Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
The WNBA offered Tuesday a playoff semifinals series between the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm will launch up Tuesday night.
On Sunday, the league postponed the launch of the series after members of the Storm had inconclusive results from their fashioned COVID-19 tests. Subsequent checking out has allowed for Sport 1 to head forward.
“The health and security of all avid gamers and team proceed to be our high priority,” Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged in a statement. “After total consultation with health and security consultants following the additional checking out of Seattle’s avid gamers and team as well to the implementation of contact tracing, we in truth feel confident in absorbing forward with the Storm and Lynx taking the court docket for Sport 1 of their Semifinals series. We’re intently monitoring the enviornment and are coordinating with scientific consultants.”
Seattle enters as the accepted after finishing alongside the Las Vegas Aces with basically the most fascinating file (18-4) throughout the fashioned season. The Aces earned the No. 1 playoff seed by advantage of two head-to-head wins against the Storm.
The Storm received their two fashioned-season matchups with the Lynx by a mixed 39 capabilities.
Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles and Lexie Brown are injured. On Saturday, the group listed Fowles as questionable with a calf injury. Brown is in the WNBA’s concussion protocol and left the league’s IMG Academy campus.
Lynx forward Napheesa Collier placed fifth in MVP voting, and Crystal Dangerfield received Rookie of the Year honors. Cheryl Reeve earned her third Coach of the Year nod, a testomony to how she has maximized what is a restricted roster by the Lynx’s fashioned standards.
The Storm, on the opposite hand, could presumably very successfully be the deepest group in the WNBA.
Breanna Stewart turn out to be as soon as the runner-up to league MVP A’ja Wilson after averaging 19.7 capabilities, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per sport. Alysha Clark continues to dwell up to her standing as considered one of many sport’s easiest perimeter defenders. Jewell Loyd station profession highs in discipline-just share (44.3) and three-point share (39.0) while posting her easiest defensive rating (92.3), per WNBA.com.
As if that is now not ample, the second unit of Sami Whitcomb, Ezi Magbegor, Mercedes Russell and Jordin Canada retains opponents at bay when the starters are off the ground.
In a five-sport series, even supposing, a hit Sport 1 would high-tail a long manner toward the Lynx springing an upset.
