Tonight the 2009 WNBA Playoffs start. I know football season is here and the baseball playoffs are coming, but don't forget about the women on the hardwood. This Wednesday the ladies take the court and eight teams make their stride for the WNBA trophy. Last year's champs, the Detroit Shock, had trouble just making the playoffs this year so we could see them exting early. Heck, I'm predicting an upset in the first round of the playoffs. Here are my 2009 WNBA Playoffs predictions and who will win the 2009 WNBA Championship:

Eastern Conference Semifinals:

(1)    Indiana Fever vs. (4) Washington Mystics
Indiana brought the broom out against Washington this year, going a perfect 3-0 (2-1 ATS). But, and this is a huge but, this is a totally different Fever team. Indiana is coming into this series losing seven out of their last 10 games. Do I think Washington can beat Indiana in this series? No but this series will go all three games.

(2)    Atlanta Dream vs. (3) Detroit Shock
Atlanta finished the season with an 18-16 record but last year the Dream went 4-30. The Detroit Shock are the defending champs but all season the Shock were not playing like champs. Upset Alert! We are taking the the Atlanta Dream in this series! That's because they have home court and Atlanta was 12-5 at home (12-5 ATS). Detroit has had trouble with Atlanta as the Shock have lost three out of their last four games and the Shock are also 0-4-1 ATS against the Dream. Last Year Atlanta was horrible and this year the Dream will be in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Western Conference Semifinals:

(1)    Phoenix Mercury vs. (4) San Antonio Silver Stars
The last time Phoenix won the WNBA Championship they had to play San Antonio in the playoffs and, yes, in 2007 the Phoenix Mercury won. I see the same outcome in this semifinal matchup as San Antonio will not have the offense to keep up with Phoenix. I would not be shocked to see Phoenix sweep this series and score over 100 points in both games.

(2)    Seattle Storm vs. (3) Los Angeles Sparks
No if, ands, or buts in this series! The Los Angeles Sparks will win this series for one reason and one reason only. The Seattle Storm will probably be without center Lauren Jackson due to a back injury. No Jackson means no series win. The Sparks move on and we get to see Lisa Leslie for one more series.

Eastern Conference Finals

(1)    Indiana Fever vs. (2) Atlanta Dream
The Indiana Fever will have the home court in the Eastern Conference Finals but we are not fans on how the Fever ended the regular season. Atlanta will come into this series with nothing to prove because no one expected the Dream to make the playoffs or advance to the Eastern Conference finals. We like the Dream in this series and advance to the WNBA Finals.

Western Conference Finals

(1)   Phoenix Mercury vs. (3)   Los Angeles Sparks
Should be a great series if this really happens! We liked Phoenix all season long so why should I change my mind now? Los Angeles beat Phoenix, 81-78, in the desert the last game of the regular season and if I'm the Mercury that will be on my mind. If Phoenix can score in the high 80s or hit the 90 mark Phoenix will win this series. If not we could see LA in the Finals. I'm sticking with offense here and Phoenix advances to the WNBA Finals, going all three games. Sorry Lisa Leslie thank you for the memories.

WNBA Finals
The winner of the 2009 WNBA Finals comes out of the desert in Phoenix. Phoenix is averging 92.8 points per game all season long and the Mercury hit the century mark nine times. If their offense is clicking no one in these playoffs can compete. Phoenix will win their second WNBA Finals in three years.

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