With the 2023 common season full, the WNBA playoffs will start on Wednesday, September 13. Eight groups, 4 which symbolize the East and Western Convention, will compete for the WNBA Championship. The First-Spherical Playoff matchups will embody the very best of three video games performed. Adopted by the primary spherical are the semi-finals, after which the Finals. Right here, you’ll discover the WNBA betting odds, strains, matchups, and brackets for the WNBA First-Spherical playoffs between the Las Vegas Aces and the Chicago Sky.
The official bracket for the 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs introduced by @Google ⬇️
First Spherical begins Wednesday September thirteenth at 8pm/ET on ESPN2 #MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/Jc90UfZUKt
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 10, 2023
(1) Las Vegas Aces (34-6) vs. (8) Chicago Sky(17-22)
Sport 1: Chicago at Las Vegas, 10 PM ET/ESPN
Sport 2: Chicago at Las Vegas, 3 PM ET/ABC
Sport 3: Las Vegas at Chicago, TBD/ESPN (If obligatory)
Season Matchups
*Las Vegas received the sequence 3-0*
Sport 1: Las Vegas 93, Chicago 80 (Las Vegas -13, Over 168)
Sport 2: Las Vegas 107, Chicago 95 (Chicago +14.5, Over 168.5)
Sport 3: Las Vegas 94, Chicago 87 ( Chicago +14.5, Over 171)
Las Vegas Aces
- Candace Parker, ahead: OUT (foot)
Chicago Sky
- Kahleah Copper, guard: Day-To-Day
- Alanna Smith, ahead: Day-to-Day
- Rebekah Gardner, guard: OUT (Knee)
- Isabelle Harrison, ahead : OUT (Knee)
Sequence Preview
The Las Vegas Aces, led by head coach Becky Hammon, completed the season because the No.1 seed, and a franchise finest 34-6 document. With one dwelling loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, the Aces can have dwelling court docket benefit for the primary matchups in opposition to the Chicago Sky. After a historic season, Las Vegas completed the yr with 30 wins, surpassing the 2014 Phoenix Mercury for essentially the most common season wins in WNBA Historical past. By means of 40 video games, the Aces led the WNBA in offensive and defenstive ranking, internet ranking, assists to turnover ratio, area purpose, three level proportion, and factors per sport.
Season Matchups
In three matchups in opposition to the Sky, Vegas had a 32 level differential, and averaged 98 factors a sport. Becky Hammons squad shot near 52 p.c from the sector in these three conferences. Vegas, who ranks fifth within the league in rebounds per sport, dominated on the boards 102-94, which might be vitals on this upcoming playoff sequence. All through the season, the Sky put up over 87 factors a sport, six factors greater than their season common. Though the Chicago Sky improved their gameplay for the reason that All-Star sport, the Aces coated the cash line thrice, and the Sky coated the unfold in 66 p.c of the video games.
Preview of the Aces
Two 30-pieces and sellout to finish the common season ♦️♠️@_ajawilson22: 36 PTS // 8 REB // 5 STL // 3 BLK // 13-18 FG@Kelseyplum10: 30 PTS // 3 AST // 2 STL // 63% FG // 6 3PM@cgray209: 21 PTS // 8 AST // 8-11 FG // 5 3PM#ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/psSIiTbTjK
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 10, 2023
A’ja Wilson, a 2x WNBA MVP, has been a steady drive of energy. No. 22 completed the season with leads in a number of statistical classes. Wilson completed first in win shares, factors per minute, area targets made, participant effectivity ranking, defensive win shares, defensive ranking, and blocks. Led by a robust backcourt, the Aces run a 3 guard lineup, that consists of All-Stars Kelsey Plum, Jackie Younger, and Chelsea Grey. The trio of guards averaged a mixed 51.6 factors, 15.6 assists, 3.8 steals, and 10.4 rebounds per sport all through the common season. As an entire, Kelsey Plum, A’a Wilson, and Jackie Younger completed high three in offensive ranking within the WNBA. Guards Jackie Younger and Chelsea Grey rank high 7 in three-point proportion. Their core 4 (Wilson, Plum, Younger, and Grey) averaged 80 p.c of the entire offensive in three video games.
Preview of the Sky
THAT’S the way you wanna go into the postseason ‼️#skytown pic.twitter.com/QFNFVHfi1F
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) September 10, 2023
The Chicago Sky barely squeezed into the eighth and last playoff seed with a document of 18-22. Contemporary off a 3 sport win streak in opposition to Indiana, Minnesota, and Connecticut, Chicago will face a tricky matchup on the highway. The Sky, led by interim head coach and GM Emre Vatansever, will catch considerably of a break with Candace Parker out for the Aces. Parker added 10 factors, 5 steals, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds in sport 1 in opposition to Chicago.
Led by Kahleah Copper, who lately signed a multi-year extension, and Marina Mabley, Chicago ranks sixth in offense, and seventh in defensive rankings. Because the All-Star break, the Sky moved as much as 4th in whole offensive effectivity. With the fifth finest document for the reason that break, Chicago leads the league in three-point proportion (38.6). In three conferences in opposition to Vegas, Mabrey and Copper mixed for a median 40 factors, and Elizabeth Williams with 37 factors. Very similar to the Aces, Chicago runs a three-guard lineup consisting of Mabrey, Copper, and Courtney Williams. Their most up-to-date win impressively got here in opposition to the Connecticut Solar in additional time. The Sky completed the evening capturing 52 p.c from the three, and had 4 gamers with factors in double figures.
The sixth Triple Double in franchise historical past belongs to none aside from our no.1️⃣0️⃣
Courtroom went CRAZY on ’em yesterday!#skytown pic.twitter.com/JYQvVCMV60
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) September 11, 2023
Guard Courtney Williams lately hit 3,000 profession factors. Williams 23 level, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists in opposition to the Connecticut Solar is certainly one of six triple doubles in franchise historical past.
Prediction
As of proper now, my predictions are for the straight cash line sequence win. Though Chicago has vastly improved for the reason that All-Star break, and stored issues pretty shut of their matchups with Vegas, I do not see them profitable the sequence. With the primary two video games in Vegas, I can’t envision Chicago defeating the reigning WNBA 2022 Champions. Las Vegas solely has one loss, excluding the Commissioner’s Cup, in opposition to the Sparks. The Sky hage some heavy hitters on the offense, nevertheless, I’ll take the Aces total in phrases off offense, protection, and head coach.
General, the Aces are 21-19-0 ATS, and Chicago 22-16-2. Keep tuned for each day betting articles all through the WNBA playoffs. If the Aces wish to shut out Chicago, they need to closely depend on their core 4, contemplating their bench ranks final in factors per sport (13.5). The Sky are 4th within the WNBA in bench factors per sport (19.5), who scored 32 factors in opposition to Connecticut. Though inconsistent at instances, Dana Evans will definitely be an x-factor for Chicago.
My prediction for the WNBA Playoffs First-Spherical: Las Vegas in two.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports activities Content material Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a give attention to the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at the moment resides in Connecticut together with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
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