🏀 Layup Lines: Geeked for Game 3

Happy Friday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA. Starting the weekend with two semifinal games is what dreams are made of.

• Scheduling note: With the league off tomorrow, we’ll be back in your inbox on Sunday.

This 469 word newsletter should take less than 2 minutes to read.

✈️ Heading to Phoenix, Indianapolis

• With both series tied 1-1, we head to the lower seed for Games 3 and 4. Were road wins for Phoenix and Indiana flashes, or are we going to have competitive series that head to five games? We find out a lot tonight.

• The Lynx were blowing out the Mercury before getting sloppy midway through the third quarter of Game 2, which means they’ve spent the last three days getting chewed out by coach Cheryl Reeve.

  • Napheesa Collier not winning MVP, being the best team in the league but earning only one postseason award (Alanna Smith, Co-Defensive Player of the Year), losing on Tuesday in OT … if Minnesota isn’t pissed off and ready to rip tonight, they’re not a real title contender.

• Indiana has noticeably less talent on paper than Las Vegas, but the first semifinal game at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 10 years is going to be completely electric. If the Aces can block out the noise, they should cruise.

• For the wagerers amongst us, I’m 6-9 in the playoffs and taking:

  • Minnesota -4

  • Las Vegas / Indiana under 163 points scored

🗞 Good reads from around the league

• The Fever drafted her, since traded twice, NaLyssa Smith has found 'different level' with Aces (IndyStar)

• Aces' Becky Hammon says physicality is 'out of control,' would lead to fights in NBA (CBS)

• Atlanta’s Dan Padover wins record third WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award (WNBA)

• Jonas Brothers concert rescheduled due to Lynx-Mercury WNBA semifinals game (Yahoo)

  • This is not really a story, but also wouldn’t have happened a couple years ago.

🌴 Another big practice facility announcement

• With a new $150M practice facility set to open in El Segundo in 2027, the Sparks say they have committed the largest investment for a single team in the history of women’s sports.

  • When compared to teams like the Dream (practice in a public training facility), Sky (new $38M facility) and even the Lynx (share with the Timberwolves), L.A. is building itself a huge competitive advantage.

    • Here’s a full list of team facilities set to open in the next two years.

🗣 Pic to go

• I can’t wait to hear how loud the Fever crowd is tonight. In 49 states, it’s just basketball…

Layup Lines is written 100% by a human being. I very much appreciate you reading and will see you back here Sunday.

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor