WNBA playoffs 2020: Predicting who wins the championship

The Seattle Storm started out as the preseason favorite before basketball even tipped off in the WNBA bubble in Bradenton, Florida, in late July.

And though the Las Vegas Aces edged the Storm in the regular-season finale to clinch the No. 1 seed in the 2020 WNBA playoffs, Seattle remains the favorite.

ESPN's Katie Barnes, Melanie Jackson, Kevin Pelton, Ramona Shelburne and Mechelle Voepel and The Undefeated's Sean Hurd unanimously predict the Storm to win their fourth WNBA championship, and second in three seasons after hoisting the trophy in 2018.

The playoffs open Tuesday (ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET) with a pair of first-round, single-elimination games. Seattle and Las Vegas have double byes and don't play again until Sunday, when the best-of-five WNBA semifinals open.

A look at our panel's predictions:

Who wins their first-round matchup: No. 6 Chicago Sky or No. 7 Connecticut Sun?

Barnes: Connecticut Sun

Hurd: Connecticut Sun

Jackson: Chicago Sky

Pelton: Chicago Sky

Shelburne: Connecticut Sun

Voepel: Chicago Sky

Who wins their first-round matchup: No. 5 Phoenix Mercury or No. 8 Washington Mystics?

Barnes: Phoenix Mercury

Hurd: Phoenix Mercury

Jackson: Phoenix Mercury

Pelton: Phoenix Mercury

Shelburne: Phoenix Mercury

Voepel: Phoenix Mercury

Which team playing in the first round has the best chance of reaching the WNBA Finals?

Barnes: Phoenix Mercury

Hurd: Connecticut Sun

Jackson: Phoenix Mercury

Pelton: Phoenix Mercury

Shelburne: Phoenix Mercury

Voepel: Phoenix Mercury

Which teams will meet in the semifinals?

Barnes: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Phoenix Mercury and No. 2 Seattle Storm vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks

Hurd: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 4 Minnesota Lynx and No. 2 Seattle Storm vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks

Jackson: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Phoenix Mercury and No. 2 Seattle Storm vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks

Pelton: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Phoenix Mercury and No. 2 Seattle Storm vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks

Shelburne: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Phoenix Mercury and No. 2 Seattle Storm vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks

Voepel: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Phoenix Mercury and No. 2 Seattle Storm vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks

Which teams will meet in the WNBA Finals?

Barnes: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 2 Seattle Storm

Hurd: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 2 Seattle Storm

Jackson: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 2 Seattle Storm

Pelton: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 2 Seattle Storm

Shelburne: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 2 Seattle Storm

Voepel: No. 1 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 2 Seattle Storm

Which team will win the 2020 WNBA title?

Barnes: Seattle Storm

Hurd: Seattle Storm

Jackson: Seattle Storm

Pelton: Seattle Storm

Shelburne: Seattle Storm

Voepel: Seattle Storm