The 2015 WNBA Playoffs begin on Thursday, and so that means it’s time for WNBA Playoff Previews. We have a lot of good stuff for each series, including highlights, multiple written sections and a podcast. Yes, the section titles are Rihanna lyrics. Shout out Rihanna. Let’s get into it.
Chicago Sky (2)
#10WordRecap
Elena Delle Donne leads the way in MVP caliber season.
Emoji Recap
Three Most Important Highlights
Indiana Fever (3)
#10WordRecap
Tamika Catchings still the realest even in her fourteenth season.
Emoji Recap
Three Most Important Highlights
Preview Podcast (with special guest David Vertsberger)
“Don’t act like you forgot, I call the shots, shots, shots”
Player who will control/define series
*Extremely Silento voice* You already know who it is. Elena Delle Donne is without a doubt the player that will control this series. She won the scoring title at 23.4 points per game, finished fourth in the league in rebounding, pulling down 8.4 boards a night, and blocked 2 shots a game, good for third in the league. All of which, combined with the fact that she lead the Sky to the second seed in the East with a 21-13 record, has made her the consensus pick to win the 2015 WNBA MVP.
She is the main reason Chicago boasts the best offense in the league, at 104.25 points per 100 possessions, and finished in the top five of every major offensive category besides bench scoring. Her combination of size and skill makes her almost unguardable, as she’ll shoot over opposing guards, and go right past opposing bigs. Opposing coaches talk about Delle Donne like NBA coaches talk about LeBron James. They laugh when asked about their game plan to stop her. Game plan? There is no game plan they say. There is just hoping and praying she misses jump shots.
Which, she will do. She shot just 33 percent outside of 16 feet, including 31 percent from three. There’s no question that outside shooting is the weakest part of her offensive repertoire. However, while your prayers may be answered in regards to her missing jumpers, your defense has to force her into taking those shots first. Of course, they often cannot. When EDD rises and fires, it’s within 16 feet 60 percent of the time, and on those occasions, she’s shooting 55 percent. Defenses simply can’t prevent her from getting to whatever spot she wants to on the floor.
It’s a testament to her greatness, to the grace with which she goes about dominating opponents on a nightly basis, that you can ramble on about her endlessly. She is one of the most talented players the league has ever seen. She’s the 2015 WNBA MVP. And she’s the player that will control and define this series.
“Now that it’s raining more than ever, know that we still have each other. You can stand under my umbrella”
Unheralded player that will prove vital in this series.
While the whole Indiana Fever team, save for maybe Tamika Catchings, is qualified to fit this label, it’s once again the Sky who have garnered the attention. Specifically, Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago’s tough-as-nails point guard. Those who follow the WNBA closely know the importance of Vandersloot to Chicago’s success, but, in large part due to the overwhelming coverage Elena Delle Donne receives, Vandersloot has thus far avoided national attention. As T.I. would say, she’s fast as lightning bruh, you better use your Nikes, bruh. And apparently that not only applies to opposing defenders, but journalists as well.
Figuratively, Vandersloot is indeed as fast as lightning. Literally, she’s also as fast as lightning, especially on the fast break. Whether it’s after a missed shot, a made shot, a turnover, whatever, Vandersloot is flying the other way the second her fingertips touch the ball. Her relentless attacking style creates numerous opportunities for Chicago, both on the fastbreak, where they finished second best in the league at over 11 points per game, and in the half court. Pushing the ball so quickly up the court often forces the defense to react before they’re fully ready. So, even if they manage to stop Vandersloot’s initial burst, they can be left with mismatches, or at the very least flustered. Which in turn creates prime conditions for Delle Donne and Cappie Pondexter to work in.
Personally, Vandersloot has flourished this year, notching career-highs in points, assists, rebounds, steals, and field goal percentage, all while submitting career-low turnover numbers. Her 6 assists a night lead the league, and she had more double-digit assist performances than anyone else, including a league-high 13 dimes back on July 31 against the Sparks.
Elena Delle Donne will get the attention heading into this series, and rightfully so. But don’t sleep on Courtney Vandersloot. She does a lot of unheralded work that leads directly to Chicago’s success, and against Indiana that will be no different. The Fever finished third in the league in pace, right behind the Sky, which means large portions of this matchup will be spent with both teams flying up and down the court. And there’s nothing Courtney Vandersloot enjoys more than that.
Schedule:
Game 1: Indiana at Chicago, Thursday September 17, 8:00 PM EST (ESPN 2)
Game 2: Chicago at Indiana, Saturday September 19, 7:00 PM EST (NBA TV)
Game 3 (If Necessary): Indiana at Chicago, Monday September 21, 8:00 PM EST (NBA TV)