2018 WNBA Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2018 WNBA season.

1. Minnesota Lynx- The defending champions are my pick to finish with the best record in the league yet again. Maya Moore and reigning league MVP Sylvia Fowles. The rest of the starters in Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, and Rebekkah Brunson are all back as well as they have their eyes on a repeat. Whalen was just hired as her alma matter Minnesota's women's head coach so that could be a possible distraction. Although, they did trade for Danielle Robinson so she could be Whalen's replacement. Cheryl Reeves is the best coach in the sport and she has a loaded team.

2. Los Angeles Sparks- The Sparks are the biggest challenger to the Lynx to dethrone them for the title. Candance Parker and Nneka Ogwumike is the best front court in the league. Odyssey Sims was brought back and her and Chelsea Gray is a solid backcourt. There is some chatter that first round pick Maria Vadeeva could be the steal of the draft. Cappie Pondexter was added in free agency and I'm interested to see if she starts or comes off the bench. This is another loaded team that could steal the one seed.

3. Phoenix Mercury- The Mercury were a bit of a disappointment a season ago as they ended up as the five seed, although they did win two playoff games, but ended up getting swept in the Semifinals by the Sparks. Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi are still around although Kelsey Bone and Cayla George are gone. DeWanna Bonner is back after giving birth to twins a year ago. Briann January was brought in from an offseason trade with the Fever and signed Sancho Lyttle in free agency. Despite some changes, the Turasi and Griner duo will thrive as always.

4. Dallas Wings- The Wings are a team I expect to improve from a season ago. Skylar Diggins-Smith is one of the best players in the league and she was awesome last season after recovering from a torn ACL. Liz Cambage was brought in from Australia after the franchise originally drafted her 2nd overall back in 2011. Allisha Gray is entering her second season and she was great as a rookie. First round pick Azura Stevens will make an impact with her versatility. Lead by Diggins-Smith, expect the Wings to have homecourt advantage in the second round of the playoffs.

5. Connecticut Sun- The Sun are a team and franchise on the rise after being at the bottom the last few seasons before finishing fourth in the standings last season. Chiney Ogwumike is back from injuries and she'll be motivated to play on a good team. Reigning WNBA Most Improved Player Jonquel Jones has emerged as a great player in this league. Alyssa Thomas and Jasmine Thomas are coming off career years and it's interesting to see what they do to follow it up. Cayla George was a good trade acquisition. Rookies Lexie Brown and Leticia Romero will have impacts too. My worry for this team is that the Thomases could regress and Ogwumike may be rusty to start the season and that's why I don't have the Sun higher on this list.

6. Washington Mystics- The Mystics are a team that could surprise some this season and finish in the top four if things break right. Elena Delle Donne is entering her second year in DC and I expect her to be better this season and stay healthier. Kristi Toliver is an underrated player in this league. First round pick Ariel Atkins will make an impact. Monique Currie is back after leaving the Kystics for a few seasons. Tayler Hill will be back in June after tearing her ACL. Mike Thibault is a very good head coach and I won't be shocked if they finish higher than this.

7. Atlanta Dream- The Dream are a team I expect to be better than a season ago. That's mainly because Angel McCourty is back after sitting out a season. The team signed Renee Montgomery and Jessica Breland in free agency to improve their team. First round pick Monique Billings will make an impact after the pick was acquired by trading away Bria Holmes. Nicki Collen is the new head coach and I'm fascinated to see how she does.

8. New York Liberty- The Liberty are a team I expect to take a step back. Tina Charles is still around as she's one of the better bigs in the league. Epiphanny Prince, Sugar Rodgers, Kiah Stokes, and Brittany Boyd are all back as well. Rookies Kia Nurse and Mercedes Russell will make impacts as well. Katie Smith takes over for Bill Lambieer as the new head coach and they are also playing a majority of games in Westchester rather than at Madison Square Garden. With the ownership situation in flux and with Lambeer fleeting for Vegas, I fear a step back for the Liberty as many teams have passed them by in the league.

9. Seattle Storm- After making the postseason a season ago, I think they sit this one out. They have a new coach in Dan Hughes. Sue Bird is still around and still playing at a high level. Jewell Loyd has improved the past few seasons since she came into the league in 2015. Breanna Stewart is heading into her third season and she's a rising star in this league. Rookie Jordin Canada will make an impact as well. Natasha Howard was acquired and she'll help them as well. I won't be shocked if the Storm make the playoffs, but I think they barely miss out.

10. Las Vegas Aces- The Aces (formally the San Antonio Stars) had a very good offseason. Bill Lambeer was brought in as their new head coach. A'ja Wilson will be one of if not the best rookie this season. Kelsey Bone comes over in a trade from the Phoenix Mercury. Kayla McBride was brought back as well as Sydney Colson. Kelsey Plum is looking to improve on her inconsistent rookie season. Nia Coffey needs to grow as a player as well as Moriah Jefferson. Newcomers Carolyn Swords and Tamera Young will have an impact too. There are a lot of "if's" rather than "certain's" on this roster, but Lambeer can flat out coach.

11. Indiana Fever- The Fever are a team that is rebuilding. Kelsey Mitchell will be one of the better rookies in the league and rookies Victoria Vivians and Stephanie Mavunga will make impacts too. Erica Wheeler is one of the more underrated players in this league. Briann January was traded away and she'll be missed. Tiffany Mitchell is back after coming off a knee injury. Kayla Alexander comes over in a trade from Vegas. Veterans like Wheeler, Candice Dupree, and Shenise Johnson will help accelerate this rebuild as it could go quicker than people expect.

12. Chicago Sky- The Sky are another team that is rebuilding after trading Elena Delle-Donne away over a year ago. Courtney Vandersloot is a key cog as she's a good passer and scorer. Two lottery picks in Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams will make impacts. After sitting her rookie season, Alaina Coats will make her league debut after coming off an ankle injury. The team did lose Cappie Pondexter and Jessica Breeland in free agency. With a lot of young players on their roster, expect a lot of growing pains this year in Chicago.

2018 WNBA Playoffs
- First Round
(8) New York Liberty vs (5) Connecticut Sun: With the Sun at full strength, they'll be at their stride and will win this game over the Liberty led by Jonquei Jones and Chiney Ogwumike.
Prediction: Sun

(7) Atlanta Dream vs (6) Washington Mystics: Two of the leagues best players go head to head in Angel McCoughtry and Elena Delle-Donne. Give me Della-Donne and the Mystics who are the better team with a coaching advantage.
Prediction: Mystics

- Second Round
(5) Connecticut Sun vs (4) Dallas Wings: Should be a very fun game, but the Sun will be the betters team come this time as they'll pull this out over Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Wings.
Prediction: Sun

(6) Washington Mystics vs (3) Phoenix Mercury: Stars abound here with Elena Della-Donne, Brittney Griner, and Diana Turasi here. The Mercury with homecourt advantage have two of the best three players on the court take this one despite the Mystics having a good team and coach.
Prediction: Mercury

- Semifinals (best of five)
(5) Connecticut Sun vs (1) Minnesota Lynx: An up and coming team against the reigning champions. Give me Mya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, and the Lynx to cruise in this series.
Prediction: Lynx in three games.

(3) Phoenix Mercury vs (2) Los Angeles Sparks: This is a star studded series well with Griner, Turasi, Candace Parker, and Nneka Ogwumike. The Sparks are the better team as they set up a rematch with the Lynx.
Prediction: Sparks in four games.

- WNBA Finals
(2) Los Angeles Sparks vs (1) Minnesota Lynx: These are the clear cut best two teams in the sport as they fight for league supremacy as well as the league title. Parker and Ogwumike along with Moore and Fowles highlight the star power here. Give me Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx to repeat as league champions.
Prediction: Lynx in five games.

2018 WNBA Awards
MVP: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
Rookie of the Year: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Sixth Woman of the Year: Sugar Rodgers, New York Liberty
Most Improved Player: Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
Coach of the Year: Fred Williams, Dallas Wings
Executive of the Year: Penny Toler, Los Angeles Sparks