Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. Here’s what’s going on in the WNBA.
The Seattle Storm have clinched a semifinal berth in the playoffs.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen Gosling/Getty Images.)
The Seattle Storm have been the favorites for most of the year so, of course, they’re the first ones to clinch a semifinal berth in the WNBA Playoffs this year. They can rest while 6 other teams play an extra game or two.
They broke away from Dallas on Wednesday with an 11-0 run that ran from the end of the third to the start of the fourth. The Wings never caught them after that but they also lost Satou Sabally midway through the fourth in a collision with Sue Bird, who also left the game. Sabally, at that point, had 25 points and 7 boards.
I’ve raved about Breanna Stewart a ton here but she did her job again with 23-11-6. I definitely thinks she’s the leading candidate to win her second MVP award. And again, I can’t say enough on how remarkable it is that she seems better than ever after tearing her Achilles’ tendon. It’s incredible.
And remember that I said that Seattle would be the most unstoppable, especially once Natasha Howard gets going. And Howard has looked fantastic the last half of the season. She’s averaging 14.2 points, 8.8 boards, and 2.3 steals as she reclaims her Defensive Player of the Year form from last season.
Jewell Loyd continues to be that secondary scorer (remember that game-winner!). Jordin Canada has been great as Bird’s replacement. Sami Whitcomb is having a career year. Alysha Clark has been a steady role player. And Ezi Magbegor has given quality minutes as a rookie. They’ve only lost three games all season. Why wouldn’t they be the favorites?
Hopefully, Sue Bird gets healthy soon. She’s turning 40 on October. And if this is her last hurrah, there’s nothing better than going out on top. And Seattle is in a great position to win it all.
Bullet Passes
The rematch between the Sun and the Mercury happened. And, man, did Skylar Diggins-Smith prevent the Sun from sweeping. What a shot (you’ll see it below). A big three by Diana Taurasi followed by a Skylar J gave the Merc a 5-point lead in OT. They would hold off the Sun for the rest of the contest. By the way, Skylar scored 33 points in that game.
DeWanna Bonner averaged 28.5 points in two games against her former team. She did all she could but a Skylar three changed the second game’s results.
The Chicago Sky have lost four straight games and 6 out of 7 overall. They’ve already clinched a postseason berth but I worry how they’re going to do in the knockout first round.
Don’t give up the playoff dream, Atlanta! They’re only a full game behind Dallas with two to go!
Double U Scoreboard
PHX 100 (13-8) vs CON 95 (10-11)
ATL 97 (6-14) vs CHI 89 (11-10)
DAL 95 (7-13) vs SEA 107 (17-3)
Watch This Play
Watch Skylar send this to OT from distance.
Skylar’s number one 😈#4TheValley x #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/vm0bR2A9Lv
— Phoenix Mercury (x) (@PhoenixMercury) September 10, 2020
ICE IN HER VEINS.
Four more nights of regular season play for the WNBA. Hope everyone in the Wubble is staying safe.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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