The 2024 WNBA Semifinals headlines the top four teams, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun, and defending back-to-back champs Las Vegas Aces with all four teams defended home court with 2-0 sweeps against Atlanta, Phoenix, Indiana, and Seattle. Now the semifinals begin with a finals rematch between New York and Las Vegas and the hottest team Minnesota facing a veteran led Connecticut team looking to win their first title. Both games will be a best of five series where one team from each series plays in the finals as I analyze the possibility of crowning a new champion this year.
The finals rematch between New York and Las Vegas is a must-see game between the last two MVPs, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson looking to lead their teams to a title. New York swept the Aces in the regular season 3-0 once in New York and twice in Las Vegas. The match up will see one team return to the finals in consecutive seasons.
New York, the number one team in the league returns all five starters along with two bench players and added versatile players like Leonie Fiebich and Kennedy Burke who have been great complements to the lineup. Sabrina Ionescu (18.2 ppg, 6.2 apg, 33.3 3P%) is coming off her best season in the league averaging career highs in points, assists, and field goals attempted. Jonquel Jones (14.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg) continues to become a huge impact in the paint rebounding the ball and being a tough matchup against the opponents post player. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (11.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.1 spg) the team’s best permitter defender was dealing with a knee injury in the second half of the season but has returned and continues to be a destruction on defense. Breanna Stewart (20.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.3 bpg) had a rough end to the season last year but has continued to evaluate her game and is trusting her teammates this year to help accomplish their season end goal.
“New York made a huge change to their bench after their disappointed finals lost last year. The team has learned to become patient and utilize their depth in games. The team is most favorable to win the championship this season since they don’t have to rely much of the minutes from the returning starters. This team is hungry for the franchise’s first title and is going to have success in the postseason.”
Las Vegas Aces are the defending back-to-back champs but have dealt with adversity and inconsistency this season. Aces lost veteran forward Candace Parker (9.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.7 apg) to retirement and starting point guard Chelsea Gray (15.3 ppg, 7.3 apg) who missed the first twelve games recovering from a foot injury that occurred last postseason. A’ja Wilson (26.9 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 2.6 bpg), Kelsey Plum (17.8 ppg, 4.2 apg), and Jackie Young (15.8 ppg, 5.3 apg) have been led to carry the load this season to help the team compete to win a third championship in a row. The team later added Tiffany Hayes who retired last season to bring in another veteran who has become an instant impact of the bench this season and is probably going to win Sixth Player of the Year. Since the Olympic break, Aces have gone 11-5 improving their offense, defense, and stayed healthy.
“Las Vegas are an experience team with championship mentality but throughout the season we have seen the Aces struggle against teams that have depth and versatility. I believe the Aces will not three-peat because they do not have the size to match New York’s versality and scoring coming from role players will affect the team matching the Liberty. Coach Hammon should had to find post players that can help A’ja rebound and score throughout the season.”
Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx will feature a battle of the top defending teams in the league. In the three regular season match ups, all games were won by at least five points with the Sun winning two and Lynx with one. Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas will be leading their teams to a franchise title.
Minnesota Lynx have won four WNBA champions in the past, but Cheryl Reeve has been forced to build a new generation of talented players to replace the veteran lineup. Napheesa Collier (20.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg 1.9 spg) has continue to improve her game every season and won the Defensive Player of the Year. Kayla McBride (15.0 ppg, 3.2 apg, 40.7 3P%) is in her fourth season with the Lynx has been hitting her threes at an efficient rate and brings veteran leadership. Bridget Carleton (9.6 ppg, 44.4 3P%) has made improvements in scoring as a starter and is a better three-point shooter. The Lynx picked two players in the offseason and another player in a mid-season trade, Courtney Williams (11.1 ppg, 5.5 apg) has provided ball handling skills and energy to this team. Alanna Smith (10.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg) is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and blocks while also becoming a starter. Myshia Hines-Allen (7.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) who has played most of career in Washington gives the Lynx a backup post player to contribute off the bench.
“The new generation Lynx are having a really impressive season than last year and are the hottest team in the league because of their defense and scoring from their depth roster. This team has the potential to make the finals and win the franchise’s fifth title which would be the most in the league. I would say the Lynx have to continue to play their best and stay locked for the rest of the semifinals.”
The Connecticut Sun are one of the most experience teams to make the postseason in the last six seasons with six straight semifinal appearances and two finals appearances. The Sun have been very close of winning a title but failed to get the job done in their consecutive appearances. Alyssa Thomas (10.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 7.9 apg) plays her best basketball in the post season and is the leading engine to this team. DeWanna Bonner (15.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.2 spg) leads the team in scoring and brings championship experience that can help this team win their first title. Brionna Jones (13.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 53.8 FG%) who missed most of last year with an achilles injury has stayed healthy this season for the Sun and gets post up touches that the team did not have last year. DiJonai Carrington (12.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg) has improve her scoring and defense from a season ago and was awarded the Most Improved Player of the Year. The Sun also add Marina Mabrey (14.9 ppg, 3.4 apg, 42.4 3P%) in a midseason trade that gave the Sun needed offense to will help them in the postseason.
“The Connecticut Sun have worked hard each season to contend for a title in the franchise but seem to lack focus when it comes to the game being on the line. This team is experience and knows what it takes to win but they just have to be locked in for the entire game. The Sun are a better defensive team this year and will continue to be a problem to their opponents as postseason progresses.”
