2023 WNBA Semi-Finals: Aussies in the Championship Hunt
The WNBA semi-finals are here and a trio of Aussies remain in the hunt for the 2023 championship.
Seven Consulting Opal and reigning Suzy Batkovic Medallist Cayla George and her Las Vegas Aces hold a 1-0 lead in their series against Dallas Wings.
George hit the court late in the 93-87 win on Monday in Vegas. Game 2 is in Dallas on Wednesday.
The Aces are currently featuring George and daughter Pearl on their ALL IN You Tube series watch it here
Meanwhile, Bec Allen’s Connecticut Sun drew first blood in their semi-final series against New York.
Allen, in her first WNBA semi-final, was player of the game with a playoff career-high 18 points plus 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks as the Sun set on the Liberty, 78-63, in New York on Monday.
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello will look to level the series on Wednesday when it continues in Connecticut. Read more about Brondello in this The Saturday Paper feature here.
The New York team features Jocelyn Willoughby who in 2022-23 won the Sydney Flames MVP and will suit up for Adelaide Lightning this Cygnett WNBL season.
For a second consecutive year, Ezi Magbegor has earned selection in the WNBA All-Defensive second team.
The 24-year-old averaged 8.1 rebounds per game and consistently produced her big trademark blocks throughout the season with Seattle Storm.
On her return to the WNBA with Chicago Sky, Alanna Smith finished third in the voting for Most Improved Player behind runner-up and Melbourne Boomers new import Jordin Canada (Los Angeles Sparks) and winner Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings.
UPDATE –Â
It’s Sandy Brondello’s New York Liberty vs Cayla George’s Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Finals.
The best two teams all season now do battle in a tantalising best-of-five series which tips off on Monday.
The Liberty line-up features two imports from #WNBL23 – Jocelyn Willoughby, who won Sydney’s MVP but will suit up for the Adelaide Lightning this season, and Kayla Thornton, who was runner-up to George in the Suzy Batkovic Medal. Betnijah Laney is also no stranger to Aussie fans having previously played with Perth, Bendigo and Dandenong.
All WNBA finals games will be aired on ESPN Australia.