Predictions: Who will win within the second spherical?
Mechelle VoepelespnW.com
CloseMechelle Voepel covers the WNBA, girls’s school basketball, and different school sports activities for espnW. Voepel started protecting girls’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.
The primary spherical of the WNBA playoffs went to kind, with each higher-seeded dwelling groups, No. 5 Chicago Sky and No. 6 Seattle Storm, advancing. However now they’re those who should go on the street.
The third-seeded Los Angeles Sparks and No. Four Las Vegas Aces host Sunday’s second-round video games. The Sparks are 15-2 at Staples Middle, and have gained 14 video games in a row there. Their solely losses at dwelling got here back-to-back, June 15-18, to New York and Washington.
The Aces are 13-Four at dwelling, however their standard enviornment, Mandalay Bay Occasions Middle, is booked for a live performance Sunday. They’re going to play shut by, at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Each matchups would appear very interesting as collection, however it’s all-or-nothing Sunday, with the winners transferring on to semifinal collection with the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Solar.
No. 6 Seattle at No. three Los Angeles (ESPN2, three p.m. ET)
Season collection: Sparks gained 2-1
June 21: At Seattle 84, Los Angeles 62
Aug. Four: At Los Angeles 83, Seattle 75
Sept. 5: At Los Angeles 102, Seattle 68
The Storm have defied the projections this 12 months after being with out 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart and veteran level guard Sue Hen because of accidents. The defending champions have proven plenty of grit, however quite a lot of younger expertise has additionally blossomed. Ahead Natasha Howard was the WNBA defensive participant of the 12 months, middle Mercedes Russell made a giant bounce in her second season, and guards Jordin Canada and Jewell Loyd are coming off a sport during which they dominated Minnesota’s backcourt with a mixed 48 factors.
Howard is seeking to bounce again after scoring a season-low two factors Wednesday. However the newest sport she and the Storm performed at Los Angeles, on Sept. 5, was considered one of their worst of the season. Howard was simply three of 14 from the sphere in that 34-point loss.
That Sparks group was hitting on all cylinders, which has not been the case at instances as they’ve adjusted to a brand new coach in Derek Fisher, accidents to veterans like Alana Beard and Candace Parker, and a 10-game suspension of Riquna Williams.
The Sparks even have included Chiney Ogwumike, as she joined her sister, fellow ahead Nneka. Level guard Chelsea Grey, who at 32.6 led the group in minutes performed by a large margin and was second within the league in assists, pulls all of it collectively for Los Angeles.
Choose: Los Angeles. When the Sparks have been dangerous, it is appeared like 5 folks all enjoying their very own sport with no cohesiveness. However when the Sparks have been on the identical web page, they have been fearsome. They gained seven of their final 9 video games within the common season and at last appeared to click on as a unit. In the event that they play like that, then they’re going to advance to the semifinals. But when they do not, Seattle can win.
No. 5 Chicago at No. Four Las Vegas (ESPN2, 5 p.m. ET)
Season collection: Aces gained 2-1
July 2: At Las Vegas 90, Chicago 82
Aug. 9: Chicago 87, at Las Vegas 84
Aug. 18: Las Vegas 100, at Chicago 85
Rising star alert! Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson and Chicago’s Diamond DeShields had been the Nos. 1 and three draft picks in 2018, and now have their first playoff matchup. Neither group made the postseason final 12 months. DeShields excelled in her playoff debut Wednesday, scoring 25 factors. Phoenix could not decelerate DeShields or the remainder of the Sky’s offense in a 105-76 Chicago victory.
However the Aces had the highest defensive score within the league in the course of the common season (95.zero). DeShields averaged 18.three factors within the Sky’s three video games in opposition to Las Vegas, capturing simply 14 of 44 from the sphere however 22 of 24 from the foul line. The Aces will attempt to do a greater job of not fouling her.
Wilson missed 9 video games this 12 months — together with the Aug. 9 loss to the Sky — with an ankle damage. She returned Aug. 18 in opposition to the Sky and scored 25 factors to assist the Aces safe a spot within the postseason.
When wholesome, Wilson made for a really efficient combo with middle Liz Cambage, who would be the most proficient middle on the court docket on this sport, but additionally essentially the most focused. The Sky’s posts will do what they’ll to physique up and frustrate Cambage.
Chicago has the extra constant and skilled backcourt with Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley, however Las Vegas’ Kayla McBride and Kelsey Plum are able to large offensive performances. And the gamers off the bench for each groups, significantly Las Vegas’ Dearica Hamby, may very well be key components.
Choose: Las Vegas. That is robust, as a result of Chicago has continued to get higher all through the season and Sky will come into Las Vegas with plenty of confidence. Anticipate a detailed sport that can go to the wire, and require some large performs from Wilson or Cambage to seal the victory.