Previewing the first round of the WNBA playoffs

🐱 The case for the Lynx: They’ve been the best team in the league all season long — full stop. They are deep, talented, and out for revenge, a triple threat that should terrify postseason opponents. The scariest part about this team though? They share the basketball: The Lynx lead the league in assists, averaging 23.3 dimes per game.

• Player to watch: Who else but Napheesa Collier? The MVP candidate became just the second W player to finish the regular season in the exclusive 50/40/90 club, the mark of an exceptional shooter. Oh, and she’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, too.

⚔️ The case for the Valkyries: The fact that an expansion team is in the playoffs at all is a testament to the Valks’ resilience. And while Ballhalla won’t play host for their postseason debut, Golden State can shoot the lights out anywhere. If you’re banking on an upset, hitting three-pointers is a great strategy — good thing they knocked down a league-leading 427 this season.

• Player to watch: Veronica Burton. Losing centerpiece Kayla Thornton to a knee injury in July was a huge blow for Golden State, but Burton stepped up in every possible way. The 25-year-old leads the Valks in points, assists, and steals.

😴 The case for the Dream: Somebody call Sabrina Carpenter because the Dream have had the ultimate glow-up and will host their first playoff game since 2018. Atlanta won a franchise-record 30 games this season behind their three-pronged attack of Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Bri Jones — but this superstar crew often fly under the radar, just how they like it.

• Player to watch: Allisha Gray. Not only has Gray put together a career-best season, averaging 18.4 points per game, but she’s also been Atlanta's most consistent player all year. Her productivity will be key to their success.

🥵 The case for the Fever: The No. 6 seed certainly isn’t where Indy fans thought they’d finish at season start, but they didn’t expect an onslaught of season-ending injuries either. Despite it all, the Fever tallied a franchise-record 24 wins, leaning on their top-three offense, much-improved defense, and the development of three-time All-Star Aliyah Boston.

• Player to watch: Kelsey Mitchell. The other half of Indy’s dynamic one-two punch, Mitchell has looked virtually unstoppable at times this season, especially when the Fever let her and Boston cook together. Teamwork always makes the dream work.

🪐 The case for the Mercury: Phoenix has a major difference-maker when it comes to the postseason: depth. Case in point? Two of their best players, Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally (pronounced SAH-too SAH-buh-lee), missed a combined 21 games, and the Mercury were still one of the best teams in the league.

• Player to watch: Alyssa Thomas. The perennial MVP candidate is nicknamed “The Engine” for a reason: She’s the catalyst behind everything the Mercury do. She racks up triple-doubles, is a top-tier defender, and talks the best trash in the W. And that’s on range.

🗽 The case for the Liberty: Did we expect the defending champs to fall this far in the standings? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean they’re an easy out. Even if superstar Breanna Stewart isn’t thrilled with her team’s effort, this group still won 27 games — and they have the postseason experience to turn it on when it matters most.

• Player to watch: Sabrina Ionescu. The seafoam superstar has been NY’s constant all season, averaging an impressive 18.2 points per game — but she’s evolved into so much more than just a scorer, emerging as one of the best all-around players in the W.

🃏 The case for the Aces: What happened in Vegas massively impacted the W standings. The Aces won a mind-boggling 16 straight games to cap off the regular season, catapulting themselves from eighth place at the All-Star break to second at season’s end. Playoff success is all about peaking at the right time, and Vegas is doing exactly that.

• Player to watch: A’ja Wilson. The three-time MVP is the most impactful player on every court she steps on, leading the league in points and blocks as part of what just might be a record-breaking fourth MVP campaign.

⛈️ The case for the Storm: Seattle’s biggest red flag is their inconsistency, but when this team is clicking, they’re as good as anyone. While the Storm can score, with Nneka Ogwumike (pronounced oh-gwoo-MIH-kay) and Skylar Diggins often topping the stat sheet, their calling card is defense as evidenced by their WNBA-best steals and blocks totals.

• Player to watch: Gabby Williams. While the aforementioned Ogwumike and Diggins drive the offense, Williams is Seattle’s defensive juggernaut, regularly using her six-foot-three wingspan and world-class athleticism to take everyone’s cookies. Don’t forget the milk.