Within the brilliant scheme of the 2024 season, the identification of the 8th seed within the WNBA postseason bracket is moderately inconsequential. The Unutilized York Independence were the most productive staff within the league for necessarily all of the yr. Their internet ranking of plus-12.1 issues in step with 100 possessions is greater than 15 issues higher than any of the 3 groups vying for the general playoff spot, and a three-game form must be shorten paintings for the identify contenders.
However the latter end result shouldn’t overshadow the thrill of the method, and the minor surprise it could be for the Washington Mystics to say that ultimate bid. As a reminder, the Mystics misplaced 12 consecutive video games to start out the yr. The 2015 Los Angeles Sparks lately keep the WNBA file for the longest opening dropping streak (0-7) earlier than making the playoffs. Seven video games represented 20 % of that 34-game season in 2015, however Washington beaten that mark by means of going 0-fer for 30 % of this yr, but it has rallied to take a seat within the Deny. 8 seed with two video games to play games.
The Mystics weathered accidents to Brittney Sykes, Karlie Samuelson and Shakira Austin age buying and selling away Myisha-Hines Allen. That merely intended extra playmaking tasks for Ariel Atkins, who has the easiest help price of her occupation; extra offense from Stefanie Dolson, now the league’s second-best high-volume 3-point shooter; and actual rotation mins from Emily Engstler and Sika Koné, each and every already at the 1/3 groups of their younger WNBA careers. Come what may, that has coalesced right into a season that has mixed participant construction with a postseason chase, one that may lead to no less than one lottery pick out whether or not they manufacture the playoffs or now not because of a great industry from the 2023 WNBA Draft.
The 3-team race between the Mystics, Sky and Dream most likely will closing till the general generation of the season (Thursday), and it has equipped a two-week appetizer to a postseason that at all times turns out to zoom by means of. For now, Washington lands within the projected discipline of 8. Instead of ratings this hour, right here’s how I expect the playoffs will spread in addition to some knowledge to stock in thoughts for each and every playoff staff with the postseason most effective two video games away.
Predicted champion: Minnesota Lynx
1. Unutilized York Independence
Eliminating favourite situation from the two-time protecting champion Las Vegas Aces is a elevated form, however that’s what the Independence have finished all through a dominant usual season. 3 avid gamers have make All-WNBA-worthy seasons for Unutilized York, and the situation intensity some distance exceeds what the Independence had been running with in 2023. However heading into the postseason, it’s juiceless to disregard the hot swoon of Sabrina Ionescu. The fifth-year safe is averaging 17.4 issues and six assists for the reason that Olympic crack, however age capturing 35 % from the discipline and 29 % from 3-point dimension. Unutilized York hasn’t unhidden any significant slippage regardless of Ionescu’s struggles, boasting a 12.6 internet ranking all through that reach age residue in pole place for the zenith seed within the playoffs. Alternatively, the Independence will want a greater model of Ionescu in opposition to the zenith groups within the league . They misplaced to Connecticut and maximum lately Minnesota with their manage safe capturing 3 of 13 and four of 21, respectively.
2. Minnesota Lynx
The most up to date staff all through the second one half of of the season is on occasion to all set an all-time file for help proportion. The Lynx have assisted on 76.6 % in their discipline targets this season, a testomony to their remodeled taste of play games involving fast and actual ball motion that assists in keeping defenses in rotation. Minnesota has 5 avid gamers making no less than 40 % in their 3-point field-goal makes an attempt, together with the newly-acquired Hines-Allen, because the Lynx persistently flip ill just right pictures for splendid ones to money in at the perceivable seems to be created by means of an remaining move. Warring parties haven’t but been ready to resolve the Lynx’s egalitarian offense, they usually’re working out of month.
BIG SHOT BRIDGET. pic.twitter.com/gacXonfeh6
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 15, 2024
3. Connecticut Solar
The Marina Mabrey future in Connecticut to this point needs to be regarded as a luck. When the Solar traded for Mabrey, the common supposition was once that she could be creation to inject a modest extra perimeter shot founding into Connecticut’s offense. However rather of disrupting the creation lineup, the Solar have combined and paired round Mabrey, working out who’s cooking on any given night time all through the primary 3 quarters age in most cases handing the keys to Mabrey within the fourth to alike. She is moment at the staff in fourth-quarter mins since arriving (at the back of Alyssa Thomas) and primary in fourth-quarter issues. Connecticut is nineteen.6 issues in step with 100 possessions higher with Mabrey at the courtroom for the reason that industry, and she or he is pulling down 42 % of her triples in a Solar uniform. Even though Connecticut hasn’t climbed within the standings, the Solar are 9-1 in opposition to the alternative groups on their facet of the playoff bracket, hanging them in robust place to go to a 6th consecutive travel to the WNBA semifinals.
4. Las Vegas Aces
A’ja Wilson is 2 rebounds clear of essentially the most prolific scoring and rebounding seasons in WNBA historical past in the similar yr. Consequently, the Aces could have the most productive participant at the courtroom in each and every playoff duel they compete on this season, then again lengthy that postseason run is for the protecting champs. Later losing Wilson’s 42-point struggle in opposition to Dallas, Las Vegas has received its closing seven video games that the two-time MVP has performed, together with 4 in a row in opposition to Connecticut and Indiana. The Aces have received in blowout type, hung on in grasp conditions and reeled off double-digit comebacks within the procedure. Las Vegas’ complete frame of labor nonetheless doesn’t yell championship contender, nevertheless it’s juiceless to guess in opposition to a staff with this historic monitor file, particularly when Wilson is the latter trump card in any matchup.
Skylar Diggins-Smith has been a drive over the pace day, averaging 18.9 issues and six.2 assists age capturing 46 % from the discipline. In all probability extra importantly, she has been Seattle’s nearer of past due. She had 9 fourth-quarter issues in a win in Los Angeles on Wednesday, after she adopted with game-winning isolated throws in Dallas on Friday, earlier than offering the game-saving thieve with Seattle up one ownership in opposition to the Sparks on Sunday. Diggins-Smith hasn’t performed within the postseason since 2021, when she helped Phoenix manufacture a shocking run to the finals. Within the aftermath of that loss, Diggins-Smith sounded fascinated with the entire courses she had realized in relation to preparation and mentality, and that is her first anticipation to use the ones (by the way, in opposition to the closing staff she beat within the playoffs — the Aces).
6. Indiana Fever
The Fever perceived to bump up in opposition to a metaphorical ceiling this hour, failing to jerk ill Las Vegas in two tries and struggling a season sweep by the hands of the champs. However Indiana received’t see the Aces till a possible finals form, or even accounting for the ones two video games, the Fever nonetheless have the league’s ultimate offense over the pace day. They’re jointly capturing 40 % from 3-point dimension at the easiest quantity of makes an attempt within the league, which can handover for an enchanting matchup within the first spherical in opposition to both Minnesota or Connecticut, which might be the zenith two 3-point defenses within the league.
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7. Phoenix Mercury
The Mercury aren’t precisely hovering into the postseason, with 3 wins of their closing 10 video games, and Kahleah Copper lately out with a again factor. For the reason that Bec Allen has additionally been out for the reason that Olympics, it’s juiceless to guage this model of Phoenix. At this level, the Mercury have to wish they are able to steer clear of Connecticut so long as conceivable, as a result of deny staff has been worse in opposition to the Solar. They’ve misplaced their 4 matchups by means of a mean of 20 issues and shot a traditionally unpriviledged 1 of 27 from 3-point dimension within the first of the ones defeats. Phoenix didn’t fare significantly better in opposition to Minnesota, however a 1-3 file all through the usual season supplies extra hope than similar up with Connecticut.
8. Washington Mystics
The Mystics have the third-best protection within the league for the reason that Olympic crack, and in all probability essentially the most unexpected component in their luck is what number of more youthful avid gamers have contributed to that defensive struggle. Emily Engstler was once trim from two groups earlier than touchdown in Washington, however the Mystics protection is 7 issues in step with 100 possessions higher along with her at the courtroom, as exemplified by means of a game-saving prohibit in opposition to Atlanta Friday. Koné performed 244 mins over two seasons earlier than arriving in Washington, but she has been right away empowered with the Mystics. Who can have most likely imagined a drive-and-dish from Engstler to Koné later the Hines-Allen industry (and now not all through rubbish month)?
BIG TIME BLOCK by means of Emily Engstler
WAS – ATL | ION pic.twitter.com/CT5gmvjcbQ
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 14, 2024
Washington would possibly not have the top-end ability of a few playoff-bound groups, however the Mystics undoubtedly have the component of miracle. There isn’t a accumulation of tape at the avid gamers who’re powering Washington’s second-half surge.
(Photograph of Caitlin Clark: Emilee Chinn / Getty Photographs)
