đ± The case for the Lynx: Theyâve been the best team in the league all season long â 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.
âïž The case for the Valkyries: The fact that an expansion team is in the playoffs at all is a testament to the Valksâ resilience. And while Ballhalla wonât play host for their postseason debut, Golden State can shoot the lights out anywhere. If youâre banking on an upset, hitting three-pointers is a great strategy â good thing they knocked down a league-leading 427 this season.
đŽ 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 â but this superstar crew often fly under the radar, just how they like it.
đ„” The case for the Fever: The No. 6 seed certainly isnât where Indy fans thought theyâd finish at season start, but they didnât 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.
đȘ 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.
đœ The case for the Liberty: Did we expect the defending champs to fall this far in the standings? Of course not, but that doesnât mean theyâre an easy out. Even if superstar Breanna Stewart isnât thrilled with her teamâs effort, this group still won 27 games â and they have the postseason experience to turn it on when it matters most.
đ 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 seasonâs end. Playoff success is all about peaking at the right time, and Vegas is doing exactly that.
âïž The case for the Storm: Seattleâs biggest red flag is their inconsistency, but when this team is clicking, theyâre 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.
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