{"id":221098,"date":"2025-09-12T14:40:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T14:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/221098\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T14:40:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T14:40:23","slug":"the-wnba-playoffs-are-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/221098\/","title":{"rendered":"The WNBA playoffs are here"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yahoo Sports AM<\/a> is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here<\/a> to get it every weekday morning.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Bring on the WNBA playoffs\"(Yahoo<\/p>\n

(Yahoo Sports)<\/p>\n

The WNBA regular season came to an end on Thursday, setting the stage for eight teams to begin their championship quest.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Who’s in?<\/strong> The field was already set, but the seeds and matchups were determined after last night’s finale.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Lynx (34-10):<\/strong> Minnesota responded to its heartbreaking Game 5 finals loss last season by mowing down the rest of the league and clinching the 1-seed with two weeks to spare. They do look vulnerable entering the playoffs, though, having lost five of their final 11 games.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Aces (30-14):<\/strong> Vegas ended the season on a 16-game winning streak, the second-longest ever. They’re the fourth team in league history to win 15 straight games, and the previous three all went on to win the title.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Dream (30-14):<\/strong> Atlanta’s first season under head coach Karl Smesko went gangbusters, as they won a franchise-record 30 games behind an MVP-caliber season from nine-year vet Allisha Gray, who averaged career-highs in points (18.4), rebounds (5.3) and assists (3.5).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Mercury (27-17):<\/strong> How did Phoenix respond in its first season without Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner? By finishing over .500 for the first time since 2021. Credit triple-double queen Alyssa Thomas, who should score her fourth straight top-five MVP finish.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Liberty (27-17):<\/strong> The defending champs had an up-and-down season due to a laundry list of injuries to their star players. But now that everyone’s healthy, would it really surprise you if Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and company ran it back?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Fever (24-20):<\/strong> On the one hand, Indiana’s season hardly went as planned considering Caitlin Clark (groin) played just 13 games and will miss the playoffs. On the other, they still set a franchise record with 24 wins and finished over .500 for the first time in a decade.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    Storm (23-21):<\/strong> Which Seattle squad will we see next week? The one that started 14-9, the one that lost nine of 12 coming out of the All-Star break, or the one that finished 6-3 to clinch the final playoff spot in their last game of the season?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    Valkyries (23-21):<\/strong> It’s going to be hard to deny Natalie Nakase the Coach of the Year award after Golden State became the first WNBA expansion team ever to make the playoffs in their debut season.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Who’s out?<\/strong> The Sparks (21-23) have missed the playoffs five years in a row after missing them in just four of their first 24 seasons. The Mystics (16-28), Sun (11-33), Sky (10-34) and Wings (10-34) are also out.<\/p>\n

    What to watch:<\/strong> The first round tips off on Sunday, with the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 3 (if necessary): No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 8 Valkyries, No. 2 Aces vs. No. 7 Storm, No. 3 Dream vs. No. 6 Fever, No. 4 Mercury vs. No. 5 Liberty. Then comes the best-of-five semifinals followed by the WNBA Finals, which for the first time ever<\/a> will be a seven-game series.<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcf8 Through the lens\"(Michael<\/p>\n

    (Michael Reaves\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

    Green Bay \u2014<\/strong> The Packers turned in their second straight dominant defensive performance in a 27-18 win over the Commanders<\/a>. After the game, Micah Parsons egged on fans as they chanted<\/a>, “Thank you, Jerry!”<\/p>\n

    \"(Alika<\/p>\n

    (Alika Jenner\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

    Seattle \u2014 <\/strong>Rookie Harry Ford came through with a pinch-hit, walk-off sacrifice fly in the 12th inning to lift the Mariners over the Angels, 7-6, and tie the Astros atop the AL West<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \"(Philip<\/p>\n

    (Philip Fong\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

    Tokyo \u2014<\/strong> Officials and workers prepare the National Stadium ahead of the World Athletics Championships.<\/p>\n

    \ud83e\udd4a The main event: Canelo vs. Crawford\"(Jonathan<\/p>\n

    (Jonathan Castro\/Yahoo Sports)<\/p>\n

    When Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford step through the ropes on Saturday in the Netflix<\/a> main event, the weight of U.S. boxing rests firmly on their shoulders.<\/p>\n

    Advertisement<\/p>\n

    From Uncrowned’s Darian Desai:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Boxing in the U.S. is arguably at its lowest point since its first golden age began in the early 20th century. Long gone are the days when the sport thrived on major networks like CBS, NBC, ABC, HBO, Showtime and ESPN.<\/p>\n

    Today, HBO and Showtime have exited the sport, and ESPN has cut ties with Top Rank, leaving the broadcasters’ future in the sport unclear. No major television network is truly invested in boxing.<\/p>\n

    On Saturday, however, boxing could get the shot in the arm it desperately needs.<\/p>\n

    Two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, including the biggest star of the past decade in Alvarez, collide in front of 60,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium and what will surely be a multi-million audience on Netflix.<\/p>\n

    Advertisement<\/p>\n

    The last superfight in U.S. boxing was Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia in April 2023. Alvarez-Crawford, unlike Davis-Garcia, features two of the best fighters in the world \u2014 Davis and Garcia were the two biggest stars in the division rather than pound-for-pound top fighters \u2014 and it’s not behind an $80 paywall.<\/p>\n

    Boxing is in the shop window this week. Millions of potential casual fans will have the chance to stumble upon the event, making it a rare mainstream showcase for the sport. And boxing desperately needs to show out for the folks passing by.<\/p>\n

    Read the full story.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcfa Weekend Watchlist\"(Bruno<\/p>\n

    (Bruno Rouby\/Yahoo Sports)<\/p>\n

    \ud83c\udfc8 NFL, Week 2 | Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A Super Bowl rematch headlines this weekend’s slate<\/a>, as the Chiefs seek revenge for the shellacking they suffered at the hands of the Eagles back in February.<\/p>\n

    Advertisement<\/p>\n

    Best games:<\/strong> In addition to the Super Bowl rematch, other games to watch include a pair of NFC North teams looking to avoid an 0-2 start, DK Metcalf’s reunion with Seattle and Joe Flacco’s return to Baltimore.<\/p>\n