NEW YORK (AP) — Angel Reese and s are set to make their WNBA postseason debuts whereas Caitlin Clark returns to the s after lacking final season due to damage.
The n begins Sunday with 4 first-round matchups. Clark's Fever face A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in a rematch of final season's semifinals. Reese and the Atlanta Dream will play the Washington Mystics. Bueckers' Dallas Wings will tackle the Golden State Valkyries, and New York will face Minnesota in a 2024 WNBA Finals rematch.
Reese spent the primary two years of her profession in Chicago earlier than going to the Dream in an offseason commerce. She flourished in her new environment, as soon as once more main the league in rebounding and persevering with her emergence as one of many prime defenders within the WNBA.
Bueckers has put collectively a stable season to assist the Wings get again within the playoffs for the primary time since 2023. She was fifth within the league in scoring and eighth in assists.
Listed here are others issues to look at this postseason:
Contents
Constructing a contender in Golden State
The Valkyries have taken the WNBA by storm of their first two years of existence. Golden State turned the primary growth squad to make the playoffs final 12 months and is now the No. 2 seed within the postseason. The Valkyries have gone 17-5 at dwelling this 12 months, greatest within the league, partially due to the common crowd of over 18,000 they draw for video games at Chase Heart.
Golden State has finished it with stellar protection. The Valkyries led the league in defensive ranking, factors allowed and 3-point protection. Additionally they shoot the 3-point extraordinarily effectively, making essentially the most 3s on the season with 10.4 a recreation.
Playoff growth
The primary spherical of the playoffs is only a best-of-three. It's undergone a couple of iterations, together with having the higher-seeded crew host the primary two video games. Now every crew is assured at the very least one dwelling recreation with a 1-1-1 format. The coaches would like to see the first-round collection increase to a best-of-five format. As of now, solely the semifinals is a best-of-five and the WNBA Finals is a seven-game collection. Final season was the primary the league had gone to a best-of-seven and Las Vegas swept Phoenix in 4 video games.
“I simply love the concept. I imply, have a look at these eight groups which can be within the discipline. Nice basketball, and it’s best to go so long as you may. Like I mentioned, that’s the place the cash is. So I want to see that. Get a brand new commissioner and sort of get the competitors committee on that kind of factor, I believe we’re all in favor of that,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned. “Clearly there’s a variety of chatter concerning the three-game collection. Really this season it’s sort of moderately disappointing to have simply three video games for these groups which can be going to be taking part in one another, for positive. However that’s perhaps the following step, the evolution of our league.”
The place to search out the video games
With the brand new media rights deal that started this season, the playoffs shall be broadcast throughout ESPN, NBC, USA Sports activities, Amazon Prime and Peacock. From 2016 to final season, ESPN had the rights to all of the postseason video games.
ESPN, Prime and USA Sports activities could have the primary spherical. ESPN, NBC and Peacock could have the semifinals. NBC and USA Sports activities will broadcast the WNBA Finals with video games additionally streaming on Peacock. ESPN had proven each WNBA Finals from 2003-25.
Officers working the postseason
Roy Gulbeyan shall be working his twenty seventh consecutive playoffs this season courting to his postseason debut in 2000, in response to the web site “thewhistlewire”. The WNBA doesn't launch what number of postseason appearances officers have. Gulbeyan has been a part of the league for 29 of its 30 years.
The league could have 17 officers work the postseason in addition to three alternates.
“We’re happy to acknowledge this group of officers for his or her on-court achievements and their dedication to their craft with a range to work the 2026 WNBA Playoffs,” mentioned Bethany Donaphin, Head of WNBA League Operations. “Qualifying for the postseason and serving the sport at this vital a part of the season is a purpose for WNBA officers simply as it’s for gamers and coaches.”
___
e