WNBA Playoffs Kick Off!
The excitement of the postseason in the WNBA has finally arrived. The first round, a best-of-three series, promises intense matchups starting Sunday. The four teams with the best record will enjoy the home-court advantage, but the visiting teams will be looking to spring a surprise in the first match. The Golden State Valkyries, in their inaugural season, have made history by qualifying for the playoffs. On the other hand, the Indiana Fever, who have not had Caitlin Clark since July 15, have overcome five season-ending injuries to some players. The current champions, New York Liberty, have also suffered significant losses, while the Seattle Storm managed to reach the postseason despite a slump in the second half of the season. How will the matches unfold? Which first-round games are the most anticipated? Which players will step up, and which matchups will have the greatest impact? Alofoke Deportes presents a detailed analysis of what you can expect.- Playoff predictions
- Strengths and weaknesses of each team
- Ranking of the top 25 players
- Match schedule
First round calendar
Sunday:
Contents
- 1 p.m. ET: Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx
- 3 p.m. ET: Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream
- 5 p.m. ET: New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury
- 10 p.m. ET: Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces
Most Anticipated Duels
One of the most attractive matchups will be between Breanna Stewart (New York) and Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix). Although Stewart and the Liberty already defeated Thomas’s Connecticut Sun in the 2023 semifinals, the Mercury’s game disposition represents a different challenge for the New Yorkers. Another key duel will be Thomas against Jonquel Jones of New York. Both players are of great size, but one plays with more finesse and the other with a lot of power. The way coaches Sandy Brondello (New York) and Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix) use these players, and their performance, could be decisive in the outcome of the games. In the Dream-Fever, the matchup on the baseline with Kelsey Mitchell, who has had a historic season for Indiana, against Allisha Gray, with an All-WNBA level season, and Rhyne Howard completing the Dream’s attack, stands out. It will also be interesting to see the battle between Brionna Jones (and Brittney Griner) against Aliyah Boston. Also, the talent of the front line in the Storm-Aces will be unmissable, with A’ja Wilson playing at an outstanding level and Seattle with players like Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor. Another of the most anticipated games is New York against Phoenix. Both teams aspired to go far in the playoffs, but one of them will face a second elimination game. The series between these teams promises to be very interesting. The series between Las Vegas and Seattle also sparks great interest, as they faced each other in the 2020, 2022, and 2024 playoffs. In addition, Jewell Loyd, who was traded from the Storm to the Aces, adds an extra ingredient to the rivalry. The Aces have been on a roll in recent months, while Seattle has shown inconsistency. Will the Storm, seeking their first postseason victory since Sue Bird’s retirement, be able to make things interesting in Las Vegas?What stories to follow in these playoffs?
The Dream could feel underestimated among the playoff teams, but they shouldn’t. They are a much better team on offense than last season, especially from beyond the arc. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how they play in the postseason, where their offense could take them further than they have been since 2018. It’s also fascinating to see how the Liberty performs in the playoffs. Their attempt to repeat the title has been greatly affected by injuries, but it’s fair to say they haven’t performed at the expected level this season. With their three stars healthy and Meesseman on the roster, will the Liberty look like the dominant team we saw at the beginning of the season, or will they surprisingly fade out early? The Aces are also an intriguing team. Despite a 53-point loss to the Lynx, the Aces have the fifth-best point differential in the WNBA. Las Vegas has improved and become a championship contender, but we won’t really know until the playoffs.First Round Predictions
