Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. Here’s what’s going on in the WNBA.
The Las Vegas Aces are now guaranteed a bye to the second round after their win.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Chris O’Meara/AP.)
So the WNBA Playoff Picture is becoming more clear. Not a lot of spots are locked in but we do know that the Las Vegas Aces have clinched a bye to the second round after their win over the slumping Indiana Fever.
Vegas is second overall in the standings and, as we know in the WNBA format, the top two teams get spots in the semifinals immediately and wait for the other six teams to battle it out for the other semifinal spots. Let’s take a look at the overall standings.
The Seattle Storm sit on top of the standings.
The Top 8 make it to the postseason round. And then teams from 5-8 battle in the first round (5 goes against 8 and 6 goes against 7) where it’s only a one-and-done elimination game. The winners advance to the second round and the lower seed takes on the #3 seed and the higher seed takes on the #4 seed. This will be ANOTHER elimination game. The winners advance to take on the top two teams in a 5-game series. Lower seed takes on the #1 seed and the higher one takes on the #2. Winners of the semis advance to the Finals where another 5-game series awaits.
The WNBA obviously had a truncated season. Instead of 36 games (which was supposed to be an increase from 34 in previous years), we only got 22. Who knows how it will be next season?
Anyway, the current standings indicate, we’ll have #5 Phoenix against #8 Dallas. Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith take on Arike Ogunbowale, who might be the most clutch player in women’s basketball in the last few years. On the other side of the bracket, we have the #6 Chicago Sky and the surging #7 Connecticut Sun against each other. That will be something.
As of now, the #3 L.A. Sparks and #4 Minnesota Lynx would be waiting in the second round. But the #1 Storm and #2 Aces would be waiting in the semis, getting a bit more rest than all the other six teams playing.
The playoffs start on September 15th. I, for one, can’t wait to see a higher level of women’s basketball in the Wubble.
Bullet Passes
There was speculation about why Amanda Zahui B did not play in their game against the Sparks. The New York Liberty are apparently trying to preview their next season by playing other players. Well, it clearly didn’t work out well with the Sparks blowing them out.
Who did work out was Jocelyn Willoughby going for 21 points off 5 for 5 from three.
All of this wouldn’t be happening if Sabrina Ionescu didn’t hurt her ankle. One thing could change everything. Hope Sabrina continues to get better. And we can’t forget that Asia Durr sat out this season.
The Mystics upset the Lynx in a close one. I feel like it’s a foregone conclusion that Myisha Hines-Allen will win the Most Improved Player award. Her scoring average jumped from 2.3 last season to 16.1. Sure, she got more playing time but maybe because it was warranted because HER GAME IMPROVED. What a concept!
Now the Indiana Fever look really sad. They’ve lost 8 straight games.
Double U Scoreboard
LA 96 (15-5) vs NY 70 (2-17)
MIN 86 (13-7) vs WAS 89 (6-13)
IND 86 (5-15) vs LV 92 (15-4)
Watch This Play
But hey, Julie Allemand from the Fever is a bright spot. Check out the distance!
.@JulieAllemand from DEEP at the buzzer to give her a career-high FIVE 3PM!
📺 ESPN2 | #BradentonArea pic.twitter.com/SZGZsobgOS
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 9, 2020
Five more nights of regular season play for the WNBA. Please stay safe in the Wubble.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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