The 2024 WNBA playoffs tip off on Sunday with 4 video games.
Listed below are eight gamers to look at forward of one of the vital anticipated postseasons in league historical past.
1. New York Liberty (32-8)
Participant to look at: Ahead Jonquel Jones
Whereas Jones would possibly take a backseat to Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu within the headlines, she’s their peer on the court docket and an enormous purpose why the Liberty ought to like their probabilities of profitable their first WNBA title.
The 2021 league MVP with Connecticut has led New York in area objective proportion this season, together with posting the league’s finest proportion on two-point makes an attempt (63.6%). She additionally made 39.1% of her threes throughout the common season, her highest clip since 2018.
Jones additionally ranked within the high ten this yr in rebounds per recreation (9) and blocks per recreation (1.3). In the course of the 2023 playoffs, Jones averaged 17 factors, 11.6 rebounds and a pair of.4 blocks per recreation on 55.9% capturing, and he or she’ll be anticipated to choose up the place she left off when the Liberty tip off their first-round collection in opposition to the Dream.
2. Minnesota Lynx (30-10)
Participant to look at: Guard Bridget Carleton
Ahead Napheesa Collier is the engine that makes the Lynx run, however Carleton is a significant key to their league-best three-point offense.
The six-year WNBA veteran ranked fifth within the league with a 44.4 three-point proportion in 2024, making 2.3 of her 5.3 makes an attempt from past the arc.
Minnesota led the W in three-point proportion throughout the common season (38%. When paired with the Lynx’s elite protection — Minnesota held opponents to a league-worst 41% capturing proportion — if Carleton’s pictures fall with the identical consistency as within the common season, the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup champs might double up and win the franchise’s fifth league title.
3. Connecticut Solar (28-12)
Participant to look at: Ahead Alyssa Thomas
An 11-year veteran, Thomas does all of it for the Solar. She leads the group in rebounds per recreation (8.4) and assists per recreation (7.9) and is tied for the group lead in steals per recreation (1.6).
Midseason acquisition guard Marina Mabrey has added a essential three-point part to the Solar’s offensive assault, however the group is led by its protection, which restricted opponents to 73.6 factors per recreation this season, the bottom within the affiliation.
Thomas leads Connecticut in defensive win shares (2.8), and her protection can be key to stopping the Fever’s high-flying assault within the first spherical.
4. Las Vegas Aces (27-13)
Participant to look at: Middle A’ja Wilson
Wilson must be a unanimous MVP this yr after setting the WNBA single-season document for factors (1,021) and rebounds (451) in a season.
Whereas she makes room for a 3rd MVP award in her trophy assortment, Wilson can even add a 3rd championship ring by main the Aces to back-to-back-to-back WNBA titles.
Regardless of falling a step behind the Liberty, Lynx and Solar within the common season standings, the Aces are primed for a deep playoff run. Within the first spherical, they get the Storm, who might wrestle to benefit from Las Vegas’ weak point in defending the three. Per Her Hoop Stats, the Aces ranked ninth in opponent three-point area objective proportion (35%) whereas the Storm are last in three-point shooting (28.8%).
5. Seattle Storm (25-15)
Participant to look at: Guard Jewell Loyd
With Seattle struggling from deep, Loyd’s capacity to penetrate and make her midrange pictures, plus get to the foul line, might hold the Storm’s first-round collection in opposition to the Aces shut.
Per Her Hoop Stats data, Loyd ranked fourth in midrange area objective makes an attempt (198) in 2024 however solely made 39.4% of her pictures from that space.
She was profitable in drawing fouls, averaging 8.1 free-throw makes an attempt per recreation. Her 21.4% free-throw price ranked thirteenth within the league, and free throws accounted for 30.5% of Loyd’s factors, the league’s fourth-highest price.
6. Indiana Fever (20-20)
Participant to look at: Guard Caitlin Clark
The undisputed Rookie of the 12 months will get her first style of postseason motion in opposition to the group she began her WNBA profession in opposition to: the Solar.
Clark and the Fever have improved considerably since their 92-71 opening-game loss at Connecticut, going 19-12 after a 1-8 begin.
The NCAA’s all-time main scorer was as nice as marketed as a rookie, ending the yr averaging 19.2 factors, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per recreation whereas capturing 41.7%, together with 34.4% on 8.9 three-point makes an attempt per recreation.
7. Phoenix Mercury (19-21)
Participant to look at: Guard Diana Taurasi
With rumors swirling about Taurasi’s future, this could possibly be the final time we see one of many all-time biggest ladies’s basketball gamers on the court docket.
The 20-year WNBA veteran has a lot left within the tank, which she confirmed whereas averaging 14.9 factors per recreation throughout the common season.
The Lynx current a slew of challenges to a Phoenix squad that allowed opponents to aim the highest-rate of three-pointers (34.4%) throughout the common season. With a frightening process forward, we should always embrace and admire Taurasi’s greatness whereas it lasts.
8. Atlanta Dream (15-25)
Participant to look at: Middle Tina Charles
The Dream beat the fading Chicago Sky and surging Washington Mystics for the league’s final playoff spot, giving all-time nice heart Tina Charles a victory lap after setting the WNBA records for career rebounds (4,014) and double-doubles (194) in Atlanta’s regular-season finale in opposition to the Liberty, a 78-67 win.
