how the Liberty, Sun, Lynx and Aces got the jobs done:<\/p>\n

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Liberty, Leo lap Dream<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Head coach Sandy Brondello showed she was not messing around on Sunday afternoon, making a surprise change to the starting lineup. To the bench went Courtney Vandersloot, the championship-winning point guard who has lost a step or two over the past season, and into the first five was Leonie Fiebich, the Sixth Player of the Year candidate<\/a> who offers more size on defense and a greater willingness to shoot on offense. <\/p>\n

Fiebich made Brondello look quite prescient. The 6-foot-4 first-year wing from Germany turned in a historic playoff debut. After making her first five shots, Fiebich was on her way to a career-high 21-point afternoon, going 7-for-8 from the field and 4-for-4 from 3. She also added two steals.<\/p>\n

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Yes, first rookie since Ariel Atkins in 2018 to score 20+ points in a postseason WNBA game.https:\/\/t.co\/VrOB5x4q8s<\/a><\/p>\n

First since Maya Moore in 2011 to have 20+ PTS and 4+ 3PM https:\/\/t.co\/KRIiRVGEUD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 A’cross the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) September 22, 2024<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n