Last night’s Lynx win over the San Antonio Stars pushed them to 24-6 on the season and guaranteed them a spot in the final four of the WNBA playoffs. Maya Moore had a monster game as the Lynx won their second in a row after struggling in the wake of injuries to Lindsay Whalen and later Rebekkah Brunson.
As a reminder, the WNBA playoffs involve byes for the top four teams, and double-byes for the top two teams. Teams 5-8 play single-elimination games. The winners of those games face the teams that finished third and fourth in single elimination games in the second round. That sets up semi-final series’ between those winners and the top two teams in the league, which looks once again to be the Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks.
As it happens, the Lynx and Sparks meet tomorrow in Los Angeles on ESPN. It does not appear that either Whalen or Brunson will be available for that game, though both are expected to return to action at some point this season. They will be needed, as the team has struggled without them, especially Whalen. However, a win tomorrow in Los Angeles would clinch the top seed for the Lynx. A loss would still leave them one game ahead in the loss column with three to play.
A reminder that Eurobasket begins on Thursday. I’m still trying to figure out how and where it’s going to be televised/streamed for the U.S. market, but I’m sure it will be available. No Timberwolves will be participating this year. Nemanja Bjelica is not going to play for Serbia due to the foot injury he sustained late last season. Ricky Rubio will be on the Spanish roster for those of us who want some unicorn goodness in our lives.
In other international basketball news, a terrific article on Jeff Van Gundy coaching the USA Basketball team that will try to qualify for the 2019 World Cup now that there is no more automatic qualifying thanks to their Olympic gold medal. It’s a group of mostly G-League talent that will have to play some tough teams in some tough venues this fall.
Elsewhere, after a physical, the Cavaliers are apparently concerned about Isaiah Thomas’ hip injury that sidelined him in the Eastern Conference Finals. What that might mean for the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Celtics is unclear.
What’s going on with you?