Dishin & Swishin 08/28/14 Podcast: WNBA Western Conference Finals coaches Sandy Brondello & Cheryl Reeve talk about the playoffs
We are down to four teams left standing in the 2014 WNBA season!
It is conference finals time and Dishin & Swishin is proud to give you two podcasts this week, featuring all four of the remaining coaches.
Today, the focus is on the Western Conference finals, where the teams with the two best records in the league will square off, the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx.
This matchup has everything you could possibly want in a series! Star power, great coaching, tremendous fan bases, and just a little bit of animosity between these two ultra-competitive teams.
Sandy Brondello has transformed the culture in Phoenix. Sure, the Mercury is a ridiculously talented offensive team, capable of putting 100 points on the board in any game, but the team bought into her defense is important mentality. Led by WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, Brittney Griner, the Mercury reduced points-per-game allowed from 80 last season to 74 this season. In the first round of the playoffs, they lowered that even more, to 70 points per game. For her work with the Mercury, Brondello won the WNBA Coach of the Year award, by a large margin.
Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve, finished second in the voting. Reeve, who won the award in 2011, seems to get overlooked in the balloting for that award. Last year the Lynx won the championship, yet Reeve was fifth in the voting. However, Reeve has two championships, and she prizes those more than any individual awards.
It is a pleasure to welcome both coaches to the podcast. We start with Coach Reeve, and then move on to Coach Brondello discussing their respective teams and the upcoming matchups.
- Diana Taurasi versus Lindsay Whalen
- Brittney Griner versus Janel McCarville
- Penny Taylor versus Maya Moore
You can go on and on, through all five starters and the benches on both teams and be dazzled with the talent on both squads. Whoever wins this series will be the favorite to win the WNBA title.
Although I’m sure tomorrow’s guests, Lin Dunn of the Indiana Fever and Pokey Chatman of the Chicago Sky may disagree and will have something to say about that.
Enjoy the first of two Dishin & Swishin podcasts this week, and do not miss these incredible games!
One Comment
Did you say to Reeve at the end, "see you after you win the championship…" Well I see who you're rooting for, but this is why they play the games. Go Mercury!
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