Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
The 2nd round of the WNBA playoffs is made up our minds after first-round victories from the Connecticut Solar and the Phoenix Mercury.
The playoffs proceed Thursday from the bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, with the stakes quiet extraordinarily excessive. The single-elimination format puts No. 3 seed Los Angeles Sparks and No. 4 Minnesota Lynx in jeopardy of an early exit, though all four groups competing know they’re staunch one good game a long way from the semifinals.
Here is a hold a look at what to anticipate within the upcoming round of the 2020 playoffs.
WNBA Spherical 2
Thursday, Sept. 17
No. 5 Phoenix Mercury at No. 4 Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
No. 7 Connecticut Solar at No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Both video games on hand for dwell streaming at Stare ESPN and the ESPN app.
Bracket
Preview
Mercury vs. Lynx
Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
One among the biggest tales for Minnesota heading into the playoffs is the effectively being of Sylvia Fowles, who became restricted to staunch seven video games this season because of the a calf effort. Head coach Cheryl Reeve hinted at a doable return within the postseason.
“We had been already in a field along with her after we had been managing her calf where she had quick stints anyway,” Reeve talked about, per Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press (during the Well-known particular person Tribune). “If we’re lucky ample to hold her that would possibly well be the thoughts region. No manner am I bringing Sylvia Fowles off the bench. If she’s healthy ample, she’s starting.”
The 2017 WNBA MVP is quiet a dominant drive within the put up when healthy, main the team with 9.7 rebounds per game. She has also obtained two titles with the Lynx, offering some much-wished trip on what has develop into a mostly young roster.
Rookie Crystal Dangerfield has been a revelation with a median of 16.2 aspects per game this season, whereas Napheesa Collier contributes in other ways, but neither is proven within the playoffs. With out Fowles, the Lynx would possibly well be in for a troublesome notify in Spherical 2.
The Mercury survived a troublesome Spherical 1 battle from a red-hot Washington Mystics squad giving all the pieces it needed to draw. Phoenix trailed 11 aspects at halftime and 13 leisurely within the third quarter before a 17-0 flee grew to develop into the tides:
It then came down to Shey Peddy hitting the buzzer-beater to send the Mercury to the subsequent round.
Phoenix had an up-and-down season and hold questions about depth but quiet hold two of the staunch avid gamers within the league between Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith. The 2 combined for 47 aspects in opposition to the Mystics and are good ample to retain the team deep within the playoffs.
If Brianna Turner can proceed to fabricate defensively, the Mercury can now not lower than rob in Spherical 2.
Solar vs. Sparks
Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
The Sparks beat the Seattle Storm within the 2nd round final season before the Solar swept them within the semifinals. The team is purchasing for revenge this time round.
Los Angeles has a two-time MVP in Candace Parker and undoubtedly one of the crucial deepest lineups within the WNBA with 5 avid gamers averaging double figures. The squad is amazingly unhealthy from the perimeter whereas taking pictures 39.8 p.c as a team, most attention-grabbing within the league.
Seimone Augustus led the WNBA whereas taking pictures 54.5 p.c from three-point range, whereas Riquna Williams can net hot in a lunge. They attend kind an thrilling bench that would possibly alternate a game in an instantaneous.
The staunch thing that has held the Sparks again is inconsistency, which became viewed with some chilly taking pictures the final two video games. The points then bled into other areas on the court docket, in conjunction with defense and rebounding.
If the Sparks lose focal point Thursday, the Solar will uncover them pay.
Connecticut is unhealthy because of the DeWanna Bonner, the third-main scorer within the league this season at 19.7 aspects per game. Alyssa Thomas also showed what she would possibly originate within the midst of Tuesday’s 94-81 rob over the Chicago Sky:
Thomas is undoubtedly one of almost definitely the most versatile avid gamers within the league and region new occupation highs in aspects (15.5), rebounds (9.0), assists (4.8) and steals (2.0) per game this season. She had 28 aspects, 13 rebounds and eight assists within the Spherical 1 playoff rob and must quiet play a well-known role all all over again in Spherical 2.
Add in a high quality team defense that staunch held Courtney Vandersloot in verify and the No. 7 seed will be a troublesome team to beat.
