2023 WNBA Playoffs: Preview and Predictions

The 2023 WNBA playoffs are finally here! This year’s playoffs promise to be exciting, with some unexpected teams making it to the postseason. On Wednesday, the No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun will host the No. 6 seed Minnesota Lynx, while the No. 1 seed Las Vegas Aces will welcome the No. 8 seed Chicago Sky. The other two series will begin on Friday, with the No. 7 seed Washington Mystics traveling to the No. 2 seed New York Liberty, and the No. 5 seed Atlanta Dream visiting the No. 4 seed Dallas Wings.

While all eyes have been on a potential clash between the superteams Aces and Liberty in the WNBA Finals, the other six teams have plenty to play for. Despite facing midseason changes and injuries, the Chicago Sky have defied the odds to make it to the playoffs. The Minnesota Lynx have returned to the postseason after a one-year hiatus, while the Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream are looking to solidify new chapters for their organizations. The Connecticut Sun, with their transformed roster, and the Washington Mystics, with their potential and injuries, also pose as strong contenders.

ESPN.com’s M.A. Voepel, Alexa Philippou, Kevin Pelton, and ESPN Fantasy Games writer Eric Moody break down the biggest storylines and offer predictions for the playoffs. Let’s see which team is favored to win the championship in October.

Will the Superteams Clash in the WNBA Finals?

Pelton believes there’s a strong chance of an Aces-Liberty Finals, though he warns against underestimating other contenders. He gives the Connecticut Sun a better chance of crashing the Finals due to their playoff experience and more favorable path to the semifinals. Philippou agrees, emphasizing that the Sun should not be underestimated, especially with their 4-0 edge over the Mystics in the season series. Voepel suggests that the Mystics could disrupt the potential Finals matchup if they beat the Liberty in the first round.

What Shifted the Favor towards the Liberty?

The majority of the panel predicts the Liberty to win the 2023 title, attributing the shift to the loss of Candace Parker for the Aces. Parker’s absence has affected the Aces’ defensive and rebounding capabilities. In contrast, the Liberty have found their rhythm, winning three out of four matchups against the Aces in August. However, Voepel still believes in the Aces’ ability to repeat as champions, highlighting their lack of overconfidence and Coach Becky Hammon’s emphasis on continuous improvement.

Which Player Will Have the Biggest Impact on the Postseason?

Pelton points to Jonquel Jones as the player who could have the single biggest impact on the postseason. Jones’ return to MVP form has been crucial to the New York Liberty’s improvement this season. After being slowed down by a foot injury, Jones has averaged a double-double in the second half of the season. Her performance inside the paint will be vital to the Liberty’s success in the playoffs.

The 2023 WNBA playoffs are set to be a thrilling and unpredictable ride. With superteams, underdogs, and breakout stars in the mix, anything can happen. Tune in to ESPN to catch all the action!

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Rachel Adams

Rachel Adams is your WNBA insider, delivering comprehensive coverage of women’s basketball. With a commitment to highlighting the talent and achievements of WNBA players, she provides game analysis, player profiles, and inspiring stories from the league.