The Chicago Sky are set to start their bid to turn into the primary back-to-back W.N.B.A. champions because the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002. But the common season was once shut on the peak, and several other groups may simply carry the trophy this yr.
Here’s how the W.N.B.A. playoffs form up.
When do the playoffs get started?
Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern time, when the second-seeded Sky host the seventh-seeded Liberty. At 10 p.m., the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces host the eighth-seeded Phoenix Mercury.
The different two sequence — No. 3 Connecticut Sun vs. No. 6 Dallas Wings and No. 4 Seattle Storm vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics — get started Thursday.
How do the playoffs paintings?
The first spherical is easiest of 3, with the higher-seeded crew internet hosting the primary two video games. If a 3rd recreation is vital, it’ll be performed on the house of the lower-seeded crew.
The semifinals and finals are easiest of 5, following a conventional 2-2-1 layout for house video games.
Besides the enjoyment of constructing it to the tip, the finals will carry the gamers every other perk. For that spherical most effective, the league pays for groups to fly by means of chartered airplane.
Where can I watch the video games?
ABC and the quite a lot of ESPN channels will display the playoffs. Games will also be streamed by means of ESPN.
When are the finals?
They are scheduled to start on Sept. 11 and run via Sept. 20 if all 5 video games are wanted.
Who’s going to win?
The giant 3 are Las Vegas, Chicago and Connecticut, who all completed inside a recreation of one another on the peak. Seattle and Washington, which completed with similar data of 22-14, are the following tier down.
It could be very laborious to look any of the ground 3 groups profitable. Dallas was once .500, and the Liberty and Phoenix each misplaced greater than they received within the common season.
For the statistically minded, Las Vegas had the league’s maximum potent offense, scoring 109.6 issues in keeping with 100 possessions. Washington had the stingiest protection, permitting simply 96 issues in keeping with 100 possessions.
But in internet ranking, combining offense and protection, it was once Connecticut on the peak, scoring 9.5 issues greater than the opposition in keeping with 100 possessions. That may make the third-seeded Sun a sneaky favourite.
Who are the gamers to look at?
The top-seeded Aces have a formidable one-two punch. Forward A’ja Wilson is a favourite for the Most Valuable Player Award after completing within the peak 5 in issues in keeping with recreation (19.5) and rebounds in keeping with recreation (9.4), and guard Kelsey Plum scored 20.2 issues a recreation whilst main the league in 3-pointers made.
Seattle has every other M.V.P. candidate in ahead Breanna Stewart, who led the league in scoring with 21.8 issues in keeping with recreation, and few will take their eyes off the mythical Sue Bird, 41, the W.N.B.A. profession assists chief, who will retire after the playoffs.
And it’ll be price observing Sabrina Ionescu of the Liberty, who at this level nonetheless has only one profession playoff recreation.
What’s the historical past?
Seattle has 4 W.N.B.A. titles, they all — sure, even the only again in 2004 — with Bird. Phoenix has received 3 times; as soon as each and every for Washington and Chicago. The Dallas Wings received 3 times after they had been referred to as the Detroit Shock. The different 3 groups are looking for their first titles. It’s a particularly sore level for the Liberty, who’ve been within the league since its first season in 1997.
What groups and gamers are lacking?
Seven of the 8 groups are the similar as in ultimate yr’s playoffs. With Washington returning after a yr away, the abnormal crew out is the Minnesota Lynx, who completed 14-22 and snapped an 11-season playoff streak.
That approach no playoff exhibit for Sylvia Fowles, who’s retiring after a season during which she led the league in rebounds in keeping with recreation.
The absence of the Los Angeles Sparks will price fanatics an opportunity to look extra of Nneka Ogwumike and the steals chief, Brittney Sykes.
The Mercury can be with out each the injured Diana Taurasi, the W.N.B.A.’s profession chief in scoring, and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who led Phoenix in scoring this season however will omit the playoffs for private causes. But the crew’s grimmest absence of all is Brittney Griner, who’s interesting her conviction on drug-smuggling fees in Russia, the place she has been imprisoned since February.