Las Vegas – Phoenix mercury Are waiting will be Las vegas ekka Or Indiana fever Include them in the WNBA final?
Half a number 4 of the championship chain has been determined after the Mercury finished the number 1 seed Minnesota Links On Sunday. Aces host fever in a decisive game 5 on Tuesday (9:30 pm ET, ESPN2). Semifinal series,
Number 2 Seed Aces – who won the WNBA Championship in 2022 and 2023 – discovered his third final appearance in the last four sessions. Number 6 Seed Fever looks to return to the final for the first time since 2015. Las is MVP in Vegas A’aza Wilson And home-court advantage in winning-le-all, but Indiana has already disturbed a series by defeating number 3 seeds Atlanta dream 2–1 in the first round.
Cetleen ClarkeThe Ruki of the Year of last season has not been played since mid -July due to a waist injury. Fever has trusted all-stars Kelsey michelle And Aliah Boston To carry the team, who is hurt, has been destroyed in the guards’ position.
The WNBA will start from the final-first best-seven format on-Friday (8 pm ET, ESPN), with the first two hosting the game with the highest remaining seeds. Can the fever be another upset to reach there? Or will Aces be strong to set up an all-day-day match against Phoenix?
ESPN expert centers Andrews, Charlie Cream, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philipau and Michael Voepel expected on Tuesday.
There is speed in fever; There is a benefit of home-court in the aces. What is a big factor in Game 5?
Creme: This series has neither gained overweight-or the teams are 1-1 at home-but I am the biggest factor in a winner-tech-all game on the home court. The crowd of Las Vegas will be loud and engaged, and ACES is not invincible at home (Indiana Won Game 1), they left 17–5 in Micelob Ultra Arena in a regular session. The atmosphere should provide some additional energy, which seemed to disrupt Indiana in Game 2. Caviet: In the first round, fever won its decisive game on the road on Atlanta, which had gone 16–6 at home in a regular session 11 days ago.
Andrews: For Game 5, the experience will be the biggest game-changing factor. Aces is a proven championship team. This, to play with them in the court of his home, makes them a favorite to get them out of this series.
Pelton: It is the ninth time in the history of WNBA that a team has won the game 4 at home to force a decisive game 5. In those situations, the home team is 5-3 in game 5, slightly worse than the overall sign for all home games 5S (9-5, .643). So I would say that Edge goes to Las Vegas, but it is quite close that anything can happen.
Fever has so far blown hopes and predictions. Why can they add postsen upset and in advance?
Creme: Kelsey Michelle. The Indiana guard has proved to be at least the second biggest player in the chain. Indiana has found a formula that has worked twice, and it is largely built on Michelle and the aces is lacking, speed and the north of the shooting range.
Wilson is historically good, Aliah Boston has proved to be a worthy opponent, neutralizing Wilson or, in Game 4, is able to score correctly with a four -time MVP. The Las Vegas will adjust such as it did to slow down Mitchell in Game 2 after the 34-point explosion in the opener. But Mitchell threw a solid opposition with 25 more points on Sunday. If he gets the upper hand one more time, the fever can find itself in the final.
Voepel: Aces has shown vulnerability at home in these playoffs. In addition to losing game 1 of the semi -finals, they were one Erica Wheeler Shot shot away from potentially disturbing in the first round Seattle Storm,
Aces are home teams, but fever is playing with “home” money. They are underdogs that did not expect to overcome it. As a favorite, there is more pressure on the aces, and we will see how they handle it.
Philippou: The fever has concluded this year when they feel that their back is against the wall, especially in the posts, where they are 3-0 in the elimination games (since 2022, since 2022, the most by any team in the same postsen Connecticut sun,
For Voypel’s point, Aces are trying to move forward in their third final in four years and strengthen their position as the WNBA dynasty. Indiana needs to play for free, but with aggression and urgency from jumping to another disturbance. Fever should not only hold stout defensively, but also to receive contribution from more players beyond Michelle at the other end. Boston is a logical pick as another top scorer, but see Odissi sims Her ex factor because she was in her game 1 and 4 win.
1:04
Aces takes a 2–1 series lead with a win over fever
Jackie Young leads all scorers with 25 points as ACE defeated fever 84-72.
Las Vegas was so effective at the end of the regular season, but has dominated many times by Indiana. what changed?
Andrews: 17-It can be difficult to maintain the amount of energy and effort to go to the line of victory of the game. The same can be said for what happened to Minnesota. Links were very good for so long, but they ran out of steam (not to mention unfortunate injury Nefeesa colir And suspension of coach Cheryl Reev).
The issue is: It is difficult for such long parts to play completely. The fact is that Las Vegas struggled and struggled in its own way from the playoffs bubble to number 2, it is incredibly influential. But now, some of the energy of the aces stumbles, and the cost of Las Vegas has come several times against this Peski Indiana team.
Voepel: Fever has carried out the players on a large scale in their two wins in this series, so a lot of credit has been given for how ACES has seen Indiana. Michelle in Game 1 and Boston in Game 4 were the stars who stood outside, but Sims were also bigger in wins who were with a joint 35 points on 59% shooting from the field. Fever has worked hard for the defense work of Aces in two wins of Indiana.
Philippou: Game 1 felt like a temporary, perhaps in part from Wilson’s MVP declaration that day in part due to all the enthusiasm. At that time, Wilson made it somewhat simple: “We did not come to work.” ACES coach Becky Hamon has insisted that his team could not be emotionally too much after winning, and when she looked disappointed about free throw inequality in Indianna’s favor in Game 4, they also admitted that their team had defensively lacked energy.
It is not a coincidence that Las Vegas 0-3 This is the poston when it gives more than 80 points and is 4–0 when the opponent does not reach that extent. The defensive reform of the aces was a major factor promoting the line of victory. There is no doubt that Hamon will be in search of Las Vegas to win the series with defense on Tuesday, with Mitchell the top priority.
Which essay player should not be named A’aza Wilson, Las Vegas should take steps to win?
Voepel: guard Jewel Lloyd Seattle played a different role with ACES compared to this season for a decade. This especially became a case when she moved into a reserved role from the bench. And Loyd told ESPN earlier this month that she is proud to consider as more than a scorer. He wants to be seen as a person who sets a good screen, helps to install his peers and plays good defense.
All those things matter very much. But the aces may require its scoring in Game 5. Going back to game 3 of the first -round series of the aces with Seattle, Lloyd is average of 4.6 points in its last five matches during the shooting of 30.4%. He scored in double digits only once in that stretch, with 10 points in the victory of Aces Khel 2 on Indiana. When he is hitting the perimeter, Lloyd can still increase defense, and it can be a major help on Tuesday.
Pelton: Nalisa Smith Game 4 was not bad in 4, scoring eight points on 4 -5 shooting, but she has been the biggest beloved for Las Vegas in the playoffs. When Smith score in double figures including games 2 and 3 in this series, the aces are 3–0. Las Vegas is 1-3 in four matches with Smith held in single digits.
Philippou: Jackie Young The playoffs have a two-way emphasis and may be the most important player secretly for the success of this series. other than that, Dana Evans There were some really strong moments in which his ability to get a downhill has increased speed in favor of Vegas. A big night was well bent for two -time champs.
1:05
G2 Tie Series with Aces Cruise for Win, Fever
A’Ja Wilson scored 25 points as Ace defeated fever 90-68 to take game 2 of its playoff series.
How will the game 5 and WNBA finals be crime?
Pelton: Fever tried to throw 23 more free than the aces in the game 4; This advantage was the largest for any WNBA team in the playoffs, which naturally attracted the attention of Ace. Wilson highlighted the availability of his postgame that there were five fouls, and reserves in three Las Vegas starters, and were reserved. Megan Gustafson Four were called in 15 minutes.
Essentially, the situation will be more favorable for ACES in Game 5. Although there are some carryover from game to game in terms of free throw differential, which can reflect the strength and weaknesses of the teams, it moves about 50%, even from a game to the next. Sometimes it is attributed to complaints by players and coaches when it is probably nothing more than regression.
Nevertheless, after WNBA followed the suspension of Cheryl Reev for Game 4 of the other semi -final matchup Both coaches fined in this series For his referee’s comments in support of Reeve, the officeiting will again be under a microscope on Tuesday.
Voepel: Officials may feel that they are now subject to an inappropriate microscope as it has become the biggest subject of the playoffs. But he is out of the toothpaste tube. And I agree with Kevin: during a series the pendulum goes to the front and back swing, which should benefit the aces.
