This is the matchup that many were hoping for in last year’s WNBA Finals. Then, it was the defending-champion Chicago Sky taking on a perennial contender in the Las Vegas Aces. It never happened, as the Sky went down in the semifinals to the Connecticut Sun. The Aces went on to defeat the Sun and win their first title.
Fast forward one year later and these two teams are facing off in the first round, with Game One between the No. 8 seed Sky and No. 1 seed Aces tipping off in Las Vegas at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN).
The very different journeys of the Sky and Aces
The Sky (18-22) are one of the league’s biggest triumphs, as they were able to overcome tremendous odds to earn a playoff berth. From starting the season with a new roster to trying to blend into a cohesive team to going through periodic losing streaks to injuries to expected contributors to the abrupt departure of Coach James Wade, the Sky were saturated with one obstacle after another.
But led by interim head coach Emre Vatansaver, who has shown tremendous flexibility in how he uses his players, Chicago claimed the final spot in the postseason for a fifth-straight trip to the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Aces (34-6) did what they were supposed to do all season. They came in to the season with many expecting them to…
