This week on The IX Sports Podcast Basketball Edition, hosts Jackie Powell and Howard Megdal take a look back at some of the farewells across the WNBA this week — and look ahead to the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
The pair opened with a review of some of the goodbyes across the league this week. The Connecticut Sun played their final game Thursday, as did Nneka Ogwumike for the Los Angeles Sparks. Rebecca Allen of the New York Liberty will play at least two more games as the team makes a run in the playoffs — but her career was also honored this week in Brooklyn.
“What stood out to me was the 12-plus minute speech that Nneka Ogwumike had for everyone in the building, and it was a very touching moment,” Powell said.
“I believe in what this league represents. Something that I always like to say is we cannot ignore the needs of the majority for the noise of the minority, and this,” Ogwumike said, pointing out at the crowd in the arena, “is the majority.”
Powell said that comment stood out to her.
“But for me, it was incredibly symbolic of what this entire season in the WNBA has been, and also, I think it relates to what the future of the WNBA could look like, and what, when thinking about the future, people should be thinking about,” Powell said.
First round
Then Powell and Megdal turned to a preview of the WNBA playoffs. The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx will face the No. 8 seed New York Liberty. Both Powell and Megdal predicted that the series would take three games, but with injuries to three top Liberty players, Minnesota would take the series.
The No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries will face the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings at home in Ballhalla. With dominant defense expected from the Valkyries, led by Head Coach Natalie Nakase, both Megdal and Powell predicted a quick first round exit for Dallas.
The series between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces is likely to be a good series, the hosts said — but some of it will depend on whether Aliyah Boston is healthy.
“Now we get to see healthy Caitlin Clark in the playoffs. That alone is so exciting. Oh my God! There’s so much to love in this series,” Megdal said.
Both Megdal and Powell said they expected the four-five matchup, with the Atlanta Dream facing the Washington Mystics, to go three games, with Atlanta moving on. But the Mystics, they agreed, should be fun to watch.
“The Mystics, I believe, are the best team in clutch situations, and that’s not just a reflection of the coach; it’s a reflection of their personnel,” Powell said.
Tune in to the episode to listen to the full set of takes — plus an update on injuries in the WNBA this year.
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