WNBA playoffs 2022 – Rating the highest 25 gamers within the semifinals

The 2022 WNBA semifinals are set after chalk dominated the opening spherical of the playoffs: The No. 1 seed Las Vegas Aces will tackle the No. 4 seed Seattle Storm, and the No. 2 seed Chicago Sky will face off towards the No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun.

The Aces-Storm matchup — Recreation 1 is Sunday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Las Vegas — has already been hyped as a Finals-worthy showdown. (Actually, Las Vegas and Seattle squared off for the title within the bubble in 2020 on the Storm’s solution to successful their fourth championship.) For the primary time in WNBA and NBA historical past, seven former No. 1 draft picks will take the courtroom in a playoff recreation: the Aces’ Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young together with the Storm’s Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart. Wilson and Stewart, MVPs in 2020 and 2018, respectively, are thought of front-runners for this season’s award as effectively.

The Sky-Solar collection, which options former No. 1 draft choose Candace Parker, marks a rematch of the 2021 semifinals, the place, after going .500 within the common season, then-No. 6 seed Chicago surprised top-seeded Connecticut in 4 video games on its solution to the Sky’s first title. They received even deeper within the offseason, notably with the signing of Emma Meesseman, permitting them to begin three Finals MVPs (together with Parker and Kahleah Copper) this summer time.

And whereas the Solar have earned their fourth straight journey to the semis, that is the primary time they did it behind their Large Three of Jonquel Jones, DeWanna Bonner and (a completely wholesome) Alyssa Thomas, to not point out a surging Brionna Jones.

With simply 4 groups left standing, we have up to date our rating of the highest 25 gamers within the WNBA playoffs, primarily based on postseason efficiency. Our checklist options 9 new faces and stars making some noise following a largely dominant set of first-round video games by the semifinalists: The common margin of victory by way of 10 first-round video games was a convincing 18.2 factors.

play

Chelsea Grey goes 7-for-8 from downtown as she places up 27 factors to guide the Aces to an enormous blowout towards the Mercury.

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2022 playoff stats: 22.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 6.0 APG
First-round rank: 2

Stewart averaging a double-double in a sweep of an excellent Washington Mystics workforce — plus have a look at her help numbers — lifts her to the highest spot. However she and Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson are primarily interchangeable when it comes to immense worth to their groups. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2022 playoff stats: 12.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.0 BPG
First-round rank: 1

Wilson had an atypical playoff opener with eight factors, however simply the menace she presents is large. Recreation 2 was Wilson as normal, making 7 of 9 photographs from the sphere. Her 9 assists mixed within the two video games stands out, too, as a part of the Aces’ general nice ball motion. — Voepel

Guard | 5-foot-11
2022 playoff stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.0 APG, 76.9% 3PT
First-round rank: 14

Nobody is hotter this WNBA postseason than Grey, who has a historical past of playoff success. She has been on fireplace offensively (10 of 13 from behind the arc) together with taking part in lockdown protection. She has additionally continued to be an distinctive playmaker; all of it warrants this massive bounce from the early rankings. — Voepel

Ahead/middle | 6-foot-4
2022 playoff stats: 14.3 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 5.7 APG
First-round rank: 3

True to kind, Parker’s fingerprints had been everywhere in the Sky’s first-round collection win over the New York Liberty, in methods each apparent and extra refined; she even got here inside attain of recording the league’s third postseason triple-double with 14 factors, 13 rebounds and eight assists in Chicago’s decisive Recreation 3 win. — Philippou

play

Jonquel Jones makes the Wings pay for a turnover as she will get the steal and rating proper earlier than the tip of the third quarter.

Ahead | 6-foot-6
2022 playoff stats: 16.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG
First-round rank: 5

Jones’ early foul bother Wednesday put the Solar in a little bit of a bind of their decisive Recreation 3 battle at Dallas, however her dominant return within the second half demonstrated simply how important she is for the Solar’s success shifting ahead. Her capability to remain on the ground, and the way efficiently the Solar can get her touches inside, will likely be a key for Connecticut to upset Chicago. — Philippou

Guard | 5-foot-8
2022 playoff stats: 22.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.5 APG
First-round rank: 4

Las Vegas’ guards had been spectacular within the collection opener, particularly with their WNBA-record 23 3-pointers in Recreation 2. Plum led the Aces in scoring within the common season and is tied for the lead within the playoffs. She drops a pair spots solely as a result of teammate Grey jumped up. — Voepel

Guard/ahead | 6-foot-1
2022 playoff stats: 18.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG
First-round rank: 17

Copper confirmed that our pre-playoff rating was, certainly, too low for the reigning Finals MVP, bursting into the postseason with a pair of 20-point performances. Whereas her fast first step and talent to assault the rim get many of the consideration, her protection on Sabrina Ionescu was large in swinging the collection in Chicago’s favor. — Philippou

play

After Sabrina Ionescu scores with below ten seconds remaining, the Liberty do not get again and Candace Parker finds Azura Stevens for the straightforward bucket earlier than halftime.

Guard | 5-foot-8
2022 playoff stats: 14.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 8.0 APG
First-round rank: 7

When Vandersloot is at her finest — facilitating the Chicago offense and taking up as wanted when the workforce wants a basket — the Sky are a lot harder to beat. Up to now this postseason, Vandersloot has continued to display why she’s thought of by many to be the perfect level guard within the league, compiling a pair of point-assist double-doubles and almost coming by way of with a point-rebound one within the different recreation. — Philippou

Ahead | 6-foot-2
2022 playoff stats: 11.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.7 APG
First-round rank: 9

Thomas was comparatively contained by the Wings’ stingy protection within the first spherical, particularly after she got here near recording a triple double in Recreation 1, however the Solar will want her in high kind on each ends — together with by making smarter selections with the ball — to flip the script versus the Sky. — Philippou

Guard | 5-foot-10
2022 playoff stats: 17.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG
First-round rank: 13

Loyd has improved a bit on her regular-season scoring common and had a robust close-out recreation towards the Mystics, making 5 3-pointers on the best way to 19 factors. Her playoff expertise is exhibiting. — Voepel

Guard | 6-foot-0
2022 playoff stats: 15.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 71.4% 3PT
First-round rank: 11

Younger at all times appears to do all the things quietly, however the impact could be very loud. She made 5-of-7 from behind the arc within the first spherical, together with being her normal versatile self defensively. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2022 playoff stats: 14.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.7 APG
First-round rank: 19

Bonner is the one participant on the Solar’s roster who has gained a WNBA title, and that have confirmed Wednesday evening, as she took over the sport defensively and offensively to assist Connecticut overcome an underwhelming begin to tie the rating proper earlier than halftime after which draw back comfortably after the break. — Philippou

play

Sue Hen passes to Gabby Williams, who will get the 2 factors.

Guard | 5-foot-9
2022 playoff stats: 14.0 PPG, 6.0 APG, 2.5 RPG
First-round rank: 18

Hen is taking part in the ultimate video games of her profession, and the longer term Corridor of Famer is profiting from them. Her scoring common has jumped from her 7.8 PPG within the common season, together with her assists remaining regular as ever. — Voepel

Ahead/middle | 6-foot-6
2022 playoff stats: 14.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG
First-round rank: NR

After a breakout efficiency within the postseason final yr, it is no shock that Stevens would come by way of once more for the Sky in 2022; her 12 factors — which included a transition basket on the buzzer previous to halftime that swung the momentum again in Chicago’s favor — and eight rebounds had been notably impactful in serving to the Sky preserve a large lead over the Liberty most of Recreation 3. — Philippou

Heart | 6-foot-4
2022 playoff stats: 10.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 APG
First-round rank: 20

Charles’ numbers are down a bit from the common season, however that displays the general elevation of the Storm as a workforce within the playoffs. The menace Charles poses makes the whole thing of Seattle’s inside recreation much more daunting. — Voepel

play

Allie Quigley exhibits off the vary as she will get the steal and as a substitute of stepping into for the layup, she knocks down the 3-pointer.

Guard | 5-foot-10
2022 playoff stats: 13.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.7 APG
First-round rank: NR

Quigley’s back-to-back 3-pointers Tuesday to increase the Sky’s result in 19 halfway by way of the fourth quarter put the collection away for good, however James Wade has additionally been impressed with how locked-in the sharpshooter has been defensively, one thing to look at for because the postseason goes on. — Philippou

Ahead | 6-foot-3
2022 playoff stats: 12.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG
First-round rank: 10

Jones uncharacteristically struggled at instances as soon as the Wings matched Teaira McCowan together with her in Recreation 2, however her capability to lastly get occurring the offensive glass in Recreation 3 with a team-high six offensive boards allowed the Solar to lastly get again to their identification and advance to the subsequent spherical. — Philippou

Ahead | 5-foot-11
2022 playoff stats: 13.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG
First-round rank: NR

Williams could be a bit up-and-down, however she has been all up within the playoffs in each manner: her scoring, her passing, her protection. If the Storm have this model of Williams the remainder of the best way, it makes them that a lot tougher to beat. — Voepel

Guard | 6-foot-1
2022 playoff stats: 6.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.0 APG
First-round rank: NR

Gardner would not at all times have the flashiest stats, however she has shortly established herself as one of many premier defenders within the league, together with her protection towards the Liberty, and notably Ionescu, serving as a spark for the usually offense-minded Chicago. — Philippou

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2022 playoff stats: 8.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.3 APG
First-round rank: 12

Meesseman has had a sluggish begin to the postseason offensively (her 12 factors in Recreation 3 marked her finest scoring output of the primary spherical), however has proven up defensively for Chicago, one thing that’ll proceed to be important for the Sky’s capability to say their dominance on that finish of the ground. — Philippou

play

DiJonai Carrington has the group on its ft as she drains the and-1 to drag the Solar nearer late within the fourth quarter.

Guard/ahead | 5-foot-11
2022 playoff stats: 9.7 PPG, 4.7 RPB, 2.0 SPG
First-round rank: NR

Bonner credited Carrington’s protection for serving to change the tide of Recreation 3 after the Solar’s sluggish begin; that, plus her capability to push in transition and get downhill however nonetheless be in management, can proceed to function a prompt the bench for Connecticut. — Philippou

Heart | 6-foot-3
2022 playoff stats: 7.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.5 BPG
First-round rank: NR

With Dearica Hamby injured, Stokes has stepped into an even bigger position. After averaging 15.4 minutes within the common season, she has jumped to 26.5 for the 2 playoff video games and is tied with Wilson for the workforce lead in rebounding. — Voepel

Heart | 6-foot-4
2022 playoff stats: 7.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.5 BPG
First-round rank: NR

Magbegor needed to modify when fellow middle Charles, a way more veteran participant, joined the Storm in late June. However her capability to do this has helped Seattle be a greater general workforce. — Voepel

Guard | 5-foot-8
2022 playoff stats: 6.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.0 APG
First-round rank: NR

Hiedeman’s clutch 3-point capturing (3-for-5) stored the rating tight in Recreation 3 whilst Dallas got here out the gates throwing the primary punch, and the Solar will want extra of that within the semifinals to maintain their championship hopes alive. — Philippou

Guard | 5-foot-7
2022 playoff stats: 6.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG
First-round rank: NR

With as nice because the beginning guards are taking part in, the Aces have not wanted as a lot from Williams. However she has been prepared each time they’ve wanted her. — Voepel

Fell out: Ariel Atkins, Elena Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, Sophie Cunningham, Allisha Gray, Natasha Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Teaira McCowan