The Chicago Sky are established to start their bid to develop into the initial back-to-back W.N.B.A. champions due to the fact the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002. But the frequent time was near at the major, and many groups could effortlessly raise the trophy this year.
Here’s how the W.N.B.A. playoffs form up.
When do the playoffs commence?
Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern time, when the second-seeded Sky host the seventh-seeded Liberty. At 10 p.m., the best-seeded Las Vegas Aces host the eighth-seeded Phoenix Mercury.
The other two collection — No. 3 Connecticut Sunlight vs. No. 6 Dallas Wings and No. 4 Seattle Storm vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics — begin Thursday.
How do the playoffs perform?
The initial spherical is ideal of three, with the greater-seeded group web hosting the initial two online games. If a 3rd activity is necessary, it will be performed at the dwelling of the decrease-seeded group.
The semifinals and finals are greatest of 5, subsequent a standard 2-2-1 format for household online games.
Moreover the joy of generating it to the close, the finals will carry the gamers another perk. For that spherical only, the league will spend for teams to fly by chartered plane.
Where can I view the game titles?
ABC and the various ESPN channels will clearly show the playoffs. Game titles can also be streamed by way of ESPN.
When are the finals?
They are scheduled to start out on Sept. 11 and run by means of Sept. 20 if all 5 video games are necessary.
Who’s heading to get?
The major a few are Las Vegas, Chicago and Connecticut, who all finished in a activity of every single other at the top rated. Seattle and Washington, which finished with equivalent data of 22-14, are the future tier down.
It is really really hard to see any of the base a few teams successful. Dallas was .500, and the Liberty and Phoenix both of those missing a lot more than they received in the regular year.
For the statistically minded, Las Vegas had the league’s most potent offense, scoring 109.6 factors for each 100 possessions. Washington experienced the stingiest protection, making it possible for just 96 details per 100 possessions.
But in internet ranking, combining offense and defense, it was Connecticut at the major, scoring 9.5 details a lot more than the opposition for every 100 belongings. That could make the third-seeded Sun a sneaky favorite.
Who are the gamers to watch?
The prime-seeded Aces have a impressive one-two punch. Forward A’ja Wilson is a preferred for the Most Important Participant Award following finishing in the major 5 in factors for every sport (19.5) and rebounds for each sport (9.4), and guard Kelsey Plum scored 20.2 details a game although main the league in 3-ideas made.
Seattle has another M.V.P. prospect in forward Breanna Stewart, who led the league in scoring with 21.8 details for every video game, and several will choose their eyes off the legendary Sue Hen, 41, the W.N.B.A. vocation helps chief, who will retire after the playoffs.
And it will be worthy of seeing Sabrina Ionescu of the Liberty, who at this place nevertheless has just 1 job playoff video game.
What’s the historical past?
Seattle has four W.N.B.A. titles, all of them — indeed, even the one back again in 2004 — with Fowl. Phoenix has won a few times after each and every for Washington and Chicago. The Dallas Wings gained three occasions when they ended up identified as the Detroit Shock. The other three teams are in search of their 1st titles. It is an particularly sore position for the Liberty, who have been in the league since its initially period in 1997.
What teams and players are lacking?
7 of the eight teams are the very same as in past year’s playoffs. With Washington returning immediately after a year absent, the odd crew out is the Minnesota Lynx, who finished 14-22 and snapped an 11-season playoff streak.
That signifies no playoff showcase for Sylvia Fowles, who is retiring following a year in which she led the league in rebounds for every game.
The absence of the Los Angeles Sparks will charge followers a possibility to see much more of Nneka Ogwumike and the steals leader, Brittney Sykes.
The Mercury will be without the two the injured Diana Taurasi, the W.N.B.A.’s profession leader in scoring, and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who led Phoenix in scoring this season but will miss the playoffs for particular factors. But the team’s grimmest absence of all is Brittney Griner, who is attractive her conviction on drug-smuggling prices in Russia, exactly where she has been imprisoned because February.
