Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon has pointed fingers toward the Indiana Fever in the debate over the WNBA’s new first-round playoff format—one that debuted this season. Hammon argues that the higher seed is at a disadvantage under the switch from a 2-1 format to a 1-1-1 setup.
“I don’t like it,” Hammon said of the format before the Aces’ loss at the Storm on Wednesday. “You look at a team like Phoenix, dropping that one. They’re gonna have all the pressure, unbelievably tough to now have to fly to New York. And New York has a tough one, flying to Phoenix, back to New York, potentially back to Phoenix. I think this conversation came up last year when Indiana didn’t get a game and they were upset. For me then, you gotta finish better. Either move it to five [games] or it stays in the 2-1 format because it puts the higher seed at actually a huge disadvantage.”
Many see this as a response to pressure from teams like Caitlin Clark’s Fever, who, under the old format, didn’t always get a home game in the first round even when seeded higher.
Caitlin Clark, though injured and out for the season, remains central in this discussion. Fans and media point to Indiana’s postseason run and fan engagement as reasons the WNBA felt compelled to change the format. While Clark hasn’t directly criticized the format publicly, her Fever’s concrete experiences have been part of the narrative.
Now, with this format, higher seeds host games 1 and 3, lower seeds host game 2. The adjustment ensures every team gets a home game in the first round—but at the cost, according to Hammon, of added travel and pressure for the top teams.
Caitlin Clark Shares Warm Moments With Lexie Hull Amid Tough Season
Off the court, Caitlin Clark is showing leadership and friendship. Though she’s sitting out the rest of the season, she’s been making her presence felt among teammates, especially with Lexie Hull.
“Happy birthday Lex,” Caitlin Clark wrote in an Instagram Story post celebrating Lexie Hull’s 26th birthday.
She followed that with a message: “More good mems ahead @lexiehull,” paired with a montage of photos from games and off-court moments.
Hull also praised Clark’s attitude in recent weeks. In an interview, Hull said, despite her injury, Clark “just continues to show up. Every day … she comes in and is part of the team and part of the group. She’s there,” adding that Clark makes her teammates laugh and lifts their mood.
For Caitlin Clark, building bonds like these help during what has been a frustrating season. Her bond with Hull shows that even when not scoring, her influence and heart remain with the Fever and their goals.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
