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, traces, matchups, and brackets for the WNBA First-Spherical playoffs between the New York Liberty and the Washington Mystics.
The official bracket for the 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs offered by @Google ⬇️
First Spherical begins Wednesday September thirteenth at 8pm/ET on ESPN2 #MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/Jc90UfZUKt
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 10, 2023
(2) New York Liberty (32-8) vs. (7) Washington Mystics (19-21)
Recreation 1: Sept 15, Washington at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET/ ESPN2
Recreation 2: Sept 19, Washington at New York, 7 p.m. ET/ ESPN
Recreation 3: Sept. 22, New York at Washington, TBD /ESPN (If needed)
Season Matchups
*The Collection is break up 2-2*
Recreation 1: Washington 80, New York 64 (Washington +2.5, beneath 163.5).
Recreation 2: New York 89, Washington 88 OT (Washington +7, over 161.5)
Recreation 3: New York 96, Washington 87 (Washington +10, over 163.5)
Recreation 4: Washington 90, New York 88 (Washington +10.5, over 162.5)
Massive Win within the Massive Apple 😤#BallOnOurTerms | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/Yyn2mhD2uN
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 10, 2023
New York Liberty
- Han Xu, Heart: Out (Wasn’t with the group Sept. 10 as a result of abroad dedication)
Washington Mystics
- Kristi Toliver, guard: OUT (ACL)
- Shakira Austin, Heart: OUT (Hip- Out Sept. 9)
Collection Preview
Liberty
The New York Liberty completed with their greatest document in franchise historical past (32-8) beneath Head Coach Sandy Brondello. Led by Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Vandersloot, and Betnijah Laney, the Liberty completed first 1st within the WNBA Jap Convention. Their 32 wins are the second most common season wins in historical past. As they enter into the WNBA playoffs, New York averaged a franchise greatest in factors, assists, three-pointers made, offensive ranking, and whole web ranking.
For the reason that month of August, the Liberty led the league in win proportion (.867) area purpose proportion (45.8), area targets made (33.3), three-pointers made/tried, rebounds, assists, offensive ranking, defensive ranking, web ranking, true taking pictures proportion, and participant influence estimate. Although they dropped a nail biter of their final matchup towards Washington, New York has been some of the elite groups, particularly in the direction of the backend of the season. General, their roster includes a mixed 19 All-Star appearances. Topped first time WNBA Commissioners Cup Champions, the Liberty look the carry the primary ever trophy to New York.
Mystics
After ending because the fifth seed in 2022, and dropping to Seattle within the Semi-Finals, Washington is out for revenge this 12 months. Unable to collect consistency as a result of accidents to Elene Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, and Shakira Austin, the Mystics have considerably of a wholesome roster. After dropping Kristi Toliver as a result of a latest ACL tear, Washington will lose some slight guard depth. Via 40 video games, the Mystics completed seventh in offensive ranking, fifth in defensive ranking and whole web ranking (-0.4). They completed because the worst group when it comes to rebound proportion, and close to final in area purpose proportion (42.8). For the reason that All-Star break, Washington remained the ninth worst group offensively, with a 99.4 offensive ranking. They completed 4-3 of their final video games, included victories over the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty. With Heart Shakira Austin questionable, Washingtons greatest questions stays their well being.
Season Matchups
On repeat 🔁#BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/NejVd6IaBv
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 11, 2023
In 4 common season matchups, The Washington Mystics maintain an eight-point differential, with the sequence break up 2-2. Each franchises have met a complete of 9 occasions within the playoffs, together with their final assembly in 2017. In these 9 playoff matchups, New York has a 6-3 document towards Washington. General New York outrebounded Washington 169-121. For rebounds, that is a big margin (48), and will probably be a big impact on this sequence.
Via 4 conferences, the Mystics averaged over 86 factors a sport, which is six factors larger than their season common. Defensively, they held New York to beneath 40 % three-point taking pictures in all matchups. For the Liberty, they averaged 84 factors per sport, 5 factors lower than their norm. Two of the 4 video games have been determined by two factors or much less, together with an 89-88 time beyond regulation win by New York. On Sept. 10, the Mystics gained by two factors on the buzzer, due to a final second shot by Brittney Sykes. The New York Liberty are 32-8 when betting on the cash line, and Washington 19-21-0. With solely 8 losses on the season for New York, two got here towards Washington.
Liberty Key Gamers
The Stars Align Tour! Just one place to see it: BROOKLYN.
The superstars of the New York Liberty cowl SLAM 246. https://t.co/iqhDhVEsqc pic.twitter.com/ThtUhmwdiq
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) September 12, 2023
Some would name this group a “tremendous group,” whereas Sabrina Ionescu acknowledged “I feel we’re simply tremendous people” on WSLAM. With the offseason acquisitions of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot, the Liberty completed with the second-best document, with the No. 2 seed.
Voted the 2023 Related Press Participant of the Yr, Breanna Stewart has essentially the most 40-point, 10 rebound video games in historical past. Stewart broke the WNBA document for factors in a single season, tied the franchise document for 20 double-doubles, and has essentially the most 40-point video games in a season. No. 30 completed second behind Jewell Loyd in whole factors scored (919), third in rebounds (371) and blocks (63). Behind Stewart is a powerhouse, together with Sabrina Ionescu, who was chosen to the 2023 All- Related Press Second Staff.
Ionescu, 25, broke to all-time document for three-pointers made in a sport, and simply the third participant in historical past with 100 three-pointers made in a single season. Guard Courtney Vandersloot, “the ground common” reached 4,000 profession factors, and is playmaker and engine of this group. Former MVP Jonquel Jones was named Commissioners Cup MVP in August. Betnijah Laney, a defensive specialist, just lately signed a multi-year extension, and has confirmed herself an important a part of this group. The beginning 5 make up 74 factors a sport, which is 84 % of their offense.
Defensive Specialists
With Kayla Thornton, Stefanie Dolson, and Marine Johannes on the bench, the Liberty rank close to final in bench factors per sport (15.2). Actually a particular group, all gamers have unselfishly come collectively, and developed belief and chemistry all through the season. Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Courtney Vandersloot rank inside the high ten in offensive ranking. Thornton, Jocelyn Willoughby, and Dolson, all defensive gamers, rank high 17 in defensive ranking.
Mystics Key Gamers
Bringing this Power to playoffs 🗣️#BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/cq7S1edZLY
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 12, 2023
The Washington Mystics are the largest thriller heading into the playoffs. Tormented by accidents, the Mystics discover themselves in a tricky matchup on the street. Washington, 7-13 in away video games, will probably be with out Kristi Toliver, and probably Shakira Austin. Led by Elena Delle Donne, the Mystics dropped three of their final 5, though they achieved spectacular victories over New York and Las Vegas. Delle Donne, restricted to 23 video games this season, completed seventeenth in factors per sport (16.7), and thirteenth in area targets made.
Behind Delle Donne is Brittney Sykes, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, and Shakira Austin. With a three-guard lineup, when wholesome, Clout, Atkins, and Skyes account for 50 % of the group’s whole offense. Of their earlier matchup towards the Liberty, the Mystic’s backcourt comprised of 48 factors, with 25 off the bench. If Austin is unable to swimsuit up, the Mystics will wrestle for frontcourt depth, behind Delle Donne and Hines-Allen.
Guard Brittney Sykes ranks twenty first in factors per sport (15.9), together with a 29-point efficiency in sport three towards New York. If wholesome, this can be a Mystics group that may be aggressive, as we have seen in earlier video games. With a majority of their starters wholesome and able to swimsuit up, this can be some of the entertaining sequence we might even see within the first spherical.
Prediction
Talked about in my earlier article, all predictions are for the straight cash line sequence win. Though the Mystics gained a couple of gamers, the well being of some are questionable. With the sequence tied 2-2, the Liberty are a vastly completely different group than their third assembly, on July twenty first. With the Mystics averaging 86 factors a sport towards New York, this must be a enjoyable and aggressive sequence. The Liberty are scary good, and several other gamers talked about they have not reached their full potential. Maybe we are going to see this within the upcoming weeks.
Washington lined the unfold in 4 video games and will not let New York stroll away with any simple wins. With query marks within the frontcourt, the Mystics will closely depend on their three guards. In my view, this sequence will probably be shut, nevertheless, I’ll take the Liberty primarily based off expertise and expertise. New York must dominate on the boards, in addition to within the paint, and Washington must play stellar protection on the perimeter.
My prediction for the WNBA Playoffs First-Spherical: New York in three
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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 present 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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