It’s the playoffs, baby! After a historic WNBA regular season, the first round of the post-season kicked off on Sunday with a full slate of action. The best-of-three series showed how much a home-court advantage is imperative for the top-four teams—all home teams earned a Game 1 win. 

As Chiney Ogwumike said on ESPN,  “Playoffs is where role players win you games, and stars win you a series.” Role players, like the Liberty’s Leonie Fiebich and the Sun’s Marina Mabrey, put on a show and displayed why they are difference-makers for their teams. See who else is a key player as we dive deeper into these match-ups. Happy playoffs! 

(1) New York Liberty vs. (8) Atlanta Dream 

Game 1: Dream at Liberty, Liberty win (83-69) 

Game 2: Dream at Liberty: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 3 (if necessary): Liberty at Dream: Thursday, Sept. 26, Time TBD, ESPN2

Matchup Stats: Liberty vs. Dream | Dream vs. Liberty

These two squads recently met in the last regular season game on Sept. 19. The Dream desperately fought for the eighth and final playoff spot by winning over the Liberty (78-67) on New York’s home floor. But now it’s the playoffs; it’s a different ball game. The Liberty emphatically showed dominance in the first match-up on Sunday, as they looked poised to make another Finals run. Surely, Breanna Stewart’s 20-point, 11-rebound performance made NY fans smile. In last year’s playoffs, Stewart’s shooting percentage was down (in Game 1 against Washington, she shot 3-16 for 10 points). In Sunday’s first game of the series, she hit 7-16 from the field. Stewart, who finished third in MVP voting, is focused on bringing the state of New York its first professional basketball championship. Good luck to anyone who attempts to get in her way. 

For Atlanta, they must (try) to slow down New York’s pace and force them to make mistakes. Their regular season was an up-and-down rollercoaster, and back-to-back first-round post-season exits won’t be ideal. The Dream needs to use that same desperation and desire as they did in their recent win to steal this series, but it won’t be easy.

Key Players: 

Leonie Fiebich, Guard, New York 

For the record, Fiebich was going to be my key player before her breakout Game 1 performance, but the 21 points (7-8 FG, 4-4 from 3-point land) definitely helped my case. In her first career playoff start, the rookie didn’t miss a shot until late in the third quarter. At 6-foot-4, her confidence is soaring, allowing the Liberty to space the floor. She showed no visible nerves; she’d been a professional hooper in Germany before this for many years and was an Olympian. Head coach Sandy Brondello decided to start Fiebich over Courtney Vandersloot, which was genius. Now, Atlanta will strategize to run her off the arch, which will open up drive-and-kick opportunities for the rest of her team. 

Rhyne Howard, Guard, Atlanta  

The Dream needs the version of Howard we all witnessed at the beginning of the month, when she had three straight 30+ point games, setting a new franchise record. They needed 2023 Playoff Rhyne when she dropped 57 points in two losses to the Dallas Wings. We saw glimpses in the third quarter of Game 1. After finishing the first half with only two points, she scored 12 points in the third quarter. Howard makes this unit go, and they need her to set the tone offensively if Atlanta stands a chance. 

(2) Minnesota Lynx vs (7) Phoenix Mercury

Game 1: Mercury at Lynx, Lynx win (102-95)

Game 2: Mercury at Lynx: Wednesday, Sept. 25, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 3: Lynx at Mercury: Friday, Sept. 27, Time TBD, ESPN 2 (if necessary)

Matchup Stats: Lynx vs. Mercury | Mercury vs. Lynx

This match-up intrigues me. On the one hand, you have the Mercury, who touts experience. Four of the five starters have already won a WNBA title, and this is Diana Taurasi’s 12th (!) postseason in her 20-year career. Then, on the other hand, you have the hottest team in the league. They sport an MVP-caliber superstar and defensive-minded Coach of the Year candidate. 

In Game 1 of the series, after being down by over 20 points, the Mercury took the lead at one point in the fourth quarter. They were being more physical and speeding up Minnesota, forcing them to take contested shots early in the shot clock after full-court pressure. Phoenix chipped away after digging themselves in an early first-quarter hole. But Minnesota didn’t panic. And that’s the difference. Napheesa Collier scored a career-high 38 points (only the second player in Lynx history to have multiple 30-point playoff performances, behind Maya Moore). The Lynx have proven time and time again in the regular season that they are a team that shines in clutch moments—they won 14 of their last 16 regular season games for a reason. Minnesota has to stay to their top-defensive identity to get past this Phoenix team.  

Key Players:

Alanna Smith, Forward, Minnesota Lynx

Minnesota has put together this impressive season without a true center. Smith has played stellar defense all season long on opponent’s bigs, and this series can be no different. She’s been tasked with limiting the Mercury’s Brittney Griner’s touches in the post, which will be the difference. In the three games BG has battled the Lynx in the regular season, she’s only averaging 10.3 points per game with a total of 10 made field goals, well under her 17.8 ppg average. In Game 1, it was more of the same, with Griner finishing with 10 points on 3-10 from the field and 4-6 from the free throw line. Smith is a key reason in that—she was +11. 

Natasha Cloud, Guard, Phoenix Mercury

Cloud made the major free-agency move to the Desert to compete for another championship. She already had one under her belt with the Mystics in 2019, but uniting forces with Kahleah Copper, Taurasi, and Griner was to ensure it wasn’t her last. Cloud was sensational in Game 1 with 33 points and ten assists in the narrow loss. With Collier’s career-high 38 points, it was only the second time in WNBA playoff history with two 30+ point scorers. The Mercury should come into Game 2 confident. Not only did Cloud lead a 20-point comeback, but they were merely a few possessions away from an upset. Phoenix needs Cloud to kickstart their offense as the point guard, bring the intensity while guarding the perimeter, and take care of the ball (the five turnovers in Game 1 must be cleaned up). 

(3) Connecticut Sun vs (6) Indiana Fever 

Game 1: Fever at Sun, Sun win (83-69)

Game 2: Fever at Sun: Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 3 (if necessary): Sun at Fever: Friday, Sept. 27, Time TBD, ESPN2

Matchup Stats: Sun vs. Fever | Fever vs. Sun

The Sun posted the best team record over four years without winning a championship. Last season, Brionna Jones’ injury brought out a monster season for Alyssa Thomas, but they still came up short. But this year? They have the right pieces and then some (more on that later). Their post-season experience will shine against the young Fever. But Thomas wasn’t satisfied after Sunday’s home win. She said in the post-game interview that they’ve lost Game 2 for two straight years and don’t want it to happen again. If they continue to hang their hat on defense—ahem, DiJonai Carrington!—it won’t. 

Meanwhile, this is Indiana’s first playoff appearance in nine years, and only a handful of current players have post-season exposure. Rookie Caitlin Clark struggled after Connecticut named DeWanna Bonner her primary defender. The length of the 6-foot-4 Bonner bothered Clark’s shot selection and passing ability, as she finished with 11 points and a +/- of -20. The Sun tasked Carrington with slowing down speedy guard Kelsey Mitchell, who still finished Game 1 with 21 points. 

Key Players:

Marina Mabrey, Guard, Connecticut Sun 

Yes, the Sun has been here before, but not with a shooter like Mabrey. She finished Game 1 with the most points off the bench in WNBA playoff history with 27. Ty Harris had a gruesome ankle injury early, and Mabrey stepped up big time. The midseason trade that poached Mabrey from Chicago has already proved beneficial with her regular-season production. Still, it can be monumental if the Sun makes a deep playoff run. Her five-made 3-pointers created the separation they needed to sour Indiana’s spirits and halt any comeback plans. The Sun moves the ball extremely well; Mabrey, out on the perimeter, is Thomas’s favorite target. And with Mabrey scoring at a high clip like this matches the Fever’s sharp, long-ranging shooting. 

Aliyah Boston, Center, Indiana Fever

Boston’s first-ever playoffs, she has to battle Brionna Jones. Whew. Boston must battle in the paint and make her mid-range jumpers so Indiana can pull off the upset. Boston had a 17-point, 10-rebound performance for Game 1, finishing strong at the rim. She has improved drastically on the short roll. If she can bring Jones further and further away from the basket, it’ll open up slashing opportunities for Mitchell and Lexie Hull or high-low action between NaLyssa Smith or Temi Fagbenle and herself. 

(4) Las Vegas Aces vs. (5) Seattle Storm

Game 1: Storm at Aces, Aces win (78-67)

Game 2: Storm at Aces: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 3 (if necessary): Aces at Storm: Thursday, Sept. 26, Time TBD, ESPN2

Matchup Stats: Aces vs. Storm | Storm vs. Aces

Over the weekend, A’ja Wilson became the unanimous M’VP, winning her third league MVP trophy in seven seasons. This record-breaking season will be talked about for many years to come. Wilson is now in the post-season and trying to lead her team to its third straight championship. The first team in their way is the Seattle Storm. During the regular season, the match-up favored the Aces 2-1. But Wilson and Chelsea Gray always kick it into a new gear come September. It’ll start with their defense. 

Seattle (sans Ezzi Magbegor) started strong in Game 1. Skylar Diggins-Smith was slicing through the Aces’ defense, and Nneka Ogwumike scored a scorching 13 points in the first half. But then…they went ice cold. The Storm scored a dismal two points in the entire fourth quarter. Their offense got stagnant, and the shot selection was head-scratching. Gabby Williams was playing outside her role, and the Aces’ Box-and-1 defense on Ogwumike held her to zero points in the second half. Seattle is at their best when they get out in transition—they lead the league in steals per game with 9.3—and drive to the cup. Wilson emphatically met them at the rim; her five blocks shuttered their paint point hopes. 

Key Players:

Tiffany Hayes, Guard, Las Vegas Aces

The Sixth Player of the Year favorite came out of retirement to be the missing piece for the Aces. Her 20-point performance in Game 1 was a peak into what she can add to this team that struggled with bench points in the 2023 playoffs. Hayes can score in various ways and is the perfect spark plug for Las Vegas when they’re off to their infamous slow starts. Hayes’ job in this series is to outplay Diggins-Smith and ensure there isn’t an offensive dropoff when either Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, or Chelsea Gray exits the game. On the defensive side, her role is to be a menace. Her five steals in Game 1 made playoff history: she’s the first player to score 20+ points with five steals off the bench. After the game, Hayes revealed her mom flew for the first time ever to attend the game in Las Vegas. So, maybe the true key “player” is Hayes’ mom? She’s a good luck charm.

Jewell Loyd, Guard, Seattle Storm

Loyd is coming off a few missed games with a noted knee injury. You could tell she wasn’t 100% in Game 1. The Storm need their superstar back. Seattle is at their best when Loyd is making her 3s, getting crafty around the rim, and jumping into passing lanes. We didn’t see much of that at first glance. She was 2-8 from the field for six points. Loyd only had single digits twice in the regular season, and one of those times was against the Aces in June; she only scored a single point. Another red flag was coach Noelle Quin’s having Loyd on the bench during clutch time, only down six points. In the lone win over the Aces this year, Loyd went off for 25 points. Point blank period: They need her production to compete with the defending champs. The Storm went out and signed Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike in free agency and grabbed Williams post-Olympic break to be title contenders, but don’t be confused. This is still Loyd’s team. And she’ll need to turn it on for them to have a chance.