Sparks, Lynx to meet, but not as expected
The WNBA playoffs are set after a wild, unpredictable regular season ended Sunday.
As expected, Los Angeles and Minnesota will meet in the postseason for a third straight year. Unexpectedly, it’s in the first round.
The two-time WNBA finalists finished a surprising sixth and seventh in the regular season and will face each other in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
“Minnesota is a good team,” Los Angeles head coach Brian Agler said. “They have veteran savviness, tough-minded championship pedigree and we have played them enough, over 20 times in three years, so we know each other pretty well.”
Phoenix will host Dallas, which earned the final playoff spot Friday, in the other firstround elimination game.
Seattle and Atlanta earned byes to the semifinals by finishing first and second. The Dream clinched the No. 2 spot on the final day of the regular season. Washington and Connecticut earned first-round byes.
“We are thrilled. There is a whole lot of parity in the league,” WNBA President Lisa Borders said Sunday night. “Clearly anyone can beat anyone on any given day. We are thrilled with the unpredictability.”
Here are a few things to watch for in the opening round of the playoffs: One last ride: Minnesota point guard Lindsay Whalen announced she will retire after the season. She has won four titles with the Lynx and hopes to have one more shot at a championship.
The Lynx would have to beat Los Angeles and either Washington or Connecticut to get a chance to play at home again.
“It was Lindsay Whalen’s last time at Target Center as a competitor in the WNBA during the regular season. I think we would all like to give her another chance to come back here, but we’ll just take it one day at a time,” Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said. New life: Dallas backed its way into the postseason, losing nine straight before beating Las Vegas to reach the postseason.
“We’re hungry and thirsty out there, and we finally got what we needed,” Dallas center Liz Cambage said. “We made it hard for ourselves losing nine in a row, but we went out and left it all out there. I’m really proud of my team.”
Dallas lost to Washington in the opening round last season.