The 17th WNBA postseason tips on Thursday, Sept 18, which may be the most star-studded competition in the history of the league. Newcomers Elena Delle Donne and Brittney Griner will be competing for a WNBA title for the first time, while emerging star Maya Moore continues to make her claim as the top player -- and winner -- in the league. Candace Parker hopes to parlay her first WNBA All-Star MVP with a Finals MVP and that elusive first WNBA crown this year, while Diana Taurasi and Angel McCoughtry, the top two scorers in the league, are making their perrennial run for glory. Tamika Catchings and the defending champion Indiana Fever may be down, but they are not yet out. Below (in no particular order) are 8 Things You Need to Know About the WNBA Playoffs 2013.
1. LYNX DYNASTY
For the third straight season the Lynx have posted the best regular-season record in the WNBA. In Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus and perpetually under-rated Rebekkah Brunson, Minnesota boasts four All-Stars. The Lynx have also reached the WNBA Finals two years straight – sweeping the Dream in 2011 to secure the franchise’s first WNBA championship, before falling to Tamika Catchings and the never-say-never Fever in 2012.
Put it all together, and Minnesota – with emerging superstar Moore, seasoned, savvy point guard Whalen, 2011 Finals MVP Augustus and powerful paint presence Brunson – is a potential WNBA Championship Dynasty, poised to join the legendary Comets who dominated with four championships at the dawn of the W, and arguably, the Bill Laimbeer-led Shock, who won three WNBA crowns in a six-year span.
Former Laimbeer assistant Cheryl Reeve now leads the Lynx and knows all about the difficulty of reaching the pinnacle, falling and then attempting to get back on top again. Moore measures success by championship hardware, from UConn to Team USA to Minnesota to China, and is laser-focused on establishing her team, and herself, as the best of the best. As such, Minnesota will be a very tough out in 2013.
2. TIME IS NOW FOR CANDACE PARKER
Candace Parker has it all . . . almost.
Guard skills in a center’s body. Limitless talent, including ability to finish confidently with either hand, and defensive anticipation which results in blocks, particularly in key situations. Terrific supporting cast, highlighted by 2012 Rookie of the Year Nneka Ogwumike , All-Star guard Kristi Toliver and veteran duo Alana Beard and Lindsey Harding.
Two gold medals, including a coming-of-age performance in London which stamped her as arguably the best woman player in the world. European and Russian titles. 2008 WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year Award. 2013 WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award. A daughter out of central casting.
What the 27-year-old Parker doesn’t have, however, is a WNBA Championship. The aforementioned Lynx will be hard to beat. Parker’s first round opponent is no slouch either, with two-time WNBA Champion and five-time WNBA scoring champ Diana Taurasi and the Mercury poised to make some noise of their own. Who knows who’ll emerge in the East? Regardless, the time is now for Parker.
3. EDD: IS SKY THE LIMIT?
Smart basketball folks knew Elena Delle Donne was going to be a good WNBA player. A 6-5 playmaker who can knock down the three, pass out of double-teams and shoot over 90-percent from the line is going to be successful in the W. Enough said.
What has excited even the most optimistic prognosticators is the Chicago Sky rookie forward’s intangibles. EDD wants the ball and needs the ball in the clutch. And when she gets it, she produces and not a single person in the gym – teammates, opponents, officials, fans or coaches – is the least bit surprised. Thirty-odd games into her professional career, and it’s expected EDD will come through.
Despite this instant splash of success, Delle Donne is the ultimate teammate, fitting right in with decorated veterans like Swin Cash and budding superstars in their own right, like low-post demon Sylvia Fowles and Epiphanny Prince. Check her out celebrating after a teammate makes a big play. Delle Donne is no Prima Donna. The question is, can the Sky, who are making their very first appearance in the WNBA Playoffs, and EDD in her first year in the league, hold off the likes of seasoned WNBA Finalists Tamika Catchings or Angel McCoughtry?
4. WHEN ANGEL'S FLY
Angel McCoughtry returned to the WNBA in 2013 determined to put a topsy-turvy 2012 -- featuring a London 2012 Gold Medal high followed by the low of an uncharacteristically early exit from the WNBA Playoffs – behind her. And she did, leading the league in scoring and steals -- a unique two-fer -- and driving the Dream to the second seed in the East.
McCoughtry is about more than just numbers. She’s a force of nature, combining explosive athleticism and a driving will to win that resulted in two straight Finals appearances for Atlanta in 2010 and 2011. The Dream are not a one-women team, however, as Brazilian post-presence Erika de Souza is and second-year guard Tiffany Hayes are among a solid, steady group of players committed to first-year Head Coach Fred Williams’ system.
Anytime McCoughtry hits the court it’s must-see TV so don’t miss the first episode of the Angel Show at 8pm, Thursday, Sept 19 on ESPN2
5. GREAT EXPECTATIONS
The Phoenix Mercury were the flavor of the month heading into 2013. Brittney Griner, the 6-8 dunking center out of Baylor landed in the Valley of the Sun via ping-pong balls. Superstar Diana Taurasi was back to full health and prepared take what she just knows is her rightful place as WNBA Champion. DeWanna Bonner can jump out of the gym and Candice Dupree just helped Taurasi and L.A.’s Parker win European and Russian titles.
Then they started playing the games and things didn’t exactly fall into place for Phoenix. Griner, while indisputably a unique and dominant presence, has endured nagging injuries and is learning how the physical the paint is in the W, as opposed to the college game. This takes time. Taurasi has returned to form after an injury-plagued and Olympics-interrupted 2012, but with Penny Taylor slowed by injuries (she should be back for Game 1 on Sept. 19) and a mid-season coaching change, things just didn’t click for the Mercury like they would have hoped.
Nonetheless, they did make the postseason extravaganza and both Taurasi and Griner appear ready to test their potentially unmatched talents against the best, drawing Parker and the Sparks in the Western Conference Semi-Finals which may be the most star-studded first round in league history. Should Phoenix win the title behind this new dynamic duo, the stutter steps taken during the regular season will be long forgotten.
6. DON'T SLEEP ON FEVER
We said it in the regular season preview and we’re saying it again now, do not sleep on the defending WNBA Champion Indiana Fever. Yes, the Fever have been ravaged by injuries this year, including most worryingly to talisman Tamika Catchings. Yes, Indiana limped into the playoffs. And, yes, they are facing the aforementioned Chicago Sky, with EDD, Fowles, Cash, Prince and Company seemingly ready to assert their newfound dominance in the East.
All that being said, odds are Catchings will, ailing or not, be on the court and diving for every loose ball, scrapping for every rebound and imploring her teammates to do the same. Shavonte Zellous is a legitimate X-Factor, as both the Sun and the Lynx found out in the 2012 postseason. Katie Douglas appears to be healthy and brings a wealth of experience every time hits the hardwood and Briann January and Erlana Larkins are defensive stalwarts who make every possession a personal one-on-one fight.
7. INTO THE MYSTICS
After two straight non-playoff seasons the Washington Mystics were ready for a change in 2013, making several key additions that have paid off handsomely. Top of the list was new Head Coach Mike Thibault, who came down from Connecticut and quickly merged newcomers Ivory Latta, Kia Vaughn, Tayler Hill and Teirra Ruffin-Pratt with established stars Crystal Langhorne and Matee Ajavon and right the Mystics ship, sailing right into the post-season.
Thibault, who become the winningest coach in the history of the WNBA earlier this season, has Washington working hard and selflessly on defense and running the court relentlessy on offsense, sparked by the kinetic energy and enthusiasm of All-Star guard Latta. While this Mystics group is new to the postseason, they are a dangerous, nothing-to-lose squad who are eager to make their mark in the nation’s capital.
8. RELENTLESS IN SEATTLE
You have to hand it to the Seattle Storm, come what may, they make the postseason, with the 2013 version of the club earning the tenth straight playoff appearance for the franchise, dating back to the heady days of 2004 when All-Stars Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson led them to their first WNBA Championship.
Bird and Jackson missed the 2013 campaign due to injury and even the most ardent Storm fans would be forgiven for thinking perhaps the playoff streak would snap this year. But thanks to the continued coaching excellence of Brian Agler and stellar contributions from retiring WNBA legend Tina Thompson, Tanisha Wright and Camille Little among others, and here Seattle is again, competing in the WNBA Playoffs.
Mercury Top Sparks in Game 1
Diana Taurasi (30 points, seven assists) and the Mercury defeated the Sparks in Game 1 86-75 in L.A. on Thursday night. Candace Parker scored 28 for the Sparks.Box Score
Latta, Mystics Take Game 1
Ivory Latta (14 points, seven assists) led the way as the Mystics beat the Dream in Game 1 71-56 in Atlanta on Thursday. Angel McCoughtry scored 20 for the Dream. Box Score
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