While the seasons change from summer to fall, the WNBA season changes from the regular season to the WNBA playoffs. It took until the final day of the season to fill all the playoff spots, and tonight the single-elimination game’s tipoff. Before they do, here are predictions from writers at Beyond Women’s Sports. They’ll each share who they think makes the WNBA Finals, and who will lift the championship trophy in October.
LaDarius
Finally, the WNBA playoffs are here and the field this year feels wide open. For example, the defending WNBA Champions, the Seattle Storm, were 16-5 before the Olympic break. Returning to league play, Seattle was only 6-6. Moreover, losing three-time All-Star and 2018 league MVP Breanna Stewart to injury does not help matters whatsoever. Her status for the playoffs is a “stormy” situation for Seattle.
On the other hand, other teams are entering very hot (i.e., Connecticut Sun on a 14-game
winning streak). In addition to the Sun, the Las Vegas Aces and Minnesota Lynx are 8-2 and 9-1,
respectively, in their last 10 games.
However, you can never sleep on the Phoenix Mercury with the backcourt of Diana Taurasi & Skyler Diggins-Smith. By the way, they have one of the best centers in the game in Brittney Griner, a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
All things considered, I expect to see a Sun-Aces WNBA Finals. In truth, these are the two best
teams in the league. Seeing projected MVP Jonquel Jones, most improved player Brionna Jones,
and DeWanna Bonner will be fun. As for the Aces, A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Dearica
Hamby, the two-time reigning sixth woman of the year.
Of course, the x-factors of Liz Cambage for the Aces and Alyssa Thomas of the Sun adds to the intrigue.
At this point, you probably want me to choose a winner. Well, since you have read this far, I will
go with the Sun. They came close in 2019, losing to the Washington Mystics in the Finals. This time, Curt Miller and this team close the deal.
Lamarr
For the WNBA Finals, I have the Connecticut Sun and the Las Vegas Aces. With Stewart’s status up in the air, I don’t know if Seattle can make a run.
Connecticut has been playing well, and with Thomas back, their frontcourt is even more dangerous. Also, the Sun perimeter play has improved from last year, given them more of a threat from the outside.
The Aces have size inside with Cambage and Wilson and with an improved bench, they’re ready for a title run. Chelsea Gray gives the Aces a big shot maker.
If both of these teams make finals it will be a hard fought physical series and it would be great to watch. I have the Aces winning in five games but it could go either way.
Thomas
In 2016, the WNBA moved to the current WNBA Playoff format. In it, there are two rounds of single-elimination games, for the third through eighth seeds, and seeds one and two get to watch the chaos from home; until the best of best-of-five games semifinal. It should come as no surprise that not a single team above the third seed’s made it to the WNBA Finals since the Eastern Conference v Western Conference format was abandoned.
That will change this year.
In the WNBA Finals will be the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury. Phoenix comes into the playoffs as the fifth seed. It will be a miracle run, compared to past seasons, but a team with Griner, Diggins-Smith, and Taurasi isn’t much of a cinderella story. If Taurasi can stay healthy, they can easily get past the Liberty and beat a Storm side that has questions surrounding Stewart’s health.
Connecticut and Phoenix will go all five games, in a dramatic Mercury finish. I think having nine days off between games will help the Mercury get into a strong rhythm, while the Sun wait for their series to begin. Unfortunately, the Hollywood-style comeback story will end there. Wilson and the Aces will avenge being swept in the 2020 WNBA Finals to win in four games.
Penny
Tonight the WNBA playoffs commence and I foresee the future and predict the Las Vegas Aces winning it all this year. Two things they need to work on before that comes to fruition. First, the Aces need to work on covering the 3-ball. Often they miscommunicate on defense and by the time you see it, it’s too late and their defender is wide open by the three-point line. If they can defend whomever they are facing in the finals; whether is the Sun or another team, they will win the chip. Defending the 3-ball has been their weakness all season long.
Secondly, the key role-players need to play up to par including their second unit. Players like Jackie Young, Plum, Hamby, Riquna Williams, Liz, and even Kiah Stokes need to play their best for the Aces to win it all. If this scenario plays out perfectly or close to perfect, the Las Vegas Aces will become the 2021 champions.
We can’t forget about the reigning regular-season MVP, Wilson, who has had an outstanding season and has integrated ( facilitator to her resume). Wilson averaged 3.1 assists per game this year. A selfless player who does anything to help her team win.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports all playoffs long for more from the WNBA.
