The WPBA crowned a champion this weekend with the playoffs starting on Friday and concluding on Sunday. The top two teams got a bye to the semifinals, leading to the key question of rest versus momentum after a pair of incredible games on the opening day. The events do not end for the league now that the games are over as their documentary will be screened on Friday before it released to the public.
First Round
The first game on Friday had the Wolves, who narrowly missed out on one of the byes, playing the Reign, who were the last team in the playoffs. The game ended up being a great one as the Reign led for nearly the entire game, but the Wolves were able to fight back multiple times, letting Rebecca Harris nail the game-winning three-pointer with time expiring. It was a 71-70 final as Michelle Onyiah dominated in the paint. Alaiyah San Juan, one of the rookies who will be pursuing a professional career overseas, led the Reign.
Wolves 71 Reign 70
Wolves: Onyiah 30/16r Harris 24/8r Jackson 11 Hugguns 6 Parnell 0/7r Bulaya 0
Reign: San Juan 22/7r Primm 17/17r Jackson 17 Yniguez 8 Bennett 6/12r/9s McNair 0 Hoyem 0
After the first game, it would have been hard to match the drama in the second game of the night, but it turned to be a perfect end to the round. The Swish had some of the late season momentum to finish a decisive fourth in the standings, but the Royals had some more established star power. They built a lead late in the game, but the Swish fought back and Jada Lewis hit a three-pointer to give them the lead as the Royals missed chances to respond at the end.
Swish 77 Royals 75
Swish: Guidry Brown 19/9r/8a Avent 17 Lewis 14 Berry 13 Jackson 7 Holland 4 Clark 3 Jones 0
Royals: Cooks 17/14r Kourouma 17/7r Stephens 14/9r Guinn 12/9r Mizukawa 9/8r/6s Hart 4/10r Shafer-Gaad 2 Haynes 0
Semifinals
Saturday’s first game was a rematch of the previous weekend’s game as the Blaze finished higher up the standings despite two losses to the Wolves during the regular season. Both teams had players available who had missed the previous meeting and Morgan Bertsch was a big returnee for the Blaze to help them counter the height disadvantage that they faced previously. She teamed up with Isabelle Mauricio to get them the 84-73 win while Michelle Onyiah and IImar’I Thomas led the Wolves.
Blaze 84 Wolves 73
Blaze: Mauricio 22 Bertsch 21 Li 16/6r/10a Demetre 16 Pace 7/7r Ennis 2 Moore 0
Wolves: Onyiah 24/15r Thomas 21/6r Harris 17/12r Parnell 6 Huggins 2 Bulaya 2 Jackson 1/6r
The undefeated Phoenix took the court in the second game and halted the momentum for the Swish quickly, showing their championship form on their way to a 92-66 win. Charity Gallegos was excellent in the win, leading the team with long-range shooting.
Phoenix 92 Swish 66
Phoenix: Gallegos 27 McCall 18/17r Michelis 13/13r Cain 12/10r Garrett 8/6r Choice 7 Givens 3/8r White 3 Johnson 1 Moore 0
Swish: Lewis 19 Berry 12/6r Guidry Brown 10/6r Jackson 8/6r Cash 6 Avent 5 Clark 4 Holland 2 Myers 0 Jones 0
Final
All of those games set up Sunday’s final matchup, a battle between the defending champions and a dominant undefeated team from this season. No amount of hype could have prepared everyone for how good the game ended up being. The Phoenix looked ready to finish a perfect season with the duo of Erica McCall and Delia Moore leading the way. The Blaze fought back though and league veteran Ameela Li got them the 92-90 win with great games from a talented group of rookies too, including Brooke Demetre and Isabella Mauricio.
Blaze 92 Phoenix 90
Blaze: Demetre 26 Li 21/7a Mauricio 20 Randhawa 15 Pace 5/7r Moore 5
Phoenix: McCall 20/11r Moore 20/8r Garrett 17/6r Gallegos 10 Cain 9 Choice 7 Michelis 4 Givens 3 DeCosta 0
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