As the WNBA returns from its Olympic break, the first game will be the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun competing for the Commissioner’s Cup. This is not their first meeting this season. They have played twice against one another, with the Storm winning both matchups. Overall, both teams are led by Olympic gold medalists and All-Stars.
This is gonna be a goooood matchup 🍿👀
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 10, 2021
Get hyped for the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup Championship game this Thursday on @PrimeVideo at 9pm/ET! pic.twitter.com/RZPJz7nBCb
Firstly, the Connecticut Sun has a four-game lead in the Eastern Conference over the Chicago Sky. They are led by all-star center Jonquel Jones, who’s second in the WNBA in points per game (21.0) and first in rebounds per game (11.1).
Jones, a frontrunner for WNBA MVP, also leads the league in defensive win shares (0.221). Equally important, every starter in the Sun lineup is in the top ten in defensive win shares (shares-rank):
- Guard Jasmine Thomas (0.199 – 3rd)
- Forward DeWanna Bonner (0.190 – 6th)
- Forward Brionna Jones (0.184 – 8th)
- Guard Briann January (0.174 – 10th)
Given these points, they are good defensively as a team. Presently, they allow the fewest points per game in the paint (29.3) in addition to 2nd chance points (7.4).
Secondly, the Seattle Storm has a one-game lead over the Las Vegas Aces in the Western Conference. Overall, they have the best record in the WNBA with a 16-5 mark. This roster has three Olympians: guard Sue Bird, who won her 5th gold medal in Tokyo, guard Jewell Loyd, and forward Breanna Stewart. Bird has made the second most three-pointers this season (50) as well as in the top 5 in assists per game (5.5).
Stewart, like Jones, is an MVP candidate. She is third in the league, averaging 20.6 points per game. What’s more, she is fifth in rebounds per game with 9.6. As a team, the Storm hits the third-highest percentage of points from the three-point range (31.6%). Forward Stephanie Talbot is 51.4% from beyond the arc, leading the WNBA.
What is the Commissioner’s Cup?
Defined as a “competition within a competition,” regular-season action took on an additional level of significance as 60 select, intra-conference “Cup games” were played in the first half of the WNBA season. After the games, the Sun and Storm led their respective conferences.
Who Wins the Cup?
I find myself quite torn about this matchup because it is a classic matchup of two teams who are great on opposite sides of the ball. On one hand, the Sun’s defense is one of the best in the WNBA. Their defensive rating of 95.1 is tied for 1st in the league. On the other hand, the Storm’s offense is second to none. Their offensive rating of 105.1 is second in the WNBA.
The biggest factor is the fatigue factor of the three Storm players who competed in the gold medal game in Toyko. Bird, Loyd, and Stewart competed just five days ago and now will play in this game. Specifically, how rested are they? Nonetheless, I like the Storm because of the offense and their two wins over the Sun. However, Jones and the Sun will not go down without a fight.
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