With Las Vegas’s first WNBA title, the cream rose to the top
The Las Vegas Aces finished an unforgettable WNBA season with rising ratings, multiple triple-doubles, and the crowning of a first-time champion.
With the retirement of WNBA legends Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, the league will look very different. Brittney Griner is expected to return to the United States and play for the Phoenix Mercury if the United States government can reach an agreement for her release from a Russian prison.
The WNBA Draft and, of course, the free agency market will now take center stage.
The WNBA’s decision to abandon the single-elimination format in the postseason’s early rounds was unquestionably a step in the right direction.
In the end, the Aces and Connecticut Sun were among the top title contenders throughout the season, according to WNBA betting line, and everything went pretty much as planned.
Let’s take a look at the most recent WNBA picks, stats, WNBA news, injury reports, and WNBA odds. There are plenty of WNBA championship odds to consider.
What Happens Next for the Aces?
With the addition of point guard Chelsea Gray to the Aces’ Big Three of A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, it appears that Las Vegas will be the last team standing, and those who bet online likely saw the Aces’ coronation coming long before Sunday.
Gray led the Aces with 20 points in the clinching game on Sunday, which seemed appropriate given how she improved her play in the postseason. She averaged 21.7 points per game in the playoffs, trailing only Seattle’s Breanna Stewart’s 27 points per game.
Gray and the other perimeter players flourished under first-year coach Becky Hammon, a former NBA star guard.
Las Vegas won despite the fact that post player Dearica Hamby missed part of the postseason and was far from 100 percent when she returned.
There will come a time when Las Vegas will struggle to keep all of its stars under contract, but that is a topic for another discussion.
What Will Happen to the Sun Next?
One has to wonder what the season would have been like if Jasmine Thomas had been healthy.
When Natisha Hiedeman was thrust into the starting lineup after Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury, she performed admirably. She is a streaky offensive player who is best suited to her previous role as a spark off the bench.
Brionna Jones, speaking of the bench, is deserving of a starting spot in this league. With DeWanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones, and Alyssa Thomas on the roster, that is unlikely to happen again in Connecticut – barring an injury.
Is Mercury Capable of Making Things Work?
With Diana Taurasi, Griner, and Skylar Diggins-Smith joining Tina Charles, the Phoenix Mercury appeared to be a nightmare to deal with in the postseason. Mercury was the only one who had nightmares.
Charles forced her way out of Phoenix, Griner never returned from Russia, and the Mercury roster was a recipe for disaster with so many strong personalities.
With her former UConn teammate Bird retiring, how much longer will Taurasi be willing to lace up the sneakers? Will the Phoenix team’s chemistry, which needs some work, influence her decision-making process?
Rising Stars Taking the Next Step
Sabrina Ionescu of New York and Rhyne Howard of Atlanta need more help to take their teams to the next level, but they were entertaining to watch.
Ionescu racked up triple-doubles, and the WNBA must be overjoyed to have such a charismatic player in New York. Nyara Sabally, the No. 5 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft who sat out the 2022 season, will join New York.
The strength of this year’s rookie class was questioned, but with No. 1 pick Howard leading the way and being joined by NaLyssa Smith and Shakira Austin, the future looks bright.
Will Boston Take Over the League?
Predicting the WNBA Draft order months before the entry deadline is a risky proposition, made even riskier by the eligibility rules impacted by COVID-19.
However, post-Aliyah Boston South Carolina appears to be the top available player in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She has the type of game that could help whoever chooses her speed up the rebuilding process.
Keep an eye on a talented group of juniors who may be drafted based on their birthday or graduation from college. Even without them, the 2023 draft looks promising.
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