Updated WNBA Playoff Bracket Picture 2025 After Liberty Win and Sunday Results

The first round of the WNBA playoffs kicked off on Sunday, with four games on the docket. Below, we'll break down the day's results and key storylines as the quest for a WNBA title kicked off for eight teams.

Sunday Scores

Minnesota Lynx 101, Golden State Valkyries 72

Atlanta Dream 80, Indiana Fever 68

New York Liberty 76, Phoenix Mercury 69 (OT)

Las Vegas Aces 102, Seattle Storm 77

Analysis

Chalk mostly held on Sunday.

The top-seed Lynx handled business, led by Napheesa Collier's 20 points and six rebounds and Kayla McBride's 17 points.

Natisha Hiedeman also had a huge impact off the bench, scoring 18 points.

"She changed the game today," head coach Cheryl Reeve told reporters regarding Hiedeman. "She's just playing her best basketball of the season. She's confident. Her decision-making in their pick-and-roll coverages, she's doing a nice job freezing the post-player about where to go. She seeks the paint well. Her play, particularly in the first half, was vital to us getting through that little bit of a slower first quarter."

The Lynx have now won all four meetings against Golden State this season, and it would be surprising if they didn't make it six in a row on Wednesday.

The No. 3 seed, Atlanta, kept the chalk rolling in Game 2, as Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray each put up 20 points in the 101-72 win.

The Fever were unbelievably shorthanded on Sunday beyond just being without superstar Caitlin Clark, which certainly didn't make anything easier for them:

Game 2 is Tuesday.

Two teams couldn't be more evenly matched than the Liberty and Mercury. They had identical records this season (27-17) and while the Mercury won the season series 3-1, the Liberty pulled one back with Sunday's overtime victory.

Natasha Cloud led the way with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists, though the victory was somewhat spoiled by Breanna Stewart suffering an apparent knee injury during the contest:

This has the feel of the Liberty winning the battle but potentially losing the war if Stewart is sidelined for any duration of time. A bittersweet day in New York.

The two teams will do it all again on Wednesday.

As for the day's final game, well... A'ja Wilson happened.

The Aces superstar was fantastic yet again, contributing 29 points, seven rebonds, three steals, two assists and two blocks in the blowout win. Jackie Young averaged 18 points and seven assists.

The Aces are now 7-0 in the first round of the playoffs under head coach Becky Hammon and will look to make it 8-for-8 on Tuesday.