NEW YORK (AP) – The WNBA playoffs are ready to start with their own version of March Madness. Well sort of.
The league changed the playoff format this season, adopting single-elimination games in the first two rounds before going to a best-of-five series in the semifinals.
“I’m excited for it,” said Los Angeles Sparks coach Brian Agler. “No one knows yet how it will work out, but it should be exciting.”
The Sparks and Minnesota Lynx have byes until the semifinals after posting the top two records in the league’s 20th season. Minnesota will try to become the WNBA’s first repeat champion since Los Angeles did it in 2001-02. That’s the last time the Sparks won a title, a skid they hope to end this season.
Here are a few things to look for when the postseason begins Wednesday with the Atlanta Dream hosting the Seattle Storm and the Indiana Fever taking on the Phoenix Mercury: