WNBA playoffs 2023: First-round predictions and keys to each series - ESPN

WNBA fans have two days to catch their breath before the race to the 2023 championship continues Wednesday. The seeding order of the WNBA playoffs wasn't finalized until the last day of the regular season Sunday, but the two teams projected to be on top — the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty — are there.

Will that still be the case about a month from now when the WNBA Finals begin Oct. 8?

«You can't really focus on anything but the next game, because people are too good,» Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum said. «Forget everything that happened in the regular season. You have to treat it as a one-and-done type of thing in terms of our sense of urgency.»

Two of the first-round series, which are best of three, will open Wednesday; the other two begin Friday, with all games on the ABC/ESPN family of networks. Can the Aces become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02? Can the Liberty, an original WNBA franchise, finally win the league title? Or will we end up with a more unexpected Finals matchup?

We break down the matchups, along with some help from ESPN Fantasy Games writer Eric Moody.

Game 1: Chicago at Las Vegas, 10 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
Regular season: Las Vegas won 3-0

The Aces' won their most recent game against the Sky, 94-87 on Aug. 24 in Chicago, but trailed 50-37 at halftime. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said, «We had to put together a hell of a second half to pull that game out. They're kind of a three-headed monster with that guard trio.»

The Aces' perimeter starters — Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young — are an even bigger obstacle. Still, Chicago's Kahleah Copper, Marina Mabrey and Courtney Williams — who had her second triple-double of the season Sunday —