It's WNBA Playoff time! 🔥
Who's your pick to win it all? The WNBA playoffs are officially underway! Let us know who u're rooting for.
The longest WNBA regular season in history is officially in the books, and the playoff matchups are set. The postseason tips off this Sunday with four Game 1s in the quarterfinal round.
This year brings a new format for the first round, with a 1-1-1 setup where the series alternates between cities for each game. The semifinals will be a best-of-five, while the Finals will be a best-of-seven series for the first time ever.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to watch for in each first-round matchup.
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 Golden State Valkyries
Season Series: Minnesota 4-0
The Minnesota Lynx, led by MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, are on a mission to win a WNBA-best fifth championship. They opted to face the expansion Valkyries after sweeping them by an average of 11 points during the regular season. Keep an eye on reserve Natisha Hiedeman, who has been particularly effective against Golden State, averaging 14.5 points and shooting 55% from beyond the arc.
No. 2 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 7 Seattle Storm
Season Series: Tied 2-2
Get the popcorn ready for a revenge series! Jewell Loyd, who spent a decade in Seattle, demanded a trade and landed in Las Vegas. She has been a stellar sixth woman for the Aces, averaging 11.6 points off the bench and shooting 40.5% from three. The Aces, anchored by reigning MVP A'ja Wilson, are riding a 16-game winning streak, the second-longest in WNBA history. Every team to win at least 15 games in a row has gone on to win the title that year.
No. 3 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
Season Series: Tied 2-2
The Atlanta Dream finished the season as one of the best teams in the league, with a point differential that was second only to the Minnesota Lynx. While the season series against Indiana was tied, the Dream’s two losses came against a different Fever team that included a different starting lineup. The key matchup to watch is in the paint: Aliyah Boston versus Bri Jones. Boston dominated Jones in last year's playoffs, and it will be interesting to see if she can do it again.
No. 4 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 5 New York Liberty
Season Series: Phoenix 3-1
Although the Mercury took the regular-season series, the Liberty won the only meeting where both teams' star players were on the court. The defending champions have also added Emma Meesseman to their roster since that matchup. Phoenix has built its identity on defense, led by the frontcourt duo of Alyssa Thomas and Natasha Mack. The Liberty’s frontcourt of Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones is well-equipped to exploit that duo and could decide the series.
