The last few months have led to this pivotal moment. After an unprecedented 44-game regular season, the WNBA playoffs are officially underway.
There are several intriguing storylines to consider.
Can the defending champions retain their title? Or will the Lynx, who finished as runners-up last year, seek revenge as they aim to rise to the top again, especially after a dramatic climax to the 2024 final?
And what about the Ace, who capped off their season with a remarkable 16-game winning streak?
The Valkyries have made history by becoming the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their debut season, setting a high standard for future entrants.
Kate Linkler’s Fever and the Storm, led by Nneka Ogwumike, are also contenders in this year’s race for the title.
While the Lynx appear to be the favorites, I have a sense that this year’s playoffs could throw some surprises our way, given the overall balance in the league.
Storm coach Noel Quinn acknowledged the uniqueness of this season, stating, “I can’t recall a year quite like this one. In previous seasons, there were usually clear top teams by now, but that’s not the case this time.”
The playoffs commenced with all eight teams vying for the championship, starting on a busy Sunday.
Here’s an overview of the WNBA’s first round matchups:
(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (8) Golden State Valkyries
Record: Lynx 34-10, Valkyries 23-21
Season Series: Lynx 4-0
Players to watch: Lynx’s Napheesa Collier (23 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg), Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (12 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6 APG)
Key Matchup: The Lynx’s top-notch defense versus the Valkyries’ struggling offense. The Valkyries will face a tough challenge in scoring against the Lynx, averaging just 67.8 points in their previous matchups this season, with a shooting percentage that ranks lowest in the league.
X Factor: Nazi Shaheman has been a key contributor off the bench for the Lynx, posting impressive scoring numbers in recent games against the Valkyries.
Kenny: Lynx in 2. The Valkyries are in the playoffs for the first time this year, but I think they might need to wait for another opportunity to clinch a playoff win.
Lehman: Lynx in 2. There’s a glimmer of hope to avoid a sweep when the series moves out of Ballhalla.
(2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (7) Seattle Storm
Record: Aces 30-14, Storm 23-21
Season Series: Tied 2-2
Players to watch: Aces’ A’ja Wilson (23.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 2.3 bpg), Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike (18.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 51.9 FG%)
Key Matchup: Stopping A’ja Wilson, who finished the season with a jaw-dropping average of 26.1 points during the Aces’ winning streak, is critical. Ezi Magbegor will likely be tasked with that challenge.
X Factor: The Aces have found new life since Becky Hamon made adjustments to the lineup, placing several All-Stars in different roles.
Kenny: Aces in 2. The Aces are undeniably the hottest team right now. The Storm will have a hard time extinguishing that fire.
Lehman: Aces in 2. A’ja Wilson and company are likely to stretch their winning streak to 18.
(3) Atlanta Dream vs. (6) Indiana Fever
Record: Dream 30-14, Fever 24-20
Season Series: Tied 2-2
Players to watch: Dream’s Allisha Gray (18.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 38.4 3P%), Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell (20.2 ppg, 3.4 APG, 39.4 3P%)
Key Matchup: The Fever’s potent offense faces off against the Dream’s second-ranked defense. Despite relying on bench players, the Dream have maintained a strong defensive record this season.
X Factor: The point guard situation is crucial. For the Fever, Odyssey Sims is stepping in as a veteran presence, while the Dream has rookie Te Hina Paopao in the rotation due to injuries.
Kenny: Dream in 2. I expect Atlanta will not only win the series but also secure their first playoff triumph since 2018.
Lehman: Three games should be decent value for the Dream, even without Clark.
(4) Phoenix Mercury vs. (5) New York Liberty
Record: Mercury 27-17, Liberty 27-17
Season Series: Mercury 3-1
Players to watch: Mercury’s Satou Sabally (16.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.5 apg), Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu (18.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.7 APG)
Key Matchup: Alyssa Thomas versus Breanna Stewart is set to be an exciting frontcourt clash, as both are integral to their teams’ success this season.
X Factor: Jonquel Jones’ performance will significantly influence the Liberty’s chances. The big question is which version of her will show up for playoff time.
Kenny: Mercury in 3. Finally, Freedom has a healthy lineup. They’ve never faced the Mercury fully healthy, and when they are, they’ve come out on top. The defending champions should pull through.
Lehman: Mercury in 3. I wavered on this one since typically, favoring Stewart in a win-or-go-home game is a bold move. But playing away with a full squad could bring its own set of challenges for the Freedom.
