2022 WNBA Playoffs: Picking the Finals

“It’s the finale…My pep talk turns into pep..” 

You know the rest. The WNBA Finals are here. And after two hard-fought semifinal matchups, the last two teams standing are the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun. 

They may not be the teams many saw in the Finals but they are deserving of the honor after what they did during their postseason runs. 

The first game of the best of five series is today at 3PM. Game 1’s don’t really tell you anything – so I kind of hate them. Thus, no matter the outcome of today’s game, I’ve got the Las Vegas Aces winning the whole shebang.

The Aces have been the best team in basketball all season – for real this time. The last few years they were anointed the “the best team in basketball”, they were snuffed out early in the playoffs. 

Now, with WNBA Coach of the Year Becky Hammon, they’ve arrived and seem to be on the precipice of something big – like the franchise’s first ever WNBA championship. 

It’s all working for the Aces. They have star in A’ja Wilson , a veteran leader and champion in Chelsea Gray and other elite (like really elite) players to complete their core  in budding stars Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. 

They just look flat-out formidable. Frankly, I didn’t expect them to knock off Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird in four games (I called for five) and not fold in the big moments early in the the series. I knew they’d eke it out but not in the dramatic fashion they did. 

Yet, here we are.  Aces. vs Sun

Like the Aces, the Sun have disappointed in the playoffs  for years after being the best team in basketball during the regular season. 

They proved they may have exorcised their playoff demons after ousting the reigning champs, the Chicago Sky, IN five game AT Chicago. 

Talk about TEMERITY. That was bold. 

And the icing on the cake? They went on an 18-0 run at the end of the game to close out the Sky. 

TOUGH. 

I knew they were good but I didn’t see THAT. Maybe they will continue to shock and awe us all in this next series — showing us that we’ve truly underestimated them. 

If the Sun do defeat the Aces, it would be an upset – even though both teams are both great. 

Either way, it’s a win-win for the WNBA and fans because both teams will be first-time champs. 

Those moments are why we watch sports.