Toliver’s long-range shots help Washington advance

Kristi Toliver admitted that she was nervous before the game for the first time she could remember.

Those nerves went away quickly as the Mystics’ guard scored 32 points, hitting a WNBA playoff-record nine threepointers, to lead Washington to an 82-68 victory over host New York on Sunday.

“I can’t remember the last time I was physically that nervous where my heart was pounding,” Toliver said. “To me, it affirmed how excited I was for this opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden in a playoff game.”

Toliver came to Washington in the offseason as a free agent hoping to lead the Mystics back to the postseason and beyond.

“This is why we’re here. We knew we were capable,” Toliver said. “Everyone’s buying in offensively and defensively. Everyone’s understanding their roles. When you’re good at it, anything can happen.”

The Mystics will face Minnesota in the best-offive semifinals, starting Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Washington found itself down 14 points in the first half before rallying to 41-35 at the break. Then Toliver took control. She scored 16 points in the third quarter, hitting all four of her three-pointers in the period. She set the Mystics’ franchise record for points in a game by the end of the third quarter.

She also broke the WNBA record for threepointers in a playoff game.

“Madison Square is where stars shine, and I was lucky enough to be put in a position to be able to do that. I was going to let it fly today,” Toliver said. “I don’t think I shot that many threes in a game. That’s why I’m here.”

It’s the second consecutive season that the Liberty was a three-seed, which comes with a firstround bye, and lost its first postseason game. Rounds one and two are single-elimination.

“It’s disappointing that we’re not getting over the hump,” Charles said. Mercury 88, Sun 83: Brittney Griner had 26 points and nine rebounds, Diana Taurasi added 23 points, and Phoenix won at Connecticut to reach the semifinals.

Phoenix will play the second-seeded and defending champion Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night in Game 1 of a best-of-five series.

Phoenix made threepointers on three straight possessions late in the fourth quarter to take an 84-79 lead.

Down 84-81 with 11.4 seconds left , Connecticut grabbed an offensive rebound and Shekinna Stricklen was fouled, but she missed two freethrow tries. Phoenix’s Camille Little grabbed the rebound and she made two foul shots.