10 Storylines to Watch Down the Stretch
Get ready for a sprint to the finish. The WNBA returns from the Olympic break with two powerhouses chasing history, a legend saying goodbye, a new playoff format creating intrigue throughout the league — and much more.
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- Three titles in five years was enough to call the Lynx a dynasty. But can Maya Moore add a fourth ring in her sixth season? Besides the Sparks, Minnesota’s biggest challenge may be re-building momentum after their four stars spent the Olympic “break” winning a gold medal.
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- A surprise powerhouse, the Sparks surged past the Lynx to a 20-1 start, matching the 1998 Houston Comets for the best in WNBA history. But they’ll need to play their best basketball come the fall, when superstars Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker will look to win their first title.
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- As a Top 20@20 player, Tamika Catchings has secured her place as an all-time WNBA great. Now it’s time to say goodbye. The longtime Fever star will look to lead Indiana to a second straight WNBA Finals and head into retirement on the ultimate high note.
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- New rules mean that the top eight teams in the standings regardless of conference will qualify for the postseason. With the top three seeds virtually locked, the final month will be a battle for the final five spots. Just 4.5 games separate fourth place from 11th.
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- The MVP through the three-quarter mark of the season? It would be hard to argue against Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike. The 2012 No. 1 overall pick has raised her game to the next level, ranking third in both scoring and rebounding and shooting a would-be single-season record 71% from the field. The Liberty’s Tina Charles appears to be her biggest challenger for the award.
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- If Liberty star Tina Charles can help narrow the gap between third-seeded New York and L.A./Minnesota, a second MVP may be in her future. Key to that pursuit — and the Liberty’s pursuit of the franchise’s first title — is the return of dynamic guard Epiphanny Prince (left) from a knee injury. Charles is also in position to become just the third player ever to lead the league in both scoring and rebounding.
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- Four-time NCAA champion. No. 1 overall pick. Franchise savior? Breanna Stewart rode the hype train into the WNBA, and she’s more than lived up to expectations as a rookie. The 21-year-old Olympian has already emerged as one of the league’s best two-way forces, but can she also lead the Storm (tied for the 8th seed) into the playoffs in her first season?
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- A pair of three-time champs will also play their final games this September and, potentially, October. The Liberty’s Swin Cash and the Mercury’s Penny Taylor will both retire with decorated WNBA and international resumes.
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- After dominating the headlines a year ago, Elena Delle Donne got off to a quieter start this season, and her Sky fell to the middle of the pack. Then she returned to MVP form during a brilliant July (23.4 PPG, 50% FG). How much noise can EDD and the Sky make come crunch time?
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- No one envisioned the Olympic break arriving with the Mercury sitting in seventh place at 10-14. Still, don’t count out any team with an offensive force like Diana Taurasi and a defensive force like Brittney Griner. Taurasi in particular looks primed for a hot streak after blitzing through the competition in Rio.
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