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Good morning! The Dream hold a 1-0 lead over the Liberty in the semifinals, while the Valkyries are up 1-0 against the Aces. The action resumes tomorrow.
Today’s Highlights:
- What’s the ideal playoff format?
- Key players to watch
- Is Wilson a guaranteed MVP?
Let’s dive in.
Playoffs: Should the WNBA keep the best-of-three format in the first round?
The first round of the WNBA playoffs flew by quickly. Out of 10 games, half of the eight playoff teams were eliminated. With the fierce battle between the Valkyries and Wings and the sudden exit of top-seeded Lynx, many argue that the first-round series should extend to five games instead of three.
However, there’s something thrilling about each first-round game being so high-stakes. Losing just one game immediately places a team on the brink of elimination. Moments like Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale’s clutch step-back 3-pointer to send Game 2 into overtime wouldn’t carry the same weight if the series was longer.
Playoffs are meant to add unpredictability — that’s why American sports don’t simply crown the regular season leader as champion. Although Minnesota had the best record and top stats heading into the postseason, they didn’t take home the 2025 title.
There’s a strong case for rewarding top seeds more — for example, the 2026 Lynx should get more than one playoff game after dominating the regular season. Yet, across five seasons with the best-of-three format, only two of 20 first-round matchups have been upsets, both occurring after the league changed the homecourt format from 2-1 to 1-1-1. That 25% upset rate matches the NBA’s with its longer best-of-seven series.
Upsets add excitement, and underdogs bring charm. The current setup lets the lowest-seeded teams have a real shot at exceeding expectations — something to celebrate. As the WNBA grows, the league might rethink the number of playoff teams and how to balance additional games with a longer regular season. For now, though, the league’s format keeps every first-round game essential viewing — arguably the whole point of the playoffs.
If changes are on the table, here are a few I (Sabreena) would suggest before expanding the first round:
- Return to conference-based playoff seeding to foster rivalries and ease travel in early rounds.
- Give higher seeds priority rest days — it’s odd that No. 2 Golden State had fewer days off than No. 3 Las Vegas entering the second round.
- Schedule at least 2.5 hours between double-header broadcasts to prevent overlap — or consider holding semifinal games on separate nights.
Semifinals: Key Players to Watch
🏀 No. 2 Golden State vs. No. 3 Las Vegas (Valkyries lead 1-0): Jackie Young
The Aces boast a star-studded lineup, including three No. 1 overall picks — A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd (who took over for Kelsey Plum) — along with elite playmaker Chelsea Gray. Las Vegas relies heavily on its stars to carry the load, unlike Golden State, which used its depth to win Game 1.
Young struggled in Game 1, scoring only 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting despite strong regular-season numbers against the Valkyries. She also assisted on five baskets total and was unable to effectively defend Gabby Williams.
For Game 2, Young must capitalize on defenses focusing multiple players on Wilson and play aggressively — her willingness to attack will be crucial. The Aces get boosts as Lovd and Stephanie Talbot are returning from injury, but it starts with Young stepping up.
🏀 No. 4 Atlanta vs. No. 8 New York (Dream lead 1-0): The Liberty Core
The Liberty’s core of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Leonie Fiebich brings championship experience from their 2024 title run. Their reaction after a Game 1 loss was calm and focused — no visible emotional fallout despite a poor quarter full of turnovers.
The team noted challenges with in-game adjustments, pointing to coaching as a factor. Offensively, they struggled, tallying just 17 assists on 65 shots, with Ionescu contributing only one assist.
To even the series, the Liberty must find a way to spark better ball movement and involve more players to avoid relying heavily on isolated performances from stars like Ionescu and Stewart.
Fast Breaks
- The Valkyries remain the frontrunners to claim the championship according to our playoff odds tracker, which updates after every game. It’s also where you can find draft lottery odds if your favorite didn’t make the playoffs.
- The NBA has hired a new firm to help select the next WNBA commissioner, as Cathy Engelbert plans to retire at year’s end.
- Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell pledges to prioritize her own interests this offseason as she approaches unrestricted free agency, acknowledging the difficulty of competing for fans.
- Commentator Candace Buckner suggests the Fever should move on from Sophie Cunningham, whose fiery personality may clash with teammate Caitlin Clark.
Awards Watch: Is Wilson the MVP front-runner?
As Wilson gears up, likely to claim her fifth MVP award (possibly before the Aces’ next home game Friday), here’s a quick update on other honors this season:
- Angel Reese took Defensive Player of the Year, perfectly complementing the Dream’s style.
- Olivia Miles was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year, with her coach Cheryl Reeve earning Coach of the Year honors for overcoming a depleted roster to lead Minnesota to the top seed.
- Jessica Shepard, on the verge of quitting basketball, stunned all by winning Most Improved Player.
- Janelle Salaün was the runaway Sixth Player of the Year, boosting the Valkyries’ strong bench.
Look out for the announcements of All-Rookie, All-Defense, and All-WNBA teams soon. Thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, All-WNBA distinctions could mean pay raises for rookies.
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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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Fan Take:
These playoff insights highlight the WNBA’s unique and exciting format that makes every game critical and full of drama, a refreshing change from longer, sometimes less suspenseful series. For fans, this means heightened intensity from the get-go and a celebration of underdogs, which could grow the sport’s appeal and competitive spirit in the years ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
