WNBA playoffs 2019: Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm win in first round
SCHEDULE| SCOREBOARD| PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
The 2019 WNBA playoffs are underway. No. 5 seed Chicago beat eighth-seeded Phoenix 105-76 to reach the second round. No. 6 Seattle, the defending WNBA champion, beat 7-seed Minnesota 84-74 to advance. Here are the top storylines from the first round.
And if you missed any of our other postseason content:
+ From prodigy to prospect: Which way will Diamond DeShields go next?
+ Elena Delle Donne is espnW's WNBA MVP, headlines all-league first team
Wednesday's results
No. 5 Chicago Sky 105, No. 8 Phoenix Mercury 75
In her second WNBA season and first playoff game, Diamond DeShields looked the part of the emerging superstar. Chicago cruised past Phoenix, sending the Sky into a much-anticipated showdown with Las Vegas in the second round Sunday (ESPN2, 5 p.m. ET). DeShields had 25 points, shooting 52.6% from the field, to go along with four rebounds and three assists. With Brittney Griner limited because of a knee injury suffered in the second quarter, the Sky's inside game thrived, too, as Astou Ndour and Stefanie Dolson each scored 16 points, and Cheyenne Parker had 11. The Sky shot 53.2% overall, and 50% (9 of 18) from 3-point range. -- Mechelle Voepel
No. 6 Seattle Storm 84, No. 7 Minnesota Lynx 74
In a battle of the past two teams to win WNBA titles, defending champion Seattle is the one still standing. The Storm beat Minnesota thanks largely to a splendid backcourt performance that was cheered on by the injury-sidelined Sue Bird. Jordin Canada, Bird's understudy at point guard last year as a rookie, had 26 points, and fellow guard Jewell Loyd scored 22. The oddest thing about this game is that each team's leading scorer this season was essentially shut down. Forward Natasha Howard had only two points for the Storm, and guard Odyssey Sims had only one point for the Lynx.
Minnesota had to like what it got from rookie Napheesa Collier, who was 8 of 11 from the field for 19 points with 10 rebounds, and fellow forward Damiris Dantas had 20 points and six rebounds. Those are two young players to build around, and the Lynx will have veteran center Sylvia Fowles back next season, too. And Sims, despite her struggles Wednesday, has been a strong addition to the Lynx. Will Maya Moore return next season? We'll have to wait and see. And in a season in which the Storm didn't have Bird or 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart, making it this far is quite a success. -- Mechelle Voepel
