WNBA Dimes
Hosted by Cookie
About This Episode
Generated sports podcast with host Cookie based on prompt: Daily WNBA news. Scores, highlights, and general news. Call it WNBA Dimes
Transcript
Hey! It's Cookie O'Clock! Welcome to "WNBA Dimes," the podcast where we serve up the latest and greatest from the WNBA playoffs with a side of flair and a dollop of wit. I'm your host, Brooke, ready to break down the first-round playoff action that's had us all on the edge of our seats.
Let's kick things off with the nail-biter between the Minnesota Lynx and the Golden State Valkyries. The Lynx, top-seeded and tenacious, pulled off a stunning comeback, overcoming a 17-point third-quarter deficit. They outscored the Valkyries 26-11 in the fourth quarter! Napheesa Collier—our hero of the hour—led with 24 points, hitting a crucial 18-footer with just 1:24 remaining. Talk about clutch! Her sidekick for the night, Kayla McBride, added a cool 18 points, and DiJonai Carrington’s timely corner three-pointer set the stage for Collier’s dazzling finish. So, the Lynx advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Now, moving on to the Las Vegas Aces squeaking past the Seattle Storm with a score of 74-73. The Aces had ace A’ja Wilson who dropped a playoff-career-high of 38 points. But it was Jackie Young’s put-back with 12.4 seconds on the clock that clinched the game. A bit of a heartbreaker for Seattle, especially after Erica Wheeler tied it up moments before with a cool mid-range jumper. But alas, no final shot for the Storm, and Vegas moves on to face the Indiana Fever in the semifinals.
Speaking of the Indiana Fever, these sixth-seeded upstarts swept in with an 87-85 win over the Atlanta Dream. The Fever closed out on a 7-0 run, highlighted by Aliyah Boston's go-ahead layup with just 7.4 seconds left. And let's not forget Lexie Hull’s decisive steal! Kelsey Mitchell also chipped in with a solid 24 points. This victory marks Indiana's first series win since 2015. Can you say comeback kings?
And a round of applause, please, for the Phoenix Mercury, who delivered a stunning upset against the defending champs, the New York Liberty. Ending 79-73, it was Alyssa Thomas shining bright with her record-setting fifth playoff triple-double—20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. New York’s Breanna Stewart put up 30 points, but it just wasn’t enough as Phoenix advances to clash with Minnesota.
Now, a brief detour to the awards section. Congratulations to Naz Hillmon from the Atlanta Dream for snagging the 2025 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Award with her stellar bench performances. She's making Dream history as the first to take home this honor.
A special spotlight also shines on Napheesa Collier, a finalist for league MVP. Beyond her on-court brilliance for the Minnesota Lynx, she’s co-founding women’s leagues and serving as vice president of the WNBA Players Union. Talk about playing the game on and off the court!
But hold on, we’ve got an injury update. DiJonai Carrington of the Lynx will sadly miss the rest of the postseason due to a mid-foot sprain from Game 2. With her 45.5% shooting from three, she’ll be missed, leaving a spark-sized hole on the bench.
As we gear up for the semifinals, here's the lineup: On Sunday, we have the Indiana Fever facing off against the Las Vegas Aces at 3 p.m. ET, and then it’s the Phoenix Mercury going head-to-head with the Minnesota Lynx at 5 p.m. ET. Remember, these are best-of-five series—expect intensity and incredible court action.
That’s all for today on "WNBA Dimes." Tune in next time for more thrilling updates and witty takes. Until then, keep those cookies crisp, and your game face on. See you soon!
## First-Round Playoff Recaps
• Minnesota Lynx 75, Golden State Valkyries 74 – In a dramatic elimination game, the top‐seeded Lynx overcame a 17‐point third-quarter deficit by outscoring the expansion Valkyries 26-11 in the fourth quarter. Napheesa Collier led the charge with 24 points (14 in the second half) on 10-for-16 shooting, including a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:24 remaining, and added seven rebounds and four assists. Kayla McBride chipped in 18 points, and DiJonai Carrington’s corner 3-pointer pulled Minnesota within one late before Collier’s heroics secured the sweep. Minnesota advances to the semifinals for the second consecutive season ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/46298914/lynx-mount-17-point-rally-top-valkyries-make-wnba-semifinals)).
• Las Vegas Aces 74, Seattle Storm 73 – In the decisive Game 3, A’ja Wilson poured in a playoff-career-high 38 points to keep the Aces afloat, but it was Jackie Young’s put-back with 12.4 seconds left that sealed the victory. After Wilson’s miss under the basket, Young grabbed the rebound and converted the go-ahead layup. Seattle’s Erica Wheeler had tied the game at 73-73 with a mid-range jumper, but the Storm could not get off a final shot. Las Vegas moves on to face the Indiana Fever in the semifinals ([abcnews.go.com](https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/wilson-scores-38-young-ahead-basket-aces-beat-125724676?utm_source=openai)).
• Indiana Fever 87, Atlanta Dream 85 – The sixth‐seeded Fever rallied from a two-point deficit with 2:32 to play, closing on a 7-0 run. Aliyah Boston finished with a double-digit effort and delivered the go-ahead layup with 7.4 seconds left. Lexie Hull then stole the inbound, and Odyssey Sims knocked down one of two free throws to ice the game. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 24 points, while Boston’s timely bucket and Hull’s defensive play secured Indiana’s first series victory since 2015. The Fever will now face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals ([wnba.com](https://www.wnba.com/news/2025-playoffs-fever-dream-game-3-recap?utm_source=openai)).
• Phoenix Mercury 79, New York Liberty 73 – In a stunning upset, the fourth-seeded Mercury eliminated defending champion Liberty in Game 3. Alyssa Thomas recorded her record-setting fifth WNBA playoff triple-double (20 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast), becoming the first player in playoff history with a 20-point triple-double. Satou Sabally added 23 points and 12 rebounds, Kahleah Copper chipped in 12 pts and nine reb, and DeWanna Bonner hauled in eight boards. Breanna Stewart’s 30-point effort for New York went for naught as Phoenix advances to the semifinals against Minnesota ([brightsideofthesun.com](https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/mercury-wnba/89480/phoenix-mercury-upset-new-york-liberty-wnba-playoffs-alyssa-thomas-triple-double?utm_source=openai)).
## Awards & Accolades
• Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream – Hillmon captured the 2025 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award after earning 44 of 72 first-place votes. She averaged 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game off the bench, shot 32.1% from three (53 made) and logged career highs in steals (21) and blocks (19). Hillmon became the first Dream player to win the honor, edging runner-up Natisha Hiedeman of Minnesota (22 votes) ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/dream-f-naz-hillmon-wins-sixth-player-year-award--flm-2025-09-20/?utm_source=openai)).
• Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx – Collier’s on-court excellence and off-court leadership have made her a transformative figure. She has led Minnesota to the league’s best record, co-founded the women’s 3-on-3 Unrivaled league, and serves as vice president of the WNBA Players’ Union. Collier is one of five finalists for league MVP, underscoring her impact on and off the floor ([washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/09/20/napheesa-collier-wnba-mvp/?utm_source=openai)).
## Injury Report
• DiJonai Carrington (Minnesota Lynx) – Carrington will miss the remainder of the postseason after suffering a significant mid-foot sprain late in Game 2 of the first round. An MRI confirmed the injury, and the Lynx downgraded her status Friday after initial tests. Carrington averaged 8.6 points and shot 45.5% from three in limited regular-season action; her absence removes a key two-way bench spark for Minnesota ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/46326832/lynx-carrington-playoffs-significant-foot-sprain)).
## Semifinal Schedule
According to ESPN’s playoff schedule (as of Sep 20, 2025):
• Sunday, Sept. 21
– 3 p.m. ET (ABC): Indiana Fever @ Las Vegas Aces
– 5 p.m. ET (ESPN): Phoenix Mercury @ Minnesota Lynx
The semifinals are best-of-five (2-2-1 format), with higher seeds hosting Games 1, 2 and 5. The WNBA Finals will expand to a best-of-seven later this season ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/46030946/wnba-playoffs-schedule-2025-games-first-round-semifinals-finals-scores-results-news-highlights)).
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