WNBA postseason preview: Strengths and weaknesses for all 8 playoff teams

The 2024 WNBA playoffs are here, with eight teams still standing after a four-month campaign that came down to a dramatic final day of games on Thursday.

For some teams, like the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, making the playoffs was an obligation, with those teams clearly aiming for a championship rematch from game one. However, other teams — specifically the red-hot Minnesota Lynx and an Indiana Fever team lead by Rookie of the Year favorite Caitlin Clark — had to find their form after the Olympic break, bringing the kind of momentum that could spark postseason upsets.

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The Phoenix Mercury will be looking to give three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi one more ring, while the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm want to prove they deserve the kind of attention New York and Las Vegas have gotten all year. Finally, the Atlanta Dream won three straight to claim the final playoff berth, clinching eighth place with a regular-season-ending win over the Liberty.

Here's what you need to know about all eight teams heading into the 2024 WNBA playoffs:

WNBA playoff preview: Strengths, Weakness for all 8 teams

No. 8 Atlanta Dream (15-25)

• Strengths: Rebounding, defensive improvements
• Weaknesses: Shooting

The Dream conjured up a playoff spot despite a league-low 40.6% field-goal percentage, and enter the playoffs as the lowest-scoring team in the entire WNBA in 2024. The only Atlanta players to average over 20 minutes per game this season and shoot above the 43.8% league average were veteran center Tina Charles and part-time starter Naz Hillmon. Close-range, mid-range, or from beyond the arc, it just didn't matter.

How did they get into the playoffs? Attacking the boards. Charles' 374 rebounds trailed only A'ja Wilson and Angel Reese, and the only teams that out-rebounded Atlanta are the Liberty and the Chicago Sky. The Dream also dialed in on defense down the stretch, holding opponents to 76 or fewer points in each of the team's final five games. Realistically, any hopes of knocking off New York (who rested four starters for big portions of Thursday's loss between these teams) will hinge on that trend continuing.

No. 7 Phoenix Mercury (19-21)

• Strengths: Experience, motivation, gritty mentality
• Weaknesses: Rebounding, consistency, overreliance on three-point shooting

Despite the presence of 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner, Phoenix has struggled with rebounding all year, finishing 11th in total rebounds and 12th in rebound percentage (47%). That's left the Mercury having to be very resourceful to win games, something that a vastly experienced roster — including the inimitable Diana Taurasi — has managed to do to pull off.

It hasn't been easy, as the Mercury don't particularly excel in any category. That's in part because Phoenix relies so much on its shooters getting hot on a given night. Any time the Mercury shoot below 30% from three-point range, the team struggles, posting a 4-8 record on the season in those games. Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, and Sophie Cunningham all have that "shooters shoot" mentality, but only Cunningham's 37.5% is above the league average beyond the arc this season.

No. 6 Indiana Fever (20-20)

• Strengths: Shooting, forcing fast breaks
• Weaknesses: Defense, experience

The Caitlin Clark show is heading to the playoffs, which is impressive work for a team that was 1-8 after nine games. However, an 8-2 run coming out of the Olympic break changed the Fever's season, and though Clark has been outstanding, the turnaround isn't entirely on the rookie sensation. Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, and Kelsey Mitchell are all shooting over 46%, helping Indiana post a league-high 45.4% field-goal percentage on the season.

The Fever are the worst defensive team to make the playoffs, giving up over 85 points a game, but those numbers have improved somewhat down the stretch. Head coach Christie Sides has Indiana playing a high-speed game, which means taking risks (the Fever are fourth in the WNBA in turnovers) in the hopes that the court is open for Clark to pile up assists. A lack of experience may make a playoff run too much to ask, but this young Indiana team is ahead of schedule.

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No. 5 Seattle Storm (25-15)

• Strengths: Pushing the tempo, free throws, interior defense
• Weaknesses: Three-point shooting

The Storm lead the league in steals — they're one of two teams where all five starters have posted at least 40 in the category — and have attempted more field goals than anyone else this season. Generally speaking, if you play Seattle, you'd better be prepared to run. That leads to plenty of free throws, putting opponents in foul trouble on a regular basis.

Center Ezi Magbegor is second in the league in blocks, helping the Storm lead the WNBA, while veterans Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, and Nneka Ogwumike are all averaging over 15 points on the year. However, Seattle plays a volume game rather than leaning on high-percentage shooters, leaving them vulnerable in tight contests (or against teams that force the Storm to be patient).

No. 4 Las Vegas Aces (27-13)

• Strengths: A'ja Wilson, depth, playoff experience
• Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding

The Aces are the two-time defending champions for a reason, with a 16-3 record in the playoffs over the last two years. The roster is packed with serial winners who have a combined 27 WNBA and NCAA championships. It's not just talent with Vegas, but rather a ruthless, never-say-die mentality to go with a long list of top-tier players. A league-worst 5.5 offensive rebounds per game qualifies as a flaw, but the Aces have mitigated that by leading the league in defensive rebounds.

Listing Wilson on her own as a strength may seem like a joke, but she's the most dominant player in women's basketball in the midst of her best season. How often do you see a center finish near the top of the league's steals category, or see a Defensive Player of the Year contender also score nearly 200 more points than anyone else?

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No. 3 Connecticut Sun (28-12)

• Strengths: Defense, Forcing turnovers, getting to the free-throw line
• Weaknesses: Rebounding

The Sun are tough as nails, a quality that always pays off in playoff basketball. Connecticut joins Seattle in having all five starters post at least 40 steals, and per Basketball Reference they force a turnover on 17.5% of opposition possessions (a league-best figure). Head coach Stephanie White's team has given up the fewest field-goal attempts, and that's how you become the only team this season to hold opponents below 75 points per game. You just don't get easy buckets against Connecticut.

Perennial all-league forward Alyssa Thomas is the only player within 70 assists of Clark, but outside of DeWanna Bonner might be lacking in help on the glass. Still, despite the lack of chatter around this team as compared to the rest of the top four, DiJonai Carrington has leveled up, and a July trade for Marina Mabrey underlined that the Sun are aiming for the top.

No. 2 Minnesota Lynx (30-10)

• Strengths: Three-point shooting, offensive efficiency, defensive execution
• Weaknesses: Size, reliance on the three

Despite operating without a true center, Minnesota is roaring into the playoffs, with a 13-2 record since the Olympic break marking them as a legit contender to win it all. That run includes multiple double-digit wins over the Aces and Fever, and a statement 88-79 win on Sunday over the New York Liberty. Provided their long-range shots keep falling, the Lynx are a team no one wants to play right now.

Cheryl Reeve has Minnesota playing efficient ball, with a slower tempo emphasizing an ability to create open looks on offense (particularly from three-point range, where Minnesota shoots a league-leading 38.1%). Naphessa Collier would arguably be the MVP favorite if not for Wilson's historic season, and seems poised to carry this well-balanced team through crunch time.

No. 1 New York Liberty (32-8)

• Strengths: Shooting, team defense, rebounding, size
• Weaknesses: Consistency

The star-studded Liberty are near or at the top in nearly every statistical category you can think of. All five starters have proven that they can single-handedly take a game over, while Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart make it next to impossible to get into the paint. New York has a team of "small ball" players who aren't actually small, posing matchup nightmares all over the court.

The Liberty are the only team to average over 10 three-pointers per game, while Sandy Brondello's squad leads the WNBA with a 52.4% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plus, with Ellie the Elephant, the Liberty have the swaggiest mascot in American sports.

You have to dig deep to find a flaw with New York, but they have had a few more off-nights than you'd expect. The Washington Mystics pushed them hard three times this year, while Chicago and Minnesota have both managed to beat the Liberty in games where the New York offense couldn't break 70 points.

WNBA playoffs: Bracket and pairings

Round One pairings

• No. 8 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 1 New York Liberty
• No. 7 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 2 Minnesota Lynx
• No. 6 Indiana Fever vs. No. 3 Connecticut Sun
• No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

2024 WNBA postseason schedule:

All times Eastern.

Sunday 9/22

• Game 1: Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty - 1 p.m. on ESPN
• Game 1: Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun - 3 p.m. on ABC
• Game 1: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx - 5 p.m. on ESPN
• Game 1: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces - 10 p.m. on ESPN

Tuesday 9/24

• Game 2: Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty - 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
• Game 2: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces - 9:30 p.m. on ESPN

Wednesday 9/25

• Game 2: Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun - 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
• Game 2: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx - 9:30 p.m. on ESPN

Thursday 9/26

• Game 3*: New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream - Time TBD on ESPN2
• Game 3*: Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm - Time TBD on ESPN2

Friday 9/27

• Game 3*: Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever - Time TBD on ESPN2
• Game 3*: Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury - Time TBD on ESPN2

(* - If necessary)

How to watch the WNBA playoffs

The 2024 WNBA playoffs start on Sunday, September 22, and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. Fans that want to stream the games online can catch every game on ESPN+.

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