2024 WNBA Playoffs

[amh03]

New threads are a good thing, right? Thought it would be fun to start a thread for discussion about the playoffs.

Are there any unofficial reports as to playoff start times on Sunday? I'm driving down to Brooklyn and really hope we get an afternoon game so we can get back home and get at least a little sleep.

I read that the schedules will be set after the final games on Thursday, @Bunt4aTriple.

So hopefully we’ll know Friday morning?

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

Taking my soon-to-be-14-year-old down for her birthday. I gave her the option of Sun or Liberty, but Sabrina is her favorite player and when we went to pick tickets, she wanted the rail of the home team tunnel. Fortunately, we got the selfie out of the way in Connecticut earlier this summer!

 

[amh03]

That's AWESOME, @Bunt4aTriple!! You should try for another pic anyway!! Enjoy!!

 

[amh03]

Here’s Round 1 matchups -

Sunday, September 22 (Game 1):
1 p.m.: No. 8 Atlanta Dream at No. 1 New York Liberty, ESPN

3 p.m.: No. 6 Indiana Fever at No. 3 Connecticut Sun, ABC

5 p.m.: No. 7 Phoenix Mercury at No. 2 Minnesota Lynx, ESPN

10 p.m.: No. 5 Seattle Storm at No. 4 Las Vegas Aces, ESPN

Tuesday, September 24 (Game 2):
7:30 p.m.: No. 8 Atlanta Dream at No. 1 New York Liberty, ESPN

9:30 p.m.: No. 5 Seattle Storm at No. 4 Las Vegas Aces, ESPN

Wednesday, September 25 (Game 2):
7:30 p.m.: No. 6 Indiana Fever at No. 3 Connecticut Sun, ESPN

9:30 p.m.: No. 7 Phoenix Mercury at No. 2 Minnesota Lynx, ESPN

Thursday, September 26 (Game 3, If Necessary):
Time TBD: No. 1 New York Liberty at No. 8 Atlanta Dream, ESPN2

Time TBD: No. 4 Las Vegas Aces at No. 5 Seattle Storm, ESPN2

Friday, September 27 (Game 3, If Necessary):
Time TBD: No. 3 Connecticut Sun at No. 6 Indiana Fever, ESPN2

Time TBD: No. 2 Minnesota Lynx at No. 7 Phoenix Mercury, ESPN2

 

[BaseballJones]

I’ll be at Mohegan on Sunday. Should be a great environment!

 

[InstaFace]

I love them going head-to-head with the NFL. Different audiences! Can't be running scared. And ESPN carrying 3 of the 4 games that day on the flagship channel, with the Fever game with Clark getting an even bigger reach on ABC. Great stuff.

Bit surprised that the deciding games would all be on ESPN2 given that lead-up. It's a Thursday and Friday, it's not like ESPN has a ton going on, but I don't know their schedules all that well.

 

[amh03]

I’ll be at Mohegan on Sunday. Should be a great environment!

Should be pretty electric…enjoy! Interesting format in the first round of these playoffs with the higher seed team hosting the first 2 (of 3) and if needed, the lower seed gets to host the 3rd game. Do you expect the crowd to be heavily Sun fans or more of a mix?

We were there on Thursday…my first game down at Mohegan. Had a very fun time and the Sun played pretty well, though it was against a very depleted Sky team.

 

[BaseballJones]

Should be pretty electric…enjoy! Interesting format in the first round of these playoffs with the higher seed team hosting the first 2 (of 3) and if needed, the lower seed gets to host the 3rd game. Do you expect the crowd to be heavily Sun fans or more of a mix?

We were there on Thursday…my first game down at Mohegan. Had a very fun time and the Sun played pretty well, though it was against a very depleted Sky team.

I expect this series to go three. Indiana will win one of the games in CT, meaning the Sun will have to win the decisive third game on the road.

It is a strange format, born out of the desire to save money on travel while still giving the higher seed the advantage. Playing the first game at the lower seed and then going to play the last two at the higher seed guaranteed that the teams would travel. But playing the first two at the higher seed likely means that some of the higher seeds will sweep, reducing travel costs around the league.

Today will be mostly Sun fans but there will be plenty of 22 Clark jerseys around, that’s for sure.

 

[benhogan]

Damn I wish they went up against early-season college football instead of the NFL.

I'll have to remember to turn on the Fever game at 3 for the 2nd half

 

[amh03]

I expect this series to go three. Indiana will win one of the games in CT, meaning the Sun will have to win the decisive third game on the road.

It is a strange format, born out of the desire to save money on travel while still giving the higher seed the advantage. Playing the first game at the lower seed and then going to play the last two at the higher seed guaranteed that the teams would travel. But playing the first two at the higher seed likely means that some of the higher seeds will sweep, reducing travel costs around the league.

Today will be mostly Sun fans but there will be plenty of 22 Clark jerseys around, that’s for sure.

It is an interesting format…and if the lower seeded team can win in one of the first 2 games, they end up w/home court advantage. With charter flights now the norm, I wonder if they’ll switch to a 1-1-1 schedule next year.

Anyone predicting outcomes? Round 1 I’m picking Liberty, Aces, Lynx & Sun. The Sun/Fever matchup is the closest, in my opinion. I’m giving the slight lead to the Sun due to them earning the 2nd highest point differential for the season in combination w this potentially being the end of having Thomas, Bonner and Jones, who become free agents after this season. I think they’ll find a way to beat the Fever.

Course, who really knows…will sure be interesting….

 

[Montana Fan]

First time Ive ever recorded a WNBA game. Hope it’s a good one.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

It is an interesting format…and if the lower seeded team can win in one of the first 2 games, they end up w/home court advantage. With charter flights now the norm, I wonder if they’ll switch to a 1-1-1 schedule next year.

I’d rather they go to Best of Five, instead.

 

[BaseballJones]

The line at Mohegan is already monstrous.

 

[BaseballJones]

Annnnd I just ran into Clark in the bowels of the arena. She’s taller in person than I thought she seemed.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Annnnd I just ran into Clark in the bowels of the arena. She’s taller in person than I thought she seemed.

Did she get a Tech for being in your way?

 

[amh03]

Annnnd I just ran into Clark in the bowels of the arena. She’s taller in person than I thought she seemed.

So how are you able to run into one of the players?! Wild!

And did you let her know that many of the members (at least as evident from a variety of posts) in SoSH are rooting for her?

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

Great first half in Brooklyn! Vandersloot and Sabrina autographs for my daughter. Ellie is the star of the show though. Best mascot in the biz?

 

[BaseballJones]

So how are you able to run into one of the players?! Wild!

And did you let her know that many of the members (at least as evident from a variety of posts) in SoSH are rooting for her?

Chaplain for the Sun. We hold a chapel service before each game and players from both teams attend.

 

[BaseballJones]

Did she get a Tech for being in your way?

Haha. No but I flopped and they called her for an offensive foul.

 

[amh03]

Great first half in Brooklyn! Vandersloot and Sabrina autographs for my daughter.

That’s awesome!!

Chaplain for the Sun. We hold a chapel service before each game and players from both teams attend.

That explains it…very cool!!

 

[BaseballJones]

Lotta Clark jerseys here.

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

Double post

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

Clark seems like she was relatively unscathed from the poke in the eye, but tough break for the Sun losing Ty Harris. It appears she may be out mulitple games at a minimum.

 

[amh03]

Yea…that didn’t look good for Harris!!

Jones needs to warm up…

 

[InstaFace]

so far, a great choice of game to put in front of your maximum-size national audience on ABC.

 

[BaseballJones]

Harris really did a number on her ankle. No way she’s playing the rest of this series. Clark is suuuuuuuch a massive whiner. Omg it’s unbearable.

Of course, everyone on the Sun whines with every whistle too. Annoying.

Super intense game so far though. Feels like the Indiana fans are at least equal to Sun fans here.

 

[Curtis Pride]

Teams were pretty even (36-36) when Lexie Hull picked up her third foul. Connecticut finished 10-2 after she was taken out. Bears watching in the second half.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

I’m interested to see the tv ratings for the Boston market. No Pats game today, Caitlin playing against the “local” team.

 

[BaseballJones]

Teams were pretty even (36-36) when Lexie Hull picked up her third foul. Connecticut finished 10-2 after she was taken out. Bears watching in the second half.

When she picked up her third I said to my wife, that’s a sneaky big call right there.

 

[Curtis Pride]

The Marina Mabrey game.

 

[amh03]

Nice win for the Sun! Game 2 will be tougher I’d imagine…

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

The Marina Mabrey game.

Mabrey really was exactly the in-season pickup this team needed and definitely helps what, over the past 4-5 years, has been a great regular season team but they just can't get over the hump.to a title.

 

[Curtis Pride]

I've watched all 3 WNBA games so far today, and It seems that:

1. Good 3-point shooting and defense wins games. (and the Mercury came close!)

2. The lower seeds seem to need one more scorer to compete with the top teams.

3. Playoff experience is an advantage.

 

[LA_33]

I've watched all 3 WNBA games so far today, and It seems that:

1. Good 3-point shooting and defense wins games. (and the Mercury came close!)

2. The lower seeds seem to need one more scorer to compete with the top teams.

3. Playoff experience is an advantage.

As you noted, Phoenix being the near-winner among the lower seeds felt like it reinforced all the rest of your points.

That’s a REALLY experienced Mercury core, with Natasha Cloud and Kaleah Copper being key players on title teams along with Taurasi and Griner, and even role players like Sophia Cunningham having lots of playoff experience.

They also made 4 more threes than the Lynx, who are built very strongly around their 3-point shooting.

The Lynx, for their part, have Phee controlling everything, and play mostly non-shooting PGs. But they’re the first truly 5-out team I can remember in the W, which is still largely focused on post-scoring/interior-defense centers.

 

[InstaFace]

ESPN really getting into the catty headlines tonight

 

[OCST]

Great first half in Brooklyn! Vandersloot and Sabrina autographs for my daughter. Ellie is the star of the show though. Best mascot in the biz?

Ellie is legit awesome.

 

[InstaFace]

Welp, Seattle really thought they could pull this one off, and looked to have a real shot through 3 quarters.

Then the Aces just went full "Celtics second-half run" for the last 5 minutes.

edit: Seattle didn't hit a field goal in the 4th quarter. That's after Seattle held the Aces to 9 points in the first quarter. It's like the Storm woke the sheeple.

 

[reggiecleveland]

It must be great for a consummate pro like DeWanna Bonner to finally get these big audiences and play so great. A great coaching move to put her on Clark.

 

[amh03]

I thought one of the most interesting and productive coaching moves was having Fiebich start over Vandersloot. Fiebich going 5-5 in the first half of that Liberty game plus her D…damn!!

 

[Curtis Pride]

As you noted, Phoenix being the near-winner among the lower seeds felt like it reinforced all the rest of your points.

That’s a REALLY experienced Mercury core, with Natasha Cloud and Kaleah Copper being key players on title teams along with Taurasi and Griner, and even role players like Sophia Cunningham having lots of playoff experience.

They also made 4 more threes than the Lynx, who are built very strongly around their 3-point shooting.

The Lynx, for their part, have Phee controlling everything, and play mostly non-shooting PGs. But they’re the first truly 5-out team I can remember in the W, which is still largely focused on post-scoring/interior-defense centers.

That's why, while I was watching all the passing until a player had an open and easy shot, they made me think of the current Celtics.

 

[Curtis Pride]

I thought one of the most interesting and productive coaching moves was having Fiebich start over Vandersloot. Fiebich going 5-5 in the first half of that Liberty game plus her D…damn!!

It's not just her size (6'4" vs. 5'8"), but Fiebich is the Liberty's best 3-point shooter. (43.3%) That also opens the floor for Ionescu and Stewart. I think this is going to be the Liberty's starting lineup for the rest of the playoffs.

 

[Montana Fan]

Not sure what the Boston Post is but check out the side view video about halfway down this SI article.

Clark poked in eye by fingernail.

 

[InstaFace]

The video clip in question:

View: https://twitter.com/ABostonPost/status/1838023466911486309

 

[reggiecleveland]

That's pretty bad. A fiba ref I know says that's a foul and at least a warning. Even accidentally hitting somebody in the face is a big deal. I can't imagine the WNBA will do anything it's not like Caitlin is worth 100s of millions to them.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

The video clip in question:

View: https://twitter.com/ABostonPost/status/1838023466911486309

Slo-mo accentuates everything. At game speed there is no way that she went up and said “Hey let me pretend I’m going for the ball and I’ll smash her in the eye with my follow through.” You can even see her pull back on contact.

 

[reggiecleveland]

At the very least she is not too worried about hitting her. It is careless and a dirty play. Players are taught not to swing, follow through when pressuring shots, trying to deflect passes. One reason for Bonner guarding Clark was Carrinton clearly distracted herself.
That play is suspect.
especially when you see the celebration
View: https://twitter.com/pierredisecto/status/1838234781886324800

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

At the very least she is not too worried about hitting her. It is careless and a dirty play. Players are taught not to swing, follow through when pressuring shots, trying to deflect passes. One reason for Bonner guarding Clark was Carrinton clearly distracted herself.
That play is suspect.
especially when you see the celebration
View: https://twitter.com/pierredisecto/status/1838234781886324800

A reminder that this is Jason fucking Whitlock whom did the quote-tweeting - did you watch the clip? This is from the very end of the game with the team celebrating a win, and the Clark eye poke happened during the 2nd minute of the game. How in the world can someone say these two are linked?!

This is making a mountain out of a molehill, when watching it live nothing stood out on Carrington's play. In slow-mo it can look poorly, but I would say an argument in her favor is she appeared to be closing her hand which would have kept her fingers tucked and away from the face if her hand wasn't already closing in on Clark. Yes, a careless play by Carrington but I don't think it rises to the intentional by any means.

 

[Montana Fan]

A reminder that this is Jason fucking Whitlock whom did the quote-tweeting - did you watch the clip? This is from the very end of the game with the team celebrating a win, and the Clark eye poke happened during the 2nd minute of the game. How in the world can someone say these two are linked?!

This is making a mountain out of a molehill, when watching it live nothing stood out on Carrington's play. In slow-mo it can look poorly, but I would say an argument in her favor is she appeared to be closing her hand which would have kept her fingers tucked and away from the face if her hand wasn't already closing in on Clark. Yes, a careless play by Carrington but I don't think it rises to the intentional by any means.

It seems like Carrington’s swing was exaggerated to initiate contact. Very much reminds me of Draymond’s kicks and takedowns.

Also, thanks for clarifying the timing of the celebration. It was clearly a celebration of the eye poke but more in the fashion of we won and the poke helped.

 

[amh03]

It’s a physical game, folks. Didn’t Clark hit Carrington in the face later, knocking her contact out?

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-xAJKzNHMmk


One could argue there appears to be intent if you watch the slo-mo of it.

 

[Montana Fan]

It’s a physical game, folks. Didn’t Clark hit Carrington in the face later, knocking her contact out?

One could argue there appears to be intent if you watch the slo-mo of it.

Well said.