WNBA playoffs winners and losers: Fever sluggish A’ja Wilson, stun Aces; Courtney Williams leads Lynx previous Mercury

The 2025 WNBA playoffs resumed Sunday with the beginning of the semifinals. Within the first recreation of the afternoon, the Indiana Fever continued their shock run with an 89-73 win over the Las Vegas Aces, who had gained 18 of their final 19 video games. Afterward, the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx used a dominant fourth quarter to defeat the Phoenix Mercury, 82-69. 

The Fever and Lynx are actually forward 1-0 of their respective five-game units and wish simply two extra wins to avance to the Finals. There’s nonetheless an extended option to go in these seres, although, and it is not time to begin interested by Finals matchups simply but. 

For now, let’s check out the very best, and worst, from Sunday with Sport 1 winners and losers. 

Mitchell has lengthy flown below the radar, however has lastly gotten the nationwide recognition she deserves this season. Hours after she completed fifth in MVP voting, which probably foretells the primary All-WNBA First Group look of her profession, Mitchell as soon as once more put the Fever on her again to ship one more upset win on this postseason. 

It took Mitchell a couple of minutes to get happening Sunday, however in the course of the primary quarter she went on a fast five-point burst and by no means seemed again. The Aces, who seemed a step sluggish on protection all day lengthy, couldn’t address Mitchell’s quickness and shot-making. 

Mitchell completed with 34 factors to set a brand new playoff career-high and register the second-highest particular person scoring recreation in Fever postseason historical past. The final time {that a} Fever participant scored 30 factors within the playoffs was Shavonte Zellous within the 2012 Finals. 

Highest-scoring video games in Fever postseason historical past

Mitchell is now averaging 26 factors per recreation within the playoffs — tied with A’ja Wilson for essentially the most by any participant this postseason — on absurd 48.6/50.0/96.0 capturing splits. Nobody anticipated the Fever to nonetheless be enjoying, but when Mitchell retains performing like this, they will not be going residence any time quickly.  

Winner and Loser: A’ja Wilson

Early on Sunday, Wilson added a report fourth MVP award to her ever-growing trophy cupboard and joined Cynthia Cooper-Dyke as the one gamers in league historical past to win back-to-back MVPs. Wilson, who was formally offered the trophy at mid-court previous to the sport, now has 4 MVPs, three Defensive Participant of the Yr awards, a Rookie of the Yr trophy, two titles, a Finals MVP, seven All-Star appearances, 5 All-WNBA honors (quickly to be six) and 4 All-Defensive honors (quickly to be 5). 

In Sport 1 towards the Fever, Wilson seemed nothing like arguably the very best participant in WNBA historical past. 

She missed her first six photographs and by no means bought it going offensively towards Aliyah Boston and a decided Fever protection. Wilson completed with 16 factors and 13 rebounds, however shot 6 of twenty-two (27.3%) from the sector. Boston and firm did an incredible job maintaining Wilson away from the rim — simply eight of her 22 makes an attempt have been within the restricted space — and forcing her into awkward, off-balance seems. 

Wilson’s 16 missed photographs have been essentially the most she’s ever had in a playoff recreation. Moreover, this was simply the third time in Wilson’s profession — common season or postseason — that she took a minimum of 20 makes an attempt in a recreation and shot worse than 30%. 

The Aces merely can not afford a recreation like that from Wilson, who accounted for 25.5% of their whole factors through the common season and 34% of their factors within the first spherical towards the Seattle Storm. To ensure that the Aces to get again on this collection in Sport 2, they’re going to want Wilson to play at an MVP stage.  

Williams, one-half of the StudBudz, has change into a sensation this season, and everybody tuning in to the Lynx’s Sport 1 towards the Mercury bought to see why she just isn’t solely a beloved persona, however probably the most dynamic guards within the league. 

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Lynx and Mercury have been all sq. at 59-59. It appeared as if we have been in for one more incredible end in these 2025 playoffs, however Williams had different concepts. She was electrical within the remaining body to assist the Lynx outscore the Mercury 23-10 en route a series-opening win. 

Williams had a few enormous buckets in the course of the body to create some separation, then scored or assisted on the Lynx’s remaining 9 factors as they pulled away. She had six factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists within the fourth quarter alone. 

For the sport, Williams put up 23 factors, eight rebounds, seven assists and 5 steals to change into the fifth participant in WNBA postseason historical past with a 20-point, five-rebound, five-assist, five-steal effort. 

20/5/5/5 video games in WNBA postseason historical past

Loser: The Mercury’s second-half offense

The Mercury largely managed the primary half of Sport 1 towards the Lynx due to an excellent offensive show. They bought inside at will — that they had extra factors within the paint (42) than the Lynx had in whole (40) — shot 56.4% from the sector and assisted on 13 of their 22 baskets. Six totally different gamers scored as they went up by as many as 9. 

When the Mercury are working like they have been within the first half, they give the impression of being borderline unstoppable. All season lengthy, nevertheless, they’ve struggled to keep up the appropriate strategy. Too typically, they go into lulls the place their shot choice deteriorates and the offense falls aside. Whereas the Mercury have been in a position to get away with these stretches towards the New York Liberty within the first spherical, it is clear from Sport 1 that they won’t be able to towards the Lynx. 

Within the second half, the Mercury stopped insisting their option to the basket and commenced settling for pull-up jumpers and step-back 3-pointers. The Lynx deserve a ton of credit score for elevating their depth on the defensive finish, however the Mercury have been far too prepared to play into their fingers. 

Evaluate the Mercury’s first-half shot chart (prime) to their second-half shot chart (backside). 

Notably, the Mercury had extra makes within the paint within the first half (21) than makes an attempt in paint within the second half (14). 

Within the second half, the Mercury managed solely 22 factors — fewer than that they had in both quarter within the first half — and shot 9 of 36 (25%) from the sector, together with 2 of 15 (13.3%) from 3-point vary. Kahleah Copper and Sami Whitcomb have been the one gamers on the workforce to attain greater than two factors after the break, and Copper wanted 16 photographs to take action. 

Lengthy-time WNBA followers might keep in mind Maria Kliundikova (née Vadeeva) as a promising younger massive for the Los Angeles Sparks from 2018-19. The previous first-round decide returned to Russia after the 2019 season, nevertheless, and didn’t return to the WNBA till this 12 months. 

Kliundikova joined the Sparks for coaching camp, however was a shock reduce and didn’t make their remaining roster. That was a blessing for the Lynx, who signed her just a few weeks later to spice up their frontcourt depth. Whereas Kliundikova did not play heavy minutes through the common season, she virtually at all times delivered when known as upon. The Lynx had a plus-9.1 web score when she was on the ground. 

In the course of the first spherical of the playoffs, Kliundikova performed simply 4 minutes of the Lynx’s two-game sweep of the Golden State Valkyries. It seemed like she would obtain one other “DNP — Coach’s Resolution” on Sunday till Cheryl Reeve determined to present her an opportunity within the remaining minute within the third quarter. 

Kliundikova was prepared and helped change the sport. She performed practically your entire fourth quarter and was important on each ends because the Lynx outscored the Mercury by 13 factors within the remaining body. In her eight minutes of motion, Kliundikova had 4 factors, 4 rebounds and two steals. In becoming trend, the Lynx have been plus-14 when she was on the courtroom. 

After her sturdy displaying within the fourth quarter, do not be shocked if Reeve goes to Kliundikova earlier in Sport 2 to assist fight the Mercury’s physicality within the paint.