Yeah yeah, I'm still talking about WNBA even though the Ryder Cup is definitely more interesting. I'll get to that later because I don't really even like golf very much but that is really exciting!
The WNBA finals are somewhat exciting for me because there were a few shock things that happened in the tournament. Specifically, it is exciting because both Phoenix and Indiana weren't suppose to make it out of the first round and every bit of statistical information including previous matchups between the teams involved pointed to them definitely not making it out of the first round.
Just when I was about to tune out, something pretty awesome happened but unfortunately it is fizzling out in kind of the way that was expected, but just about 10 days later than expected.
In game 1 of the Las Vegas Aces vs the Indiana Fever, Indiana was of course a massive underdog but went out there and shocked the Aces, in Las Vegas, and completely dominated game 1. Many, like myself, were thinking "did Indiana finally meld the team together and we are going to see something incredible?"
Well, that was all squashed when game 2 happened and we were back to seeing Las Vegas kind of easily cruise to victory in a very one-sided game with the final score of 90-68. This game was a show of what kind of should have happened in the first game and it is anyone's guess as to why it didn't happen like that.
Since that first shocking game upset, the Aces have proven they are a significantly better team, cruising to a 84-72 win in game 3.
Indiana was able to put some level of hope into their home fans by outscoring Las Vegas in the 2nd quarter and drawing about even in the 3rd, but the 4th was all Las Vegas all day as they were outscored by 9 even once LV started looking like they were no longer trying to run up the score late in the quarter. Las Vegas could have won this game by 6-8 more points but were playing conservatively because there was no reason at this point to score any more.
Indiana really struggled to get anything other than breakout points done in the paint and it is easy to understand why when Las Vegas is so much taller and stronger. The Dream's top scoring player is routinely Kelsey Mitchell who really has to run around to get space since she is nearly a foot shorter than the average person she is going to face near the basket. Given this physical disadvantage it is pretty remarkable to me that she managed 21 points but when you dig a bit deeper this stat is a bit depressing since she went 8 for 26 on shots made vs shots attempted. 3 for 11 from 3-point range is a bad day for anyone, but when it is your top scoring player? Well, that is kind of the nail in the coffin.
One thing that I find rather amusing about Indiana's offense is the inclusion of Lexie Hull in the rotation. Don't get me wrong, I like her, but her involvement seems to be the same on every single play. She rides the sideline away from the action waiting for a toss out from the corner from 3-point range on nearly every play. Thankfully she was able to get 50% of her shots from that distance.
To be fair to Lexie and give credit where credit is due, she is kind of hybrid Dennis Rodman of sorts as she is an absolute beast on defense and that is her primary use on the court. The fact that she is also very capable and dangerous from certain 3-point range shots, is just an added bonus. Defense is half of the game after all.
The next game for Indiana will most likely be their last of the season and it is going to be in front of a home crowd, which I suppose is a good thing for the fans in Indiana who in just 2 years went from probably not even knowing their city has a professional women's team, to being the home of the most famous WNBA team of all time.
It was a good run, but it will take a miracle for them to rise back up from this deficit. They simply don't have the tools to emerge victorious against Las Vegas and I don't think that this would change if Caitlin was playing either.