WNBA News
Liberty set to face Dream in East finals (AP)
The New York Liberty have rebounded from the second-worst season in franchise history and are back in the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three years. After outlasting the Indiana Fever in three games in the opening round of the playoffs, the Liberty will face the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream in Game 1 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
Storm-Mercury Preview (AP)
Lauren Jackson and coach Brian Agler of the Seattle Storm opened the Western Conference finals by receiving individual awards for record-setting performances during the regular season. However, they continue to focus on the bigger picture. Seattle will try to sweep the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury when the best-of-three series continues at US Airways Center on Sunday afternoon.
Dream-Liberty Preview (AP)
The Atlanta Dream should be well rested after knocking off the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed more than a week ago. Things didn't go so easily for the New York Liberty in their opening playoff series. The Dream and Liberty start the best-of-three conference finals Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
WNBA playoff schedule and results (Yahoo! Sports)
Here is the postseason schedule by series.
MVP Jackson leads Storm past Mercury in Game 1 (AP)
Lauren Jackson wasn't available postgame to talk about winning her third WNBA MVP award or the Seattle Storm's win in the opener of the Western Conference finals. Her performance against Phoenix in Game 1 on Thursday night speaks for itself. Jackson had 23 points and a team playoff-record 17 rebounds to lead Seattle to an 82-74 victory over the Mercury.
Seattle's Jackson selected MVP for third time (AP)
Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson of Australia was selected the WNBA's most valuable player for the third time in her career on Thursday. Jackson was honored before Game 1 of Seattle's best-of-3 Western Conference final against defending champion Phoenix. Also, the Storm's Brian Agler was named the league's coach of the year.
Capsules for the WNBA conference finals series (AP)
A look at the two best-of-three WNBA conference finals, which start Thursday: EASTERN CONFERENCE No. 2 New York (22-12) vs. No. 4 Atlanta (19-15) Season Series: Tied 2-2, with each time winning once on the road. New York: A roster overhaul that brought Cappie Pondexter, Nicole Powell and Taj McWilliams-Franklin to the Liberty in the offseason resulted in a team record for victories one year after