WNBA Playoffs: First Round Game 1 Recap

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Las Vegas Aces stomp Seattle Storm, 102-77

The defending champions made a statement of their own, as the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces dominated the No. 7 Seattle Storm 102-77. A’ja Wilson put on a show with 29 points, leading a relentless Aces offense that connected from all over the floor. Jackie Young added 18 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. The victory extends the Aces’ impressive winning streak to 17 and shows that they are more than ready to play for a title.

Dream take care of Fever, 80-68

Atlanta Dream got Game 1 over Indiana thanks to strong performances from Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, who each scored 20 points. Naz Hillmon chipped in 16 points and 9 boards. Indiana leaned heavily on Kelsey Mitchell with 27 points, but couldn’t match the Dream’s defensive energy or spacing down the stretch once Atlanta made their second-half move.

Liberty survive overtime vs. Mercury, 76-69

The defending champs, New York Liberty, edged out Phoenix in an OT thriller. Natasha Cloud poured in 23 points to lead the way. Breanna Stewart had 18, but the win was bittersweet: she appeared to suffer a knee injury late in the extra period. Phoenix had chances down the stretch; Alyssa Thomas missed a wide-open layup at the end of regulation. OT belonged to New York, as their defense tightened and they made key baskets.

Lynx dominate Valkyries, 101-72

Minnesota showed why they’re a top seed. After a shaky first quarter, the Lynx exploded in the second half, outscoring Golden State 54-32 over the final two quarters. Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 20 points and 6 rebounds, Kayla McBride added 17, and the bench showed up big. The Valkyries hung in early with hot three-point shooting, but collapsed as the momentum shifted.

What To Watch Next

Injuries could matter — Stewart’s knee issue looms large for the Liberty, especially in a short best-of-three format.
Momentum & home court — All four higher seeds won Game 1. That gives them leverage in these short series, especially if Game 2 swings away from them.
Bench strength — Minnesota’s depth and Las Vegas’s contributors beyond the stars look like important variables heading into Game 2.
Clutch execution — Liberty-Mercury showed how tight margins are in the playoffs. Free throws, missed layups, defensive stops: those will decide Game 2s.

Final Thoughts

Game 1 gave us a mix of dominance (Lynx, Aces), grit (Dream), and drama (Liberty). Best-of-three is unforgiving — teams that don’t bring everything will find themselves out before the next round.