Las Vegas Aces heart A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates in the course of the second half of a WNBA basketball recreation in opposition to the Connecticut Solar, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Solar by way of AP)
The defending champion Las Vegas Aces and A’ja Wilson will look to three-peat whereas sensation rookie Caitlin Clark makes her postseason debut when the WNBA playoffs start Sunday.
These are simply two of the storylines to comply with when the league’s postseason begins.
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That is the third straight postseason the league will use a best-of-three format within the first spherical with the upper seeded workforce internet hosting the primary two video games. A decisive third recreation could be performed on the residence of the decrease seed.
READ: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese change WNBA’s panorama, and its future
Many gamers and coaches weren’t thrilled with the format particularly now that the league supplied groups constitution flights all season lengthy. The WNBA chartered flights for all playoff video games beginning in 2023.
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“Now that we’ve got charters that ought to have modified mechanically,” New York ahead Breanna Stewart stated. “To create the home-court benefit. So there’s just a few, like, little nuances that must be checked out and be dissected just a little bit. Clearly if we will prolong playoffs, it makes it really feel just a little bit much less rushed.”
READ: Caitlin Clark heads to WNBA postseason, Aces search for 3-peat
New York, which hosts Atlanta within the first spherical, performed the Dream within the remaining regular-season recreation on Thursday. So each groups have been already within the metropolis for this weekend’s opening recreation.
Right here are some things to search for:
Rookie debut
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) indicators mini basketballs for followers following in a WNBA basketball recreation in opposition to the Dallas Wings in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photograph/Michael Conroy)
Caitlin Clark will attempt to grow to be the primary rookie since her idol, Maya Moore, to guide a workforce to the WNBA championship. The Fever open in Connecticut because the No. 6 seed. Clark had a stellar first yr, breaking the league’s help document in addition to setting the rookie factors mark. Clark together with the remainder of the rookie class helped lead the WNBA to unbelievable scores and attendance this season.
Calling it a profession?
Diana Taurasi hasn’t introduced whether or not that is her remaining yr within the WNBA, however the Phoenix Mercury honored her at their remaining residence regular-season recreation. Taurasi is the profession playoff chief in factors and would love an opportunity at yet one more championship. The Mercury have a troublesome street, going through No. 2 seed Minnesota within the opening spherical.
Three-peat
The Las Vegas Aces turned the primary workforce because the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02 to win consecutive WNBA titles and now are attempting to grow to be solely the second workforce ever to win three consecutive championships. Led by Wilson, the fourth-seeded Aces are peaking on the proper time, with 9 wins of their final 10 video games heading into the playoffs. The Aces began off slowly this season whereas Chelsea Grey was out recovering from a foot damage suffered within the WNBA Finals final yr. First up is Seattle within the 4-5 matchup.
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Report breakers
Courtney Vandersloot is three assists in need of passing Sue Chook’s playoff document of 364. The Liberty level guard has performed it in 10 fewer video games. … Connecticut wing DeWanna Bonner is 2 video games in need of equaling Lindsay Whalen’s mark of 82 playoff appearances. … The Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm are tied with the Houston Comets for many championships with 4 every. New York continues to be in search of its first — it’s the one authentic WNBA franchise left that hasn’t win a title.