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NEW YORK -- The WNBA changed its playoff format this season to ensure the best teams advanced and to create more of a buzz for the postseason.While the playoffs dont tip-off until Wednesday, the change definitely made for an exciting finish to the regular season. Half of the eight seeds werent determined until the final day of the regular season Sunday and only one game separated fifth place from eighth.This format is great as every game counts, said Atlantas Elizabeth Williams. We literally didnt know our seeds until the last game. I like the one and done, its kind of like March Madness in that respect.Williams one and done reference was in regards to the first two rounds of the playoffs, which will be single elimination contests with fifth-seeded Indiana hosting No. 8 Phoenix and seventh-seed Seattle playing at No. 6 Atlanta on Wednesday. The second round begins Saturday with New York and Chicago waiting -- and it will also be single elimination.The eight teams with the best record qualified for the playoffs, regardless of conference affiliation. And they were seeded according to their record.It definitely gives you a feeling that anyone has a chance to win, said Seattle guard Sue Bird. In the past if you were the four-seed in the conference you knew youd have a really tough time getting out of the opening round against the No. 1.Teams will be reseeded after every round. And while it turned out that four teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences made the playoffs, the top teams with the best two records were both from the Western Conference. However, they wont play until potentially the WNBA Finals.The new WNBA playoff format is extremely fan-friendly, because were able to showcase across the best eight teams, full-stop, regardless of conference, said ESPN vice president for womens sports programming Carol Stiff.Minnesota and Los Angeles had the best marks all season long and earned them byes until the semifinals. The Lynx are looking to become the leagues first back-to-back champions since Los Angeles repeated in 2001-02.Thats the last time that the Sparks won a title, a drought they are trying to end.We know its going to be a series as opposed to one game, Sparks coach Brian Agler said of getting the bye. Its unchartered waters for everybody and I like it. I think it adds an element of urgency and an element of suspense throughout the season.Aglers team last played on Sept. 16 and wont play against until the 28th of the month.The dynamic will create an extremely competitive atmosphere, said Los Angeles Nneka Ogwumike. Theres something for everyone to look forward to, the fans and the players.Balenciaga Speed Trainer Discount . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Balenciaga Triple S Black Sale . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. http://www.balenciagacheapshoes.com/balenciaga-sock-shoes-sale.html . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Balenciaga Wholesale .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Balenciaga Sock Shoes Discount . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. was kicked out of practice Thursday following a skirmish with Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Ali Marpet.Coaches told Fowler to leave the practice fields late in the 2-hour joint session. Fowler, a second-year player from Florida, was not present in the locker room during a period open to the media.Jaguars coach Gus Bradley didnt see the altercation, but said he made it clear to players that no fighting would be tolerated. It was the only scuffle during two dayss of practice between teams preparing to play a preseason game Saturday night.ddddddddddddBradley says our deal was no fighting, no swinging, no anything like that. Its just controlling that. You want to play at a frenzy. ... Its finding that place where youre playing a high level, high intensity, but within the rules.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '