Round one of the 2023 WNBA playoffs has started and a total of 95 players are participating in the eight-team format. There are 19 foreign-born players represented in this contingent and 42 different college programs from 13 conferences. All but 11 players are from Division I schools.
UConn, Notre Dame, Maryland, South Carolina, Baylor and Oregon represent the six schools with the most players. Canada, Australia, China, France and Hungary are the countries with the most players in the playoffs this year.
UConn has a total of nine players in the playoffs with multiple players on the same team:
- Breanna Stewart, Stefanie Dolson (New York)
- Tiffany Hayes, Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Connecticut)
- Lou Lopez Sénéchal, Crystal Dangerfield (Dallas)
- Dorka Juhász, Napheesa Collier (Minnesota)
- Kiah Stokes (Las Vegas)
Notre Dame is a close second with seven players gracing the hardwood during the playoffs:
- Natalie Achonwa, Lindsay Allen, Kayla McBride, Jessica Shepard (Minnesota)
- Marina Mabrey (Chicago)
- Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas)
- Jackie Young (Las Vegas)
The international presence is also strong with Canada and Australia leading the way with three players each:
- Canada: Bridget Carleton, Natalie Achonwa, Laeticia Amihere
- Australia: Alanna Smith, Cayla George, Rebecca Allen
The playoffs started on Wednesday with Las Vegas defeating the Chicago Sky and clinching Game 1. The Connecticut Sun defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 in the other matchup from the evening.
The action resumes on Friday when the Washington Mystics take on the Liberty and the Atlanta Dream battle it out with the Dallas Wings.
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