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 back to WNBA Dimes. I'm Brooke, your guide through the highs, lows, and the slam dunks of the WNBA. Grab your snacks, get comfy, and let's dive into the latest basketball buzz!
First up, let's talk semifinals. Last night, the Las Vegas Aces showed they're not just betting on luck by securing a spot in the Finals after a thrilling overtime victory against the Indiana Fever. The Aces, coming in as the second seed, locked down the win 107–98. A'ja Wilson was on fire, dropping 35 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and more. Her partner in crime, Jackie Young, also heated up the court with 32 points. Talk about teamwork! Both made history being the first playoff duo to score over 30 points each in the same game. Incredible, right?
Despite the Fever's fierce push, including Odyssey Sims’s impressive 27 points, they couldn't overcome the mighty Aces. It was a wild ride for Indiana as a sixth seed, but hats off for their grit!
Moving on to the Mercury, who decided to defy gravity by overturning a 13-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Lynx 86–81. Alyssa Thomas was the star of the show with 23 points and a hefty slice of assists and rebounds. Shout out to DeWanna Bonner—at 38, she hit two crucial three-pointers to seal the deal. Age is just a number, folks!
The Lynx faced challenges without coach Cheryl Reeve and star Napheesa Collier, who was sidelined with a serious ankle injury. Speaking of stats, Collier's absence is tough, especially since she'll be out for six weeks. Even if the Lynx had moved forward, she wouldn’t have joined the battle. During her press conference, she threw a bit of spiciness at officiating inconsistencies. A little drama never hurts, right?
Now, let’s peek behind the curtains of the Mercury's game plan. Nate Tibbetts and GM Nick U'Ren have worked magic by blending defensive plays around Thomas, crafting a 27-17 record. And with Phoenix's track, eyes are on the New York Liberty as they look to mimic this success. Liberty fans, keep watching!
The Finals are looming with a historic best-of-seven series starting October 3rd. Buckle up as Phoenix squares off against the Aces in what promises to be a clash of titans. Early predictions lean toward Phoenix in a nail-biting seven-game battle. Key matchups include testing the Aces’ defense and that explosive pick-and-roll duo of Wilson and Young. This series is gonna be spicy!
Finally, let's spotlight the stars shining brightest. A'ja Wilson is blazing the trail with impressive stats, followed by Alyssa Thomas, who's the backbone of the Mercury's versatile style. Jackie Young and DeWanna Bonner are also turning heads. Bonner’s clutch performance in Game 4 was a masterclass in leadership.
Remember, Game 1 tips off at 8 p.m. ET on October 3rd. Don’t forget to set your reminders—this is history in the making!
That's all for today's WNBA Dimes! Keep it locked here for more updates, recaps, and a sprinkle of humor. Until next time, this is Brooke reminding you that it's always Cookie O'Clock somewhere! Catch you later!
## WNBA Dimes (October 2, 2025)
Yesterday saw the conclusion of both WNBA semifinal series, setting the stage for the league’s first-ever best-of-seven Finals, and generated a flurry of news off the court—from major injuries to coaching blueprints and tactical previews. Here’s your daily recap of scores, highlights, player stats, and general news to fuel your feature.
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### 1. Semifinals Recap: Aces Clinch Finals Berth in Overtime
On Tuesday night, the second-seeded Las Vegas Aces hosted Game 5 of their semifinal series against the Indiana Fever. After a back-and-forth affair that required extra time, the Aces prevailed 107–98 to secure their spot in the Finals for the third time in four years.
- A’ja Wilson delivered a dominant performance, pouring in 35 points on 13-of-27 shooting, along with eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks over 41 minutes.
- Jackie Young also reached a rare milestone, posting 32 points, making her and Wilson the first teammates in WNBA playoff history to each score 30+ in the same game.
- Indiana battled fiercely despite severe roster depletion; six Fever players reached double figures, highlighted by Odyssey Sims’s 27 points and Natasha Howard’s 16 points. Kelsey Mitchell exited in the third quarter with leg cramps after contributing a team-high 15 points.
- Both teams entered the night on brutal runs: Las Vegas had needed five games to dispatch Seattle in Round 1, then went the distance with Indiana, while the Fever, as the No. 6 seed, defied expectations before bowing out.
This win completes the Aces’ impressive turnaround after a .500 start—they closed the regular season on a 16-game win streak and have now won five straight playoff games to reach the Finals ([indianapolisrecorder.com](https://indianapolisrecorder.com/fever-aces-game-5-wnba-semifinals/?utm_source=openai)).
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### 2. Semifinals Recap: Mercury Rally Past Lynx in Game 4 to Reach Finals
On September 28 in Phoenix, the No. 4–seeded Mercury erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx to win 86–81 and clinch their first Finals berth since 2021.
- Alyssa Thomas led Phoenix with 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, her all-around play emblematic of the Mercury’s resilience.
- DeWanna Bonner, at 38 years old, hit two late 3-pointers in that final quarter—including a go-ahead triple with 4:46 remaining—to spark a 31-point rally.
- Minnesota was shorthanded without head coach Cheryl Reeve (suspended for Game 4) and All-Star Napheesa Collier (ankle injury), and saw Kayla McBride’s six three-pointers unable to stave off the comeback.
Phoenix’s victory concluded their sweep of the final three games in the best-of-five series, having lost Game 1 before routing Minnesota in Games 2, 3, and 4 ([nbcsports.com](https://www.nbcsports.com/wnba/news/mercury-overcome-13-point-deficit-in-4th-quarter-beat-lynx-86-81-to-advance-to-wnba-finals?utm_source=openai)).
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### 3. Injury Report: Napheesa Collier Sidelined Long-Term
Adding to the Lynx’s woes, star forward Napheesa Collier has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 tear of three ligaments in her left ankle, along with a shin muscle injury sustained in Game 3 of the semifinals. According to ESPN sources, Collier requires at least six weeks of recovery and will miss the remainder of the playoffs.
Collier confirmed she would have been unable to play even if Minnesota had advanced, and used her season-ending press conference to criticize inconsistent officiating and league accountability. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded by reaffirming her support for player welfare and a commitment to officiating improvements ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-lynx-star-napheesa-collier-tore-ligaments-collision--flm-2025-10-02/?utm_source=openai)).
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### 4. Coaching & Front-Office Spotlight: Mercury Blueprint for Liberty Search
With the Mercury headed to the Finals, their organizational model is drawing league-wide attention. Phoenix’s head coach Nate Tibbetts and GM Nick U’Ren have engineered a successful rebuild—retaining Alyssa Thomas while adding Satou Sabally and Monique Akoa Makani after the retirements of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
Their collaborative approach, emphasizing defensive versatility around Thomas’s playmaking, has guided Phoenix to a 27–17 record and deep postseason run. The New York Liberty are reportedly studying this blueprint as they search for Sandy Brondello’s successor, prioritizing candidates with NBA adaptive strategies and strong GM–coach synergies ([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2025/10/02/sports/wnba-finals-bound-mercury-offer-a-blueprint-for-liberty-coaching-search/?utm_source=openai)).
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### 5. Finals Preview: Predictions & Key Matchups
The historic best-of-seven Finals commence Friday, October 3 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), pitting the Aces against the Mercury in a battle of tactical depth and star power. Early forecasts and tactical breakdowns point to a tightly contested series:
- SB Nation’s projection favors Phoenix in seven games, citing the Mercury’s post-season cohesion and ability to pressure the Aces’ role players in transition ([sbnation.com](https://www.sbnation.com/womens-sports/1083251/wnba-finals-prediction-las-vegas-aces-phoenix-mercury?utm_source=openai)).
- Key strategic factors include:
1. Exploiting Las Vegas’s bench through aggressive pace and matchup hunting.
2. Testing the Aces’ small-ball defense, particularly rim protection against Satou Sabally and Thomas.
3. Containing the Wilson–Young pick-and-roll, requiring Phoenix to mix defensive looks and deploy Monique Akoa Makani as a primary handler stopper.
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### 6. Player Stats & Season Leaders
As the Finals approach, here are some standout postseason and season figures to reference:
- A’ja Wilson (LVA): 26.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.0 APG; dominant inside scorer and rim protector who averaged 35.0 points in the clinching Game 5 ([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/wnba/wnba-finals-game-2-phoenix-mercury-vs-las-vegas-aces-oct-05-2025-game-boxscore-2209?utm_source=openai)).
- Alyssa Thomas (PHX): 18.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 9.1 APG; her near-triple-double efficiency defines Phoenix’s versatile attack ([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/wnba/wnba-finals-game-2-phoenix-mercury-vs-las-vegas-aces-oct-05-2025-game-boxscore-2209?utm_source=openai)).
- Jackie Young (LVA): Averaged over 30 PPG in the decisive semifinal game, a rare 30+/30+ teammate feat alongside Wilson during Game 5 ([indianapolisrecorder.com](https://indianapolisrecorder.com/fever-aces-game-5-wnba-semifinals/?utm_source=openai)).
- DeWanna Bonner (PHX): Clutch veteran who delivered 11 fourth-quarter points in Game 4, including two momentum-shifting threes ([abcnews.go.com](https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/mercury-overcome-13-point-deficit-4th-quarter-beat-126028294?utm_source=openai)).
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### 7. Looking Ahead
- Finals Schedule (Best-of-Seven format):
• Game 1: Oct 3, 8 p.m. ET, Phoenix at Las Vegas (ESPN)
• Game 2: Oct 5, 3 p.m. ET, Phoenix at Las Vegas (ABC)
• Remaining games alternate 2–2–1–1–1; potential clincher on Oct 17 at Phoenix ([espn.in](https://www.espn.in/wnba/story/_/id/46030946/wnba-playoffs-schedule-2025-games-first-round-semifinals-finals-scores-results-news-highlights?utm_source=openai)).
Stay tuned for daily editions of **WNBA Dimes**, where we’ll deliver concise recaps, in-depth previews, and exclusive insights throughout the Finals.
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