WNBA Playoffs - week of August 25

[BRS24]

And just like that, with three weeks to go, Las Vegas has vaulted into 3rd place, up 2 spots from last week. NY down 2 spots. SEA up 2, a bit safer in the "pit". IND down 2, a bit less safe.

Five mosh pit games (MPG) between #7 - 10th place.

• SEA with potential winnable vs IND and CHI and only 1 MPG. (6 games to go)
• GS 2 MPGs are vs WAS and IND, to get them out of the 8th spot. (7 gtg)
• IND has 3 MPGs vs SEA, LA, and GS. (7 gtg)
• LA has MPGs vs IND and WAS. (9 gtg)
• WAS has 2 MPGs vs GS and LA, with a toughie vs NY. (6 gtg)

 

[visitingcock]

Vegas should get by Chicago pretty easily on Monday to force a virtual tie with Atlanta for second. Thus, Wednesday's Vegas showdown in Atlanta will be one of the most important games of the season.

Sorry A'ja: I gotta pull for Allisha and Tehina (who has grown as a contributor to the Dream lineup lately).

 

[BRS24]

With a win tonight at Chicago, the Las Vegas Aces would become the second team to clinch a spot in the playoffs, per the WNBA.

 

[Dillon77]

Very thorough posts, but I'm wondering: why isn't this part of the WNBA regular season. After all, isn't the main part of the regular season to get to the playoffs? Or at least make it "Fight for the Playoffs?" (Plus, it's yet another thread to check out...)
Great job, however!

 

[AidanFan20]

Stewie is back on the floor for the Libs!

 

[BRS24]

Very thorough posts, but I'm wondering: why isn't this part of the WNBA regular season. After all, isn't the main part of the regular season to get to the playoffs? Or at least make it "Fight for the Playoffs?" (Plus, it's yet another thread to check out...)
Great job, however!

I made a separate thread so that the post game dialogues would not get buried with anything playoff related. I'm doing a new thread each week, as I didn't want the original one to get too long, as there may be a week (this one?) where a lot of movement takes place with standings, and folks may want to comment on that.

 

[azfan]

Every WNBA team's biggest question for the stretch run

A closer look at every team's top storyline during the final few weeks of the season

open.substack.com

Great analysis particularly of the Merc.


Can Kahleah Copper find her groove before the playoffs?

A sample

they aren’t likely to go far unless they get the version of Kahleah Copper that won a championship with Chicago a few years ago. Copper dealt with injuries to begin the season and didn’t play her first game until June. There was a tough stretch when she came back in July when they lost six of seven games with her in the lineup.

While they have mostly gotten back on track in terms of wins/losses, Copper is only averaging 13.1 points and shooting 37.8% from the field in her last seven games. Her scoring has ranged anywhere from 25 against Golden State to six versus Las Vegas in a 22-point loss. Her free-throw attempts are also down significantly from last year (5.6 per game to 3.2 per game).

 

[BRS24]

How the Fever and four other WNBA teams can clinch playoff spots

Seattle, Golden State, Indiana, Los Angeles and Washington remain in the WNBA playoff hunt.

www.espn.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

Every WNBA team's biggest question for the stretch run

A closer look at every team's top storyline during the final few weeks of the season

open.substack.com

Great analysis particularly of the Merc.


Can Kahleah Copper find her groove before the playoffs?

A sample

they aren’t likely to go far unless they get the version of Kahleah Copper that won a championship with Chicago a few years ago. Copper dealt with injuries to begin the season and didn’t play her first game until June. There was a tough stretch when she came back in July when they lost six of seven games with her in the lineup.

While they have mostly gotten back on track in terms of wins/losses, Copper is only averaging 13.1 points and shooting 37.8% from the field in her last seven games. Her scoring has ranged anywhere from 25 against Golden State to six versus Las Vegas in a 22-point loss. Her free-throw attempts are also down significantly from last year (5.6 per game to 3.2 per game).

What about Sabally? She's never really gotten on track this season. She is leading them in scoring, but shooting 40% overall and a paltry 29% from 3. Copper's numbers are 42%/40%.

 

[azfan]

What about Sabally? She's never really gotten on track this season. She is leading them in scoring, but shooting 40% overall and a paltry 29% from 3. Copper's numbers are 42%/40%.

When you look at the big three in Phoenix it's been very rare that all three have been clicking in the same game. Copper in particular certainly does not seem like herself, clearly not the player she was last year.

Sabally has also been wildly inconsistent.

All this makes AT's performance all the more impressive consistent and often game changing. She rather than Sabally I think deserves the moniker unicorn.

I would have thought a 1.2 million dollar coach hired as an investment in the franchise's future after serious vetting might have been more successful in getting these three parts together particularly after absences due to injury or personal reasons.

The inconsistent performance I think reflects how challenging the W is particularly coaching. I look back and remember with fondness the outstanding coaching in Phoenix of Sandy Brondello and look to Las Vegas as another exemplar of elite coaching.

I hope I'll be proved wrong about Nate as we enter a critical stretch of games that would provide Phoenix with the opportunity to host in the first round. That said I share skepticism with my fellow BYers,, just not about Sandy or Becky but about Nate. I'm not certain it matters unless Phoenix drops all the way to 6th because the 4/5 winner will get to play the Lynx..... and that spells elimination.