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Four Blue Devils to Open WNBA Playoffs Starting Thursday
9/22/2021 12:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM – A total of four Duke women's basketball alumnae – Lexie Brown, Chelsea Gray, Leaonna Odom and Jasmine Thomas -- will see action in the WNBA playoffs with the first contests set for Thursday, Sept. 23.
Thomas and the No. 1 seeded Connecticut Sun will open play Thursday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., on ESPN2 against an opponent yet to be determined. The Sun (26-6) are currently riding a 14-game winning streak entering the playoffs. In her 11th year as a professional, Thomas has started all 30 games for the Sun, while averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals. Her 3.7 per game assists average ranked 11th in the WNBA.
Earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs was Gray and the Las Vegas Aces with a 24-8 overall record during the regular season. The Aces will also open postseason action on Sept. 28 with a 10 p.m., tip on ESPN2. Gray, in her seventh year in the WNBA, has averaged 11.1 points, 5.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals on the season. She ranked fourth in the league with a 5.9 assist average.
Brown and the Chicago Sky will face the Dallas Wings on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m., live on ESPN2 in a one-game winner-take-all battle to advance to the semifinals to face either the Aces or Sun. In her fourth season in the WNBA, Brown has played in 17 contests with the Sky, while averaging 1.6 points and 1.1 assists.
The other playoff contest Thursday, Sept. 23 features Odom and the New York Liberty against the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m., on ESPN2. It will also be a one-game series with the winner advancing to the semifinals to face either the Aces or Sun. Odom is in her second season with the Liberty and has seen action in 18 games. She has averaged 3.1 points and 1.2 rebounds.
The semifinal round will be a 5-game playoff series.
Five different Duke women's basketball alumnae have won WNBA Championships since the 2012 campaign – Mistie Bass (Phoenix – 2014), Alana Beard (Los Angeles – 2016), Karima Christmas (Indiana – 2012), Chelsea Gray (Los Angeles – 2016) and Tricia Liston (Minnesota – 2015). Blue Devil head coach Kara Lawson helped lead the Sacramento Monarchs to the WNBA title in 2005 as well.
#GoDuke
Thomas and the No. 1 seeded Connecticut Sun will open play Thursday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., on ESPN2 against an opponent yet to be determined. The Sun (26-6) are currently riding a 14-game winning streak entering the playoffs. In her 11th year as a professional, Thomas has started all 30 games for the Sun, while averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals. Her 3.7 per game assists average ranked 11th in the WNBA.
Earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs was Gray and the Las Vegas Aces with a 24-8 overall record during the regular season. The Aces will also open postseason action on Sept. 28 with a 10 p.m., tip on ESPN2. Gray, in her seventh year in the WNBA, has averaged 11.1 points, 5.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals on the season. She ranked fourth in the league with a 5.9 assist average.
Brown and the Chicago Sky will face the Dallas Wings on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m., live on ESPN2 in a one-game winner-take-all battle to advance to the semifinals to face either the Aces or Sun. In her fourth season in the WNBA, Brown has played in 17 contests with the Sky, while averaging 1.6 points and 1.1 assists.
The other playoff contest Thursday, Sept. 23 features Odom and the New York Liberty against the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m., on ESPN2. It will also be a one-game series with the winner advancing to the semifinals to face either the Aces or Sun. Odom is in her second season with the Liberty and has seen action in 18 games. She has averaged 3.1 points and 1.2 rebounds.
The semifinal round will be a 5-game playoff series.
Five different Duke women's basketball alumnae have won WNBA Championships since the 2012 campaign – Mistie Bass (Phoenix – 2014), Alana Beard (Los Angeles – 2016), Karima Christmas (Indiana – 2012), Chelsea Gray (Los Angeles – 2016) and Tricia Liston (Minnesota – 2015). Blue Devil head coach Kara Lawson helped lead the Sacramento Monarchs to the WNBA title in 2005 as well.
#GoDuke
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