Probably the most-hyped WNBA familiar season for the reason that league’s inception delivered pleasure from begin to end, however the actual drama is solely getting began. Upcoming a 2023 season that appeared like one lengthy prelude to the Aces-versus-Self rule finals, the 2024 playoffs assurance extra chaos and intrigue from the get-go.
Listed below are 5 burning questions for the 2024 postseason, launch with how this entire layout works and a breakdown of every order.
How are the playoffs structured?
The supremacy 8 groups within the league, irrespective of convention, qualify for the postseason. The primary-round matchups are 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and four vs. 5. There is not any re-seeding in between rounds, so the victor of one vs. 8 performs the winner of four vs. 5, and the two vs. 7 winner faces the three vs. 6 victor.
The playoffs endmost for 3 rounds, launch with a three-game order within the first around, by which the upper seed hosts the primary two video games. That layout helped simplify advance ahead of the league began flight completely on charters this season. The two-1 order has been in playground since 2022, and even though the decrease seed has compelled a decisive Sport 3 thrice at its house area, the upper seed hasn’t ever did not proceed. The semifinal around is a five-game order (2-2-1 layout), as are the WNBA Finals.
Incorrect. 1 Brandnew York (32-8) vs. Incorrect. 8 Atlanta (15-25)
Sport 1 at Brandnew York: Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Sport 2 at Brandnew York: Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Sport 3 (if essential) at Atlanta: Thursday TBD, ESPN2
Did Atlanta’s season-ending win over Brandnew York cruel the rest?
The Self rule gained their first 3 video games in opposition to the Dream through a mixed 44 issues ahead of taking their footing off the gasoline within the season finale — a tournament Atlanta had extra incentive to win to bring to clinch a playoff spot. On the other hand, all 3 of the former matchups took playground in June, when the Dream have been with out no less than certainly one of Jordin Canada or Rhyne Howard. Because the Olympic split, as soon as Atlanta has been in a position to begin its most well-liked lineup of Canada, Howard, Allisha Grey, Naz Hillmon and Tina Charles, the Dream have a web score of plus-2.2 in line with 100 possessions, which is much better than the minus-10 mark they sported all through the era of June.
GO DEEPER
Tina Charles turns into WNBA’s all-time well-known rebounder
Nonetheless, even at complete fitness, Atlanta lags at the back of the while Brandnew York has i’m ready. The Self rule outscored fighters through 11.7 issues in line with 100 possessions over the process the season. They’ve the reigning MVP in Breanna Stewart, who has averaged greater than 20 issues in opposition to the Dream over the endmost two years. In addition they have an elite scoring protection, moment Atlanta had the worst capturing share within the WNBA. One quantity to hold an optic on shall be what number of foul photographs the Dream generate — they’d the third-highest free-throw charge within the league, moment Brandnew York conceded the fewest unfastened throws to its fighters.
Sadly for Atlanta, their benefits on this matchup are minimum. The Self rule scored essentially the most issues within the league off giveover, but when the Dream aim to show this right into a half-court tournament, the Self rule are also the league’s ideal offensive rebounding crew. Atlanta was once the fourth-best protection next the split however now is going up in opposition to the most efficient offense. The Dream may have join their playoff berth with a win in opposition to Brandnew York, nevertheless it will have to be their endmost of the season.
The choose: Brandnew York in 2 video games
Incorrect. 2 Minnesota (30-10) vs. Incorrect. 7 Phoenix (19-21)
Sport 1 at Minnesota: Sunday at 5 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Sport 2 at Minnesota: Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Sport 3 (if essential) at Phoenix: Friday TBD, ESPN2
Can Kahleah Copper build any playoff enchanment?
The Mercury had some of the greatest variances all through the primary half of of the season, accumulating wins in opposition to the Self rule, Lynx and Aces, but additionally dropping to the Dallas Wings. The second one half of didn’t property the similar highs, as Phoenix’s lone win over a playoff crew got here in opposition to Atlanta. And not using a wholesome Rebecca Allen, the Mercury aren’t as flexible defensively and are lacking every other shooter; in addition they leave out her revel in with Celeste Taylor and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan filling in the ones mins.
However let’s focal point on what the Mercury have, and that’s Kahleah Copper, who simply finished arguably the most efficient season of her occupation. Copper led the league in utilization (31.1 p.c), simply edging out A’ja Wilson, and nonetheless controlled a league-average efficient grassland function share underneath that burden. She scored no less than 30 issues in 9 video games, together with a 34-point day trip with a game-winner in addition in Phoenix’s lone victory over Minnesota. Her shot chart from that tournament exemplifies what the Mercury want from her on this order: a prime quantity of 3-point makes an attempt (12 in that tournament) mixed with relentless rim power to compromise the Lynx’s protection. Minnesota congests the paint in addition to any person, however even the Lynx are powerless to block the athleticism of Copper when she places her head ill.
“I’m one of the few two-way players in this league.”
KFC has been a display to look at all season lengthy. Put her in your All-WNBA poll! pic.twitter.com/P5HbCRPbMD
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 17, 2024
Copper’s heroics may well be moot if Phoenix will get destroyed at the glass, as has been the case of past due, or if it we could Minnesota take off from lengthy field. The Mercury permit essentially the most 3-point makes an attempt of any crew, and the Lynx are the most efficient 3-point capturing squad (38 p.c). Phoenix must choose its poison between protective the inner or the fringe, moment Minnesota has demonstrated the facility to do each. Irrespective of how excellent Copper has been, Napheesa Collier continues to be the most efficient participant on this order. If Collier and corporate carry out as they have got for the reason that split — Minnesota has misplaced as soon as at complete energy for the reason that All-Celebrity Sport — they’ll with ease extinguish any disenchanted hopes.
The choose: Minnesota in 2
Sport 1 at Connecticut: Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET), ABC
Sport 2 at Connecticut: Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Sport 3 at Indiana: Friday TBD, ESPN2
Will Connecticut’s revel in weigh down Indiana’s early life?
The Solar have made 5 immediately WNBA semifinals with in large part the similar core. Each participant of their rotation participated in endmost generation’s postseason, moment most effective 4 Fever avid gamers — all bench avid gamers — have ever suited up within the playoffs. To place it otherwise, Indiana’s roster has performed in 19 general playoff video games — 4 person Connecticut avid gamers have exceeded that, together with 80 playoff tournament appearances from DeWanna Bonner. The Fever’s stars deliver a wealth of NCAA Match revel in, however they’ve by no means performed in this level, and it’s truthful to marvel if the stakes of this date will have an effect on them.
The primary query from a strategic viewpoint is how the Solar will secure Caitlin Clark. Are they content material to let others beat them, or will they display Clark extra unmarried protection?
Clark has been an absolute flamethrower all through the second one half of of the season, averaging 23.1 issues and eight.9 assists moment making 37 p.c of her 3s. On the other hand, within the lone assembly of this stretch, Connecticut restricted her to 19 issues and 5 assists and compelled seven giveover. The Fever nonetheless gained, and Clark’s gravity was once a figuring out issue — Aliyah Boston had 8 assists, a number of popping out of the snip roll as two defenders converged on Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull had obese scoring nights for the Fever.
“Rain drop. Drop top. I ball non stop stop.” – Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/kTIDFkTzee
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 20, 2024
During the season, the Solar have carried out important defensive power to Clark, however that has been much less efficient as Indiana’s offense has realized how you can play games out of traps and blitzes. Boston is making the fitting reads within the lane, and the capturing round that pick-and-roll partnership has been chic. There may be worth in proscribing the top of the snake, however in all probability it’s higher to pressure the rookie to aim to overcome Connecticut on her personal. My assumption is the Solar keep competitive with two at the ball in Sport 1 however modify next the Fever choose that aside.
The choose: Connecticut in 3
Incorrect. 4 Las Vegas (27-13) vs. Incorrect. 5 Seattle (25-15)
Sport 1 at Las Vegas: Sunday at 10 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Sport 2 at Las Vegas: Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Sport 3 (if essential) at Seattle: Thursday TBD, ESPN2
How wholesome are Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor?
Magbegor ignored the endmost 3 video games of the season in concussion protocol, and Loyd ignored the similar stretch with a proper knee shock. In the event that they aren’t proper for the beginning of the playoffs, Seattle is toast. Magbegor, together with her field and athleticism, is the Hurricane’s most effective hope of even containing Wilson. Seattle additionally wishes Loyd’s offense in opposition to the league’s highest-scoring crew (86.4 issues in line with tournament).
The matchups between those groups are tantalizing. Two of the most efficient scoring guards within the league in Loyd and Kelsey Plum. Every other two Olympians at level preserve in Chelsea Grey and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who way the sport with diametrically adversarial taste and while. One of the crucial environment friendly forwards in WNBA historical past in Nneka Ogwumike in opposition to Wilson, who’s in the middle of the most efficient season the league has ever viewable. Defensive specialist Gabby Williams will get to dig into guarding Jackie Younger, and two-time Hurricane champion Alysha Clark faces off in opposition to her former squad.
Seattle gained the primary matchup ahead of Grey was once wholesome, next Las Vegas took the nearest 3. On the other hand, the Hurricane didn’t have their first-choice launch lineup in any of the ones losses, since Williams joined the crew past due, and he or she was once an noteceable issue for Seattle when those groups confronted off within the 2022 postseason.
In fact, she’s additionally the @WNBA Western Convention Participant of the Day!
26.1 PPG
12.0 RPG
1.4 SPG
1.9 BPG
51% FG@_ajawilson22 // #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/ZyCB2Onpz8— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 20, 2024
In the end, it’s dried to peer the Hurricane scoring plethora to hold up with the Aces, particularly in Las Vegas. If the Aces take charge of the ball and promote out to offer protection to the paint, how is a crew that shot 28.8 p.c on 3-pointers intended to generate offense? A 3-game order implies that Seattle most effective must get scorching a few times, however Las Vegas hasn’t misplaced with Wilson within the lineup in just about 4 weeks. The protecting champs are peaking on the proper generation, moment the Hurricane have seemed shaky in recent times, even in wins.
The choose: Las Vegas in 2
(Representation: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic)
