WNBA playoff primer: Sun, Aces earn right to rest, watch for now
Jonquel Jones and the Connecticut Sun have dominated opponents this season, winning their last 14 games en route to the best record in the WNBA.
That earned the Sun a double bye in the playoffs that begin Thursday. And if history is any indication, they are in a good spot to reach the finals. Since the WNBA changed its playoff format in 2016, the No. 1 seed has reached the championship round every year. They are favored to win it all, according to Fanduel Sportsbook.
“This group has been remarkable with their preparation and consistency,” Sun coach Curt Miller said in a phone interview. “People will still argue Vegas has more depth and talent, but we have certainly proven to be the most consistent team this year. It’s a credit to our group’s preparation, tenacity and unselfishness to play a style that gives us the best chance to win.”
Las Vegas, which earned the other double bye to the semifinals as the second seed, is looking to make it back to the WNBA Finals for the second straight year. The Aces lost to Seattle last season, but are much improved with the return of center Liz Cambage and guard Kelsey Plum.
The top two teams won’t play until next Tuesday, though the playoffs begin Thursday with a pair of firstround matchups. Eighth-seeded New York visits No. 5 Phoenix, and seventh-seeded Dallas heads to No. 6 Chicago.
The winners will face Minnesota and Seattle on Sunday in the second round, with the Lynx hosting the lower-seeded winner.
Some other things to know about the playoffs: Injuries: Stewart isn’t the only big-name player dealing with an injury. Phoenix veteran guard Diana Taurasi was sidelined for the team’s final few games with an ankle issue. She hopes to be ready for the first round game against New York.
New faces: Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale and New York’s Sabrina Ionescu will be two of the league’s young stars making their playoff debuts. Ogunbowale shined brightest on the game’s biggest stage in college, hitting iconic game-winning shots in the Final Four and title game to help Notre Dame win the national championship her junior year. She scored in double figures in 65 consecutive games for Dallas before seeing that streak end earlier this month.