WNBA playoffs 2023: First-round predictions and keys to each series
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M.A. Voepel and Alexa Philippou14 Minute Read
Mystics win it on buzzer-beater from Brittney Sykes
Brittney Sykes gets the inbound pass and gets the shot to fall at the buzzer as the Mystics defeat the Liberty 90-88.
WNBA fans have two days to catch their breath before the race to the 2023 championship continues Wednesday. The seeding order of the WNBA playoffs wasn’t finalized until the last day of the regular season Sunday, but the two teams projected to be on top — the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty — are there.
Will that still be the case about a month from now when the WNBA Finals begin Oct. 8?
“You can’t really focus on anything but the next game, because people are too good,” Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum said. “Forget everything that happened in the regular season. You have to treat it as a one-and-done type of thing in terms of our sense of urgency.”
Two of the first-round series, which are best of three, will open Wednesday; the other two begin Friday, with all games on the ABC/ESPN family of networks. Can the Aces become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02? Can the Liberty, an original WNBA franchise, finally win the league title? Or will we end up with a more unexpected Finals matchup?
We break down the matchups, along with some help from ESPN Fantasy Games writer Eric Moody.
A’ja Wilson shrugs after draining a turnaround jumper
A’ja Wilson shrugs after draining a turnaround jumper to extend the Aces’ lead.
Game 1: Chicago at Las Vegas, 10 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
Regular season: Las Vegas won 3-0
The Aces’ won their most recent game against the Sky, 94-87 on Aug. 24 in Chicago, but trailed 50-37 at halftime. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said, “We had to put together a hell of a second half to pull that game out. They’re kind of a three-headed monster with that guard trio.”
The Aces’ perimeter starters — Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young — are an even bigger obstacle. Still, Chicago’s Kahleah Copper, Marina Mabrey and Courtney Williams — who had her second triple-double of the season Sunday — also can cause teams a lot of trouble.
“Copper is super dynamic, can score at all three levels,” Plum said. “Marina is a flame-thrower. Courtney, I’ve been impressed with her this entire season, how she’s kind of been the leader and managed the team. And then Dana [Evans] coming off the bench; I think she’s the fastest guard in the league in terms of spot to spot. I have to be guarding all the fast people, so I would know.”
The Aces’ guard trio, though, averaged 51.1 points and 15.5 assists. And forward A’ja Wilson (22.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG) has put together another potential MVP season. With Candace Parker out injured since early July, Wilson has again carried the weight inside for Las Vegas.
What X factor or one-on-one matchup will most impact the series?
As good as the Aces’ offense has been these past two seasons, averaging a league-high 92.8 PPG this…
Read More: WNBA playoffs 2023: First-round predictions and keys to each series 2023-09-12 00:20:00