Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) signs mini-basketballs for fans after a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Caitlin Clark will be making her first appearance in the WNBA playoffs in the arena where she began her professional career.
The Indiana Fever plays at Connecticut on Sunday to begin the league’s postseason with a best-of-three format: the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces host Seattle, top-seeded New York plays Atlanta and Minnesota plays Phoenix.
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Clark is coming off a record-breaking rookie season and will be trying to lead Indiana to its first playoff win since 2015, when current Suns coach Stephanie White was at the helm of the Fever.
Read: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are changing the landscape and future of the WNBA
This will be the third consecutive postseason in which the league will use a best-of-three format, with the higher seed playing the first two games at home and the deciding game at the home of the lower seed.
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Las Vegas is trying to become the first team to win three consecutive championships since Houston won the WNBA’s first four championships.
Here are four series starting on Sunday.
#1 New York vs #8 Atlanta
The Liberty had the best record in the league but fell two wins short of the franchise’s first championship last year, losing in four games to Las Vegas, while the Dream have made the playoffs for the second straight year under Tina Charles.
Season Series: New York won three of four games, with their only loss coming in the season finale when the Liberty had no real contenders and the Dream were fighting for a playoff spot.
BetMGM odds to win: New York +125, Atlanta +50,000.
Key Stories: The Liberty’s chemistry has improved this season with the core group of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Courtney VanderSloot playing together for just the second time. Stewart once again proved herself to be one of the best players in the league and a formidable opponent. Atlanta is back in the playoffs for the second straight season, their first since 2013-14. Charles is a New York native who played several seasons with the Liberty.
#4 Las Vegas vs #5 Seattle
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via The Associated Press)
A’ja Wilson has been the best player in the league this year, taking her already impressive game to new heights. She became the first player in league history to score over 1,000 points in a season and has been a dominant force on both ends of the court. The Aces started off slow this season with Chelsea Gray recovering from a foot injury she suffered in last year’s WNBA Finals. But the team has been on a roll lately. Heading into the playoffs, they have won nine of their last 10 games, including Tuesday’s win over Seattle. The Storm added Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith in the offseason to make them more competitive.
Season SeriesThe Aces have won three of four games against the Storm this season.
BetMGM odds to win: Las Vegas +225, Seattle +2500.
Main storyline: The Aces are in prime form at the right time to try and win again, with Wilson, Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young leading the way. Vegas added Tiffany Hayes mid-season and she has been a solid spark off the bench. Vegas knows how to win in the playoffs and will be a tough opponent. One concern for Seattle is the health of Jewel Loyd, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury. Without Loyd, it will be tough for the Storm to beat the champions.
No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. 7 Phoenix
The Minnesota Lynx have been the surprise team this season, led by star forward Napheesa Collier. Minnesota showed just how good Cheryl Reeve’s team is by beating New York to win the Commissioner’s Cup title. Minnesota is one of the most momentum-addled teams heading into the playoffs. The Lynx had won 13 of their 14 games before losing a meaningless game at the end of the regular season. The Mercury are the opposite, coming into the playoffs with seven losses in their last 10 games.
Season Series: The Lynx have won three of the four meetings this season, with all of those victories coming by double digits.
BetMGM odds to win: Minnesota +270, Phoenix +10,000.
Key Stories: Diana Taurasi hasn’t said if she’s retiring after this season, but Phoenix honored the league’s all-time leading scorer on Thursday as if it were the end of her career. The Mercury have the talent to make a deep playoff run, led by Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Natasha Cloud and Kalia Copper. They may have a tough time beating the talented Lynx, who are playing very well. Minnesota has only won one playoff series since winning its last title in 2017, beating Phoenix in 2020.
No. 3 Connecticut vs. No. 6 Indiana
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates after making a three-point shot during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
All eyes will be on Clark, who will be making her postseason debut. She struggled early in the season with a tough schedule, but really came on strong after the Olympic break. She had her first season with an over .500 win rate since 2016, the last year the team went 20-20 and made the playoffs. Clark, who set the league record for assists and also set the rookie scoring record, was assisted by Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell. Connecticut has made the postseason for eight consecutive years, the longest streak of any active team. Led by Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, the Sun are looking to end Clark’s first year in the league.
Season Series: The Sun won three of the four meetings, with the Fever winning the last one. All three of Connecticut’s wins came within the first month of the season.
BetMGM odds to win: Connecticut +1,000, Indiana +2,500.
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Key Stories: Clark has always thrived on the biggest stage and is ready to make her playoff debut. For the Fever to be successful, other players will need to step up and help her. Clark averaged 16.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in four contests. The Sun are looking to return to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2022.
