The WNBA playoffs are set to begin on September 14, and 8 of the league’s 13 teams will face off in a best-of-three series.
If the WNBA playoffs began today, here’s who would face off...
Lynx vs. Mystics, Liberty vs. Aces — and every potential first-round match-up, previewed.
Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
Starting this year, first-round games will be played in a home-away-home format, meaning that the lower-seeded team is guaranteed to get at least one game in front of their home crowd.
We’re still about six weeks out from the conclusion of the WNBA’s regular season, but here’s who will face off if the playoffs were to begin today.
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 Washington Mystics
With a 21-4 record, the Lynx have been the WNBA’s most consistent team. Napheesa Collier appears to be a clear frontrunner for MVP, and Minnesota’s three All-Stars — Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams — seem motivated to bounce back from last year’s Finals loss.
The Mystics have exceeded expectations, in large part due to the play of their two rookies, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Both players were named All-Stars, as was Brittney Sykes, who is having a career season at age 31. Washington would be a serious underdog in this series, but the fact that they’re in the playoff race to begin with is something to celebrate.
No. 2 New York Liberty vs. No. 7 Las Vegas Aces
The last two WNBA champions would face off in a first-round series if the playoffs were to begin today. The Liberty (16-6) slid a bit when Jonquel Jones went out with an ankle injury, but they’ve now won four straight games and have added Belgian star Emma Meeseman to the mix.
Meanwhile, the Aces have been underwhelming at 12-12, and Jewell Loyd has been a downgrade for Kelsey Plum. Still, Las Vegas has three-time MVP A’ja Wilson and a championship core alongside Wilson headlined by Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. This would be a star-studded first-round series.
No. 3 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
The Mercury (15-8) have quietly been one of the WNBA’s most dominant teams. Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas have led the charge, but Kahleah Copper is back in the mix, too, after coming back from preseason knee surgery. DeWanna Bonner, who joined the Mercury earlier this month, has been excellent in her four games, averaging 14.5 points on 51.4% shooting.
Meanwhile, the Fever (13-12) have had a frustrating season, headlined by the injury struggles of star sophomore guard Caitlin Clark. Clark has dealt with calf and groin injuries and has appeared in just 13 games this season. Assuming she’s back from her groin injury by the postseason, the Fever are a wildcard team to make a playoff push, in large part thanks to consistent play from fellow All-Stars Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.
This first-round series would also be an opportunity for Bonner to face the team she began the year with.
No. 4 Seattle Storm vs. No. 5 Atlanta Dream
The Storm (15-10) and Dream (14-10) would face off if the WNBA playoffs began today. The Dream have won just 4 of their last 10 games and are on the decline after starting the year hot, while the Storm have won 6 of 10 to hold onto fourth place.
Seattle’s strong play can largely be attributed to its All-Star trio of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Gabby Williams, and Nneka Ogwumike, with Williams earning her first All-Star selection amid a career season, particularly on the defensive end.
On the Dream side, Allisha Gray is having an MVP-caliber season, Rhyne Howard has earned her first All-Star selection, and the additions of Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner have elevated the Dream from a fringe playoff team to a contender. This would likely be one of the league’s most competitive first-round series.
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