Welcome to your guide to the 2024 WNBA Playoffs. The 2024 WNBA Playoffs begin today, (September 22). The conclusion of a raucous regular season resulted in matchups that will surely make for some fantastic games this postseason.
The WNBA Playoffs are structured with an opening round of 4 best of 3 series followed by the Semi-Finals and Finals being best of 5. The first round of the playoffs sees the New York Liberty vs. Atlanta Dream, Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever, and reigning back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm. Each first-round series should be fiercely competitive and entertaining. Here’s a brief breakdown of each series and some predictions about who will end this 2024 season as WNBA Champs.
New York Liberty enters the playoffs as the No. 1 overall seed and ended the season with the league’s best record. They play the Atlanta Dream, who enter the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, ending their season with the worst record among playoff teams. But don’t let the records fool you. The Atlanta Dream has a 2024 USA Olympian in Rhyne Howard, 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend’s Skills Competition, 3-point contest winner, Allisha Gray, and the WNBA’s All-Time leader in rebounds, Tina Charles. If you don’t know, now you know.
Name recognition in the Big Apple is part of the appeal of playing in New York City, and the Liberty know how to match recognition with results finishing with a terrific 32-8 regular season record. They tout their 2024 USA Olympians Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart while adding Jonquel Jones to their big 3. Jones is the first WNBA player to win WNBA MVP, Sixth Woman of the Year, and WNBA Most Improved Player. I’m a huge Rhyne Howard fan, and rooting for the underdog is cool, but without a dominant series from her, the Dream don’t make it out of the first round. New York Liberty in 3.
Minnesota vs Phoenix aren’t the cultural hubs of NYC and ATL, but they play some serious ball. Minnesota earned the No. 2 spot with a regular season record of 30-10, led by 2024 USA Olympian and MVP candidate, Naphessa Collier, along with major contributions from Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Bridget Carleton, and Kayla McBride. Phoenix has one of the goats (Greatest Of All Time) of Women’s Basketball, Diana Taurasi—who is possibly calling it quits after this season and is looking to go out on top. Taurasi has three WNBA championships to her name and with help from Brittney Griner, Natasha Cloud, and Kahleah Copper wants to make it four. Too much Taurasi in this series as she marches towards WNBA immortality. Phoenix in 2.
Sun vs Fever is intriguing. Connecticut, with a 28-12 regular season record, boasts a trio of veterans in DeWanna Bonner, Marina Mabrey, and 2024 USA Olympian Alyssa Thomas. Their secret sauce’s main ingredient is DiJonai Carrington, who brings tons of flavor to the court. The Indian Fever get their first taste of playoff action in 2024 after missing the last 7. Media attention, fan support, and the dynamic trio of last season’s WNBA Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell. The growth of Boston has matched the timely emergence and renewed confidence of Mitchell, sandwiched between the dynamic scoring and assists of Clark, who has continued her record-setting play throughout the regular season. Clark has undoubtedly contributed to the rapid expansion of interest in the WNBA. Having her Fever team make the playoffs is a plus for all of us. Fever’s youth is too much for the Sun to burn through. Fever in 3.
Las Vegas Aces vs Seattle Storm is a match up that would require Seattle to come through with a tsunami to win. The Aces have, what will be, the unanimous 2024 WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson, followed by three more 2024 USA Olympians Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. Wilson is playing out of her mind, and stopping her isn’t something well-suited for the Seattle Storm. A team with remarkable guards Jewell Loyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith, along with 2012 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2016 league MVP and 2016 Champ Nneka Ogwumike is formidable for most, just not the Aces team and not this season. Aces are looking for the three-peat and a post-championship game celebration that will make Las Vegas proud and might break the internet. Aces in 2.
These 2024 WNBA Playoffs are ready for primetime with rosters full of ready-for prime time players. These playoffs will be remembered as a cornerstone in the building of the WNBA that will emerge over the next 20 years. Enjoy the games!
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Mark Patton is an owner of too many sneakers, a passionate and persistent advocate for public school students experiencing homelessness and a big sports fan with immaculate taste in Hip-hop music.
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