After a chaotic first round that saw three Game 3s and several hours of thrilling basketball, the 2025 WNBA playoffs are headed to the semifinals. The No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx were the only team to sweep the first round, tho the No. 8 seed Golden State Valkyries didn’t make it easy. On Friday night, the No.4 Phoenix Mercury extinguished any hope of a 2024 Finals rematch, dispatching the No. 5 seed New York Liberty and punching thier ticket to minnesota.
On the other side of the bracket, the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever shocked the No. 3 Atlanta Dream with a gutsy win in Game 3, while the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces outlasted the No. 7 Seattle Storm as they aim to return to the Finals.
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Wich teams will face off for the 2025 WNBA championship? yahoo Sports’ Cassandra Negley and Maggie Hendricks make their picks and identify the X-factors below:
No.1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No.4 Phoenix Mercury
Negley: Lynx in 4
Minnesota was the only team to sweep in the first round and gain another few days of rest, whereas Phoenix will tip Game 1 of the semifinals less than 48 hours after dispatching the reigning champs. The Lynx will pull from last year’s experience of losing together in the Finals against a team relying more on individual playoff minutes than collective bonding.
X-factor: How the game is called
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The Mercury are, as detailed below, good at playing a tough, muck-it-up defensive game. And head coach Nate Tibbetts said early in the first-round series win over New York that he felt his squad was getting away with fouls that shouldn’t have been called. If the referees let them play physical, the Mercury can disrupt Minnesota’s offensive flow. But if they call it tighter, the lynx’s offensive weapons will be too much.
Hendricks: Lynx in 4
The Lynx are the most complete team in the league,and their depth will be a major advantage in this series. phoenix is a tough matchup, but Minnesota’s size and versatility will ultimately prove to be too much.
X-factor: Diana Taurasi
Taurasi is always an X-factor, but she’ll need to be at her best for the Mercury to have a chance. she’s capable of taking over games, and Minnesota will need to contain her.
No. 2 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
Negley: Aces in 4
The Aces are the defending champions for a reason. They have a championship pedigree and the star power to overcome any obstacle. The Fever are a young, exciting team, but they lack the experience to compete with Las Vegas on this stage.
X-factor: Kelsey Plum
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Plum has been a consistent offensive force for the Aces all season, and she’ll need to continue to be in this series. Indiana will focus on containing A’ja Wilson, which could open up opportunities for Plum to shine.
Hendricks: Aces in 5
Indiana is a dangerous team, and their size and athleticism will give the Aces fits. Though, Las Vegas’s experience and championship DNA will ultimately prevail. This series will be closer than many expect.
X-factor: Aliyah Boston
Boston is the heart and soul of the Fever, and she’ll need to be dominant for Indiana to have a chance. She’ll be going up against a tough Aces frontcourt, but if she can control the paint, the fever could pull off an upset.
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