20 Things to Know About the WNBA’s 20th Season: Page 2

Brian Kotloff

4. The new regular-season and playoff formats are sure to shake things up.

This milestone year comes with major changes that will give the season a different feel from the opening tip-off until the last buzzer sounds in the Finals.

A more balanced regular-season schedule means more cross-conference matchups than ever before. And rather than seeding each conference one through four, the top eight teams regardless of conference will qualify for the postseason.

From there, the top two overall seeds receive a double bye while the first two rounds of the playoffs feature single-elimination games. Additionally, the teams will be re-seeded each round.

What does this mean for the power structure of the league? Start with the league’s preeminent rivalry: Minnesota vs. Phoenix. The Lynx and Mercury have met in the Western Conference Finals in four of the past five seasons. This year, they could theoretically meet in the Finals for the first time.

Read More About the New Format

5. The WNBA is under new leadership.

Lisa Borders brings more than 25 years of experience in operations, marketing, government relations and public service to her new role as the WNBA’s fourth-ever president.

“It’s humbling to me, it’s inspiring to me, to have the opportunity to take the baton at this particular juncture,” she told WNBA.com after accepting the position in February.

Borders’ infectious energy has already been palpable. Players know her as the Atlanta Dream’s No. 1 fan, cheering from the sidelines at Philips Arena. In fact, Borders was instrumental in bringing the franchise to Atlanta in 2008, when she served as Vice Mayor of Atlanta and President of the City Council. She comes to the WNBA from Coca-Cola, which is based in Atlanta.

Fans now know her for bringing the “W” handshake to April’s Draft – a greeting she introduced to the national TV audience when welcoming the draftees on stage.

Q&A: Borders Talks to WNBA.com

6. Elena Delle Donne took her game to another level last season.

Known as a generational talent since high school, EDD put it all together during her third pro season. The numbers speak for themselves:

  • Her scoring average of 23.4 points per game ranked fifth all-time.
  • Her Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 31.9 ranked third all-time.
  • She became the third player in league history to average at least 2.0 blocks and at least 1.0 three-pointer per game.
  • She shot 95% from the foul line, a single-season record (minimum 100 attempts) and raised her career numbers to an incredible 448-of-477 (94%).

What will Delle Donne do for an encore? First and foremost on her plate is chasing the Sky’s elusive first title; her first three seasons have led to the franchise’s first three playoff appearances.

MORE: Elena Delle Donne MVP Hub

7. Breanna Stewart could be Seattle’s next superstar.

She’s been called the best Connecticut Husky ever, compared to Kevin Durant and touted as the WNBA’s next franchise-changing No. 1 pick. Now all Stewart has to do is deliver on those expectations.

The Storm’s selection of Jewell Loyd (the eventual 2015 Rookie of the Year) and Stewart with back-to-back No. 1 picks recalls the 2001 and 2002 Drafts, when the Storm landed cornerstones Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. Two years later, the duo hoisted a championship trophy – becoming two of the seven No. 1 overall picks who went on to win a title with the team that drafted them.

Stewart has the skill set to be that type of player. Between “Stewie,” Loyd and Bird, Seattle will be a team to watch this season and beyond.

MORE: Stewart’s Unprecedented College Career

8. The Huskies are well represented at the next level.

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Stewart and teammates Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck made women’s college basketball history when they won their fourth consecutive national title on April 5. Nine days later, they made WNBA history as the first-ever trio from the same school to be selected Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in the Draft.

The WNBA has, not surprisingly, reaped the benefits of the UConn program’s monumental success. A total of 33 Huskies have been drafted into the league – second only to Tennessee’s 37 picks – including five No. 1 picks.

Names like Lobo, Bird, Taurasi and Moore headline that decorated club. Current WNBA rosters include 17 Connecticut alums in all – more than double the total of any other school.

MORE: UConn’s 1-2-3 Punch