2022 WNBA PLAYOFFS: Picking the oh-so-good semifinal matchups

The WNBA semifinals kick off today and the four best teams in basketball all year are where everyone expected them to be at this point in the season – one step closer to a WNBA title. 

The Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun – all lousy with talent and star power– are sure to make the semifinals exhilarating and, honestly, difficult to pick. 

I will try, though. 

Here are my predictions for the semifinal matchups between the Storm-Aces and Sky-Sun. 

Seattle Storm  vs. Las Vegas Aces

ACES IN 5 

The basketball gods will be sure to strike me down for picking against the female Michael Jordan, Breanna Stewart. It’s blasphemy at its finest. 

Stewie’s numbers are some of the best of her career and she’s back to her old GOAT self. She has been the MVP frontrunner all year. 

So, yes, it’s foolish to pick against her team.. 

But there’s something in me that wants to believe the Aces finally have the right mix of personnel and leadership to win this thing this year. Head coach and WNBA Coach of the Year Becky Hammon has the Aces looking almost invincible. They finished as the No. 1 seed in the league and made quick work of the depleted Phoenix Mercury in the first round. 

They have the firepower to match the deep Storm roster and will give them all it can handle with A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray – a deadly line up that can best anyone in the league. 

Also, Wilson has to be tired of finishing as the top team in the league and disappointing in the playoffs – which has been the story of the Aces the last few years. 

Her other star-studded teammates had to have also felt that pain, knowing the history of their team, and want to do something about it. Besides, Plum, Young and Wilson have never won a CHIP. Gray has. And the Storm? Four times. Stewie led the team to the last two. 

The Aces are smidge more hungry, though and have nothing to lose. It’ll show in this series against a juggernaut like the Storm. 

Connecticut Sun vs. Chicago Sky

SKY IN 4

Connecticut is a great team. Yet I still think they are missing a piece to take them to the next level. They’ve done what they usually do every season: win a ton of games and play decently in the playoffs.  

But they always seem to flame out when it matters most. 

They are in the same boat as the Aces in terms of failure to deliver on heightened expectations. Something just doesn’t click. 

I want to believe that they’ll just get it but I don’t think that’s the case this season – especially against the well-oiled machine that is the Chicago Sky. 

The Sky have “repeat” in their eyes and look like they’re ready to devour any team that dares get in the way of that. 

Candace Parker and Co. mean business. They’re superb defense, ruthless offense and championship mettle will win out against the Sun. 

Connecticut competing in the Finals is a nice story, but it’ll have to wait until next year.