WNBA semifinals preview: Key players, trends to watch in Dream-Liberty, Valkyries-Aces

After an unprecedented upset and a pair of thrilling win-or-go-home Game 3s, the WNBA catches its breath before the league semifinals tip off on Sunday.

Ahead of the second round, we break down Dream-Liberty and Valkyries-Aces with keys to each series below.

Atlanta Dream (30-14) vs. New York Liberty (26-18)

Liberty interior defense | Atlanta lived at the rim during the regular season, leading the league with 1,236 field-goal attempts in the restricted area. That trend continued in a routine first-round sweep of the Washington Mystics; of the Dream's 90 two-point attempts, 52, or 57.8 percent, came from within 0 to 5 feet of the basket. (h/t Her Hoop Stats)

In its historic series win over the Minnesota Lynx, becoming the first No. 8 seed to advance past a No. 1, New York largely kept Minnesota from attacking the basket. And when the Lynx did, the Liberty were excellent defensively, holding them to 25-of-59 (42.4 percent) from inside the paint.

New York's ability to keep the Dream one-and-done on the offensive end will be key, too, particularly facing rebounding maestro and recently named Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese. The Liberty led the league in defensive rebounds (27.4 per game) in the regular season and averaged 28.5 per game against the Lynx.

Dream perimeter defense | New York thrived by the three during its stunning first-round sweep. According to Her Hoop Stats data, the Liberty lead playoff teams in three-point rate, with 39.6 percent of their scoring opportunities (field goal attempts and trips to the free-throw line) coming on attempts from beyond the arc. They shot 40.4 percent against Minnesota, averaging 11.5 makes per game.

Dream guard trio Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard were a nightmare defensively against Washington, combining for 8.5 steals per game and helping limit the Mystics to 31.7 percent, the lowest of the opening round, on three-point tries. 

Breanna Stewart's continued dominance | Fresh off receiving MVP honors at the FIBA Women's World Cup, Stewart, 32, is playing some of the best basketball of her two-time MVP career. Since Aug. 18 and including the playoffs, she ranks third in the league in scoring among 30 qualified players (minimum nine games, 100 field-goal attempts), averaging 22.9 points on 52.2 percent shooting while also adding 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.

Stewart has scored over 20 points in all five games she's played since returning from Berlin, and if she continues to put the Liberty on her back, they may soon be headed to a third WNBA Finals in four seasons.