WNBA Dimes

## Playoff Day One Sets Tone for 2025 WNBA Postseason
The 2025 WNBA playoffs opened on Sunday, September 14, with a rare quadruple-header featuring all four first-round Game 1 matchups. The higher seed prevailed in three of the four contests, while the New York Liberty were the only road team to notch a win, spoiling the Phoenix Mercury’s home-court advantage with a 76–69 overtime victory. The slate of results has set diverse storylines for the best-of-three series, from Minnesota’s dominant statement win to Las Vegas’s continued showcase of championship credentials ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/2025-wnba-playoffs-winners-and-losers-lynx-aces-score-huge-wins-liberty-lose-breanna-stewart-to-injury/amp/?utm_source=openai)).

## Minnesota Lynx 101, Golden State Valkyries 72
At Target Center, the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx stamped their authority early and often in a resounding Game 1 victory over the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries. Despite falling behind by 10 points after an impressive five three-pointers by the visitors in the first quarter, Minnesota roared back to lead 47–40 at the half and outscored Golden State 54–32 over the final two periods. Napheesa Collier spearheaded the attack with 20 points and 6 rebounds, while Kayla McBride added 17 points on efficient 9-of-12 shooting. The Lynx bench—dubbed the “StudBudz”—made a critical impact, led by Natisha Hiedeman’s 18 points and Courtney Williams’ versatile all-around play. Jessica Shepard also chipped in 12 points and 8 boards, and Rusty Stakes’ return from injury saw DiJonai Carrington contribute six points in 12 minutes. With Minnesota’s suffocating defense holding the Valkyries to just 72 points and controlling the paint on the glass, the Lynx now carry a 1–0 series lead to San Jose for Game 2 on Wednesday night ([canishoopus.com](https://www.canishoopus.com/minnesota-lynx/61204/lynx-xx-valkyries-xx-minnesota-takes-game-1-napheesa-collier-kayla-mcbride-wnba-playoffs?utm_source=openai)).

## Atlanta Dream 80, Indiana Fever 68
In College Park, the No. 3 Atlanta Dream claimed their first postseason victory since 2018, defeating the No. 6 Indiana Fever 80–68. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard paced the Dream attack, each tallying 20 points to shoulder the offensive load. Naz Hillmon chipped in a 16-point, 9-rebound performance, and Brionna Jones added 12 points as Atlanta’s frontcourt presence dictated the physical tone. Indiana leaned heavily on Kelsey Mitchell’s game-high 27 points, but the Fever struggled from deep (2-for-15) and were outpaced in transition. Despite keeping the score within five through three quarters, Indiana was held to just 16 points in the fourth, allowing Atlanta to pull away with a decisive 9–0 run to start the period. The Dream’s balanced scoring and defensive rotations earned them an early 1–0 lead in the series, with Game 2 set for Tuesday in Indianapolis ([indianasrnsportspage.com](https://indianasrnsportspage.com/the-indiana-srn-sportspage-monday-september-15-2025/?utm_source=openai)).

## New York Liberty 76, Phoenix Mercury 69 (OT)
The marquee matchup of the day saw the No. 5 New York Liberty steal Game 1 on the road against the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, prevailing 76–69 in overtime. Phoenix dominated the second quarter, outscoring New York 30–27 to take a 43–40 lead into the break, but both teams faltered down the stretch of regulation—scoring a combined 18 points in the fourth. Alyssa Thomas narrowly missed a potential game-tying layup at the buzzer, sending the contest to overtime, where New York outscored the Mercury 11–4. Natasha Cloud led all scorers with 23 points, including the first eight of overtime, while Breanna Stewart added 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals before exiting with a knee injury. Sabrina Ionescu contributed 16 points and showcased her playmaking with 7 assists. Phoenix struggled from the field, shooting just 32.5% overall and an abysmal 23.1% from three, despite Thomas finishing one rebound shy of a triple-double (14 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast) ([brightsideofthesun.com](https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/mercury-wnba/89255/phoenix-mercury-vs-new-york-liberty-wnba-playoffs-2025-game-1-loss-overtime-recap?utm_source=openai)).

## Las Vegas Aces 102, Seattle Storm 77
In Las Vegas, the No. 2 Aces sent a clear message with a 102–77 rout of the No. 7 Seattle Storm. A’ja Wilson led the charge with a dominant 29 points, while Jackie Young filled the stat sheet with 18 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. The defending WNBA champions shot 53% from the field and forced 19 Storm turnovers, converting them into 22 points. Las Vegas raced out to a 25-point lead by halftime and never looked back, showcasing their depth as Kelsey Plum added 14 points off the bench. The victory extends the Aces’ winning streak to 17 games (including end of regular season) and underscores why they are heavy favorites to repeat ([ngscsports.com](https://ngscsports.com/2025/09/15/wnba-playoffs-first-round-game-1-recap/?utm_source=openai)).

## Injury Update: Breanna Stewart’s Knee
The defining moment of New York’s upset also sparked concern, as Breanna Stewart appeared to injure her left knee on a drive late in overtime. Stewart was able to walk off the court but did not return to finish the game, prompting an MRI upon the Liberty’s return to New York. Although no definitive timetable has been announced, her status for Wednesday’s Game 2 remains uncertain. Stewart’s availability will be critical, as the Liberty aim to leverage home-court advantage to clinch the series. If sidelined, New York will lean even more heavily on Natasha Cloud’s scoring and Sabrina Ionescu’s two-way versatility ([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2025/09/15/sports/breanna-stewart-gets-mri-as-injury-looms-over-libertys-repeat-hopes/?utm_source=openai)).

## Looking Ahead: Game 2 Schedule and Stakes
The playoffs resume Tuesday, September 16, with Game 2 of the Dream–Fever series at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) and the Aces–Storm rematch at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). On Wednesday, the focus shifts to New York–Phoenix at 7:30 p.m. ET and Minnesota–Golden State at 9:30 p.m. ET. All four series are best-of-three, meaning swift adjustments and tactical shifts will be paramount. With only two wins needed to advance to the semifinals, every possession and injury update—especially regarding Stewart—could tip the balance in this month-long battle for the 2025 WNBA crown ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/2025-wnba-playoffs-schedule-scores-tv-channel-live-stream-bracket-with-first-round-underway/amp/?utm_source=openai)).