September 6, 2022

Daily Briefing — Sept. 6, 2022: Sky, Aces look to close WNBA Semifinals

Here come the Belgian Cats

Chicago Sky big Emma Meesseman (33) boxes out Connecticut Sun big wing Alyssa Thomas (25). Meesseman's arms are outstretched, and both players are looking up toward the basket.

Chicago Sky big Emma Meesseman (33) boxes out Connecticut Sun big wing Alyssa Thomas (25) during a WNBA semifinal game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., USA on Sept. 4, 2022. (Photo credit: Chris Poss)

Happy Tuesday! Welcome to The Next’s Daily Briefing, featuring the daily Watch List. Day 10 of the WNBA postseason has arrived with another double-header of semifinal games that very well could be the last of the season for two teams. The Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces currently lead their respective series by one game. If they each manage a win tonight, they’ll seal the WNBA semifinals and we’ll have our finals matchup by (roughly) midnight. Should the Sun or Storm force a Game 5, however, the deciding matches will be on Thursday in Chicago and Las Vegas.

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In other news, the preliminary Belgian Cats roster for the 2022 World Cup was announced earlier this week. Both Emma Meesseman and Julie Allemand are expected join the team. Should Chicago continue through to the WNBA finals, the Sky pair, along with Kahleah Copper, who was invited to the Team USA training camp, could have between 2 and 7 days to travel to Sydney before matches begin on Sept. 22. Gabby Williams (France), Ezi Magbegor (Australia), Stephanie Talbot (Australia), Iliana Rupert (France), Jonquel Jones (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and, should they make it past training camp, Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd, Brionna Jones, Alyssa Thomas, Courtney Williams, the entire Aces starting five (USA) all have the potential to face this sub-optimal travel scenario. Rosters from China, Japan, and Mali remain unknown.

But first, read:

Our James Kay previews what could be the final Sky–Sun WNBA semifinals match and walks through how Chicago held it down in Game 3.
Marine Johannès spoke with the good folks at FIBA.basketball about the upcoming World Cup, and her goals to take France to the finals.

Watch List, Tuesday, Sept. 6

(All times in Eastern)

Chicago @ Connecticut, 8 p.m., ESPN2, TSN – Chicago leads, 2–1.

Las Vegas @ Seattle, 10 p.m., ESPN2, TSN – Las Vegas leads, 2–1.

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Written by Isabel Rodrigues

Isabel Rodrigues (she/her) is a contributing editor for The Next from upstate New York. She occasionally covers 3x3 and labor in women's basketball.