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WNBA’s week ahead: Can Washington topple Phoenix with Elena Delle Donne?

Elena Delle Donne will be available for the Mystics in Tuesday’s game against the Mercury. (Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)

An action-packed week in the WNBA kicks off Tuesday. Just Women’s Sports has three matchups to watch, starting with Tuesday’s rematch between the Mercury and the Mystics.

Phoenix Mercury vs. Washington Mystics

Tuesday, June 14 @ 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

While the Mystics are 9-6 overall, their record doesn’t necessarily tell the tale of their talent. When these two teams faced off Sunday, the Mercury got the best of the Mystics in overtime, but Washington was without Elena Delle Donne.

Still, following the loss, Mystics coach Mike Thibault didn’t mince words about the team’s performance.

“Wasted opportunity — that’s all I’ve got,” he said. “This is the most frustrating one of the year. Chance to beat a good offensive team, playing good defense for the most part, and let them off the hook.”

With 12 lead changes and 13 ties over 60 minutes in Sunday’s game, Tuesday’s rematch has the potential to be just as enticing – particularly with the addition of Delle Donne. In her appearances time this season, the Mystics have gone 6-3. She’s been averaging 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes per game.

Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings

Wednesday, June 15 @ 1 p.m. ET

The Dallas Wings prove an interesting study, despite having lost their last three. After beating the Storm by 17 points on June 3, they lost to Las Vegas by six points. Then they dropped two straight to Seattle by a total of six points. 

Arike Ogunbowale was ejected from Sunday’s game against Seattle after kicking a ball into the stands. Former No. 1 overall pick Charli Collier can’t stick in the lineup. Regardless, the team has the talent to threaten top-tier teams like the Aces, who lead the league.

A’ja Wilson has been a dominant force for an Aces team that has plenty of firepower. But guard Jackie Young remains out with an ankle sprain after being a major contributor to the team’s offense through 11 games, averaging 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun

Friday, June 17 @ 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network

The Storm and the Sun are near the tops of their respective conferences, and Seattle has hot lately, winning its last three. Storm star Breanna Stewart leads the league in points, averaging 21.7 per game.

Meanwhile, Connecticut boasts two of the league’s best rebounders in Jonquel Jones (8.7 per game) and Alyssa Thomas (8.4 per game). Thomas also ranks in the top five in the league in assists with 5.8 per game.

These two teams matched up on June 5, with Connecticut coming out on top following a 32-point fourth quarter. But the two teams kept it close to the end, and Friday could offer another riveting contest.

Full Schedule:

  • Tuesday
    • Phoenix Mercury vs. Washington Mystics @ 7 p.m. ET
    • Seattle Storm vs. Minnesota Lynx @ 9 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday
    • Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings @ 1 p.m. ET
    • Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever @ 7 p.m. ET 
    • Atlanta Dream vs. Connecticut Sun @ 7 p.m. ET
  • Thursday
    • Washington Mystics vs. New York Liberty @ 7 p.m. ET
  • Friday
    • Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun @ 7 p.m. ET
    • Atlanta Dream vs. Chicago Sky @ 7 p.m. ET
    • Phoenix Mercury vs. Dallas Wings @ 8 p.m. ET
  • Sunday
    • Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty @ 12 p.m. ET
    • Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics @ 2 p.m. ET
    • Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever @ 3 p.m. ET
    • Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings @ 4 p.m. ET
    • Minnesota Lynx vs. Las Vegas Aces @ 6 p.m. ET

Top Seeds Minnesota, Las Vegas Dominate Game 1 of the WNBA Playoffs

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier lines up a free throw during the first game of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs.
The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx blew out the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs on Sunday. (Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is in the books, with the top two seeds putting up more than 100 points each in blowout wins when the postseason tipped off on Sunday.

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx opened the playoffs' eight-team first round with a 101-72 drubbing of the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries, as MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier led scoring with 20 points while guard Natisha Hiedeman added 18 off the bench.

Elsewhere, the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces' 102-77 victory over the No. 7 Seattle Storm capped Sunday's slate, with reigning MVP A'ja Wilson leading the way with 29 points alongside double-digit performances off the bench from guards Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans.

The lower seeds walked away less unscathed, as Valkyries boss and Coach of the Year favorite Natalie Nakase picked up a technical foul for arguing a call in the game's second half.

"I want a fair fight, I really do. I want a clean fight, but I love the fact that both teams are playing their hearts out," she said afterwards, criticizing Sunday's officiating. "They're fighting. But I would like it to be fair."

"I understand it, but it's the playoffs," Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said in response. "Obviously, we fouled a lot at the end. But I didn't think that was a factor in the game."

How to watch the top seeds in Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs

Both Minnesota and Las Vegas are now one win away from advancing to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals.

The No. 2 Aces will look to sweep the No. 7 Storm at 9:30 PM ET on Tuesday, airing live on ESPN.

Then on Wednesday, the No. 1 Lynx will try to silence the No. 8 Valkyries at 10 PM ET, with live coverage also on ESPN.

New York Liberty Star Breanna Stewart Exits Game 1 Ahead of WNBA Playoffs OT Win

Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally tries to block a pass from New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart during Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs.
New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart exited Sunday's 2025 WNBA Playoffs Game 1 with an apparent knee injury. (Aryanna Frank/Getty Images)

The No. 5 New York Liberty secured the sole upset in the Sunday tip-off of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, topping the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury 76-69 following a tightly contested Game 1 overtime battle.

Liberty guard Natasha Cloud dropped a game-leading 23 points on her former team, while Mercury star Alyssa Thomas neared yet another triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists on the night.

"I'm proud of the way we stuck together, we weathered the runs they went on, and ultimately found a way to win," New York guard Sabrina Ionescu said after the game.

The newly healthy Liberty will hope for full availability in Game 2, though forward Breanna Stewart went down with a knock to the knee in overtime after posting an 18-point performance on Sunday.

"We're just hoping that she will be okay," New York head coach Sandy Brondello said after the game.

Brondello also confirmed that it was Stewart who asked for a sub in overtime after coming down hard on her left knee.

Concerns about the health of the two-time WNBA MVP — who recently returned from missing 13 games with a bone bruise on her right knee — overshadowed the defending champions' comeback win.

How to watch Phoenix vs. New York in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs

The No. 5 Liberty now return to New York looking to knock the No. 4 Mercury out of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs with a Game 2 victory on Wednesday.

The matchup tips off at 8 PM ET, with live coverage airing on ESPN.

WNBA Playoffs Dark Horse Atlanta Dream Pushes Past Indiana Fever in Game 1 Win

The Atlanta Dream smile and huddle before their Game 1 matchup against the Indiana Fever in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs.
The Atlanta Dream beat the Indiana Fever on Sunday, earning their first playoff win in more than five years. (Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The No. 3 Atlanta Dream won their first postseason game since 2018 on Sunday, downing the No. 6 Indiana Fever 80-68 in Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs as they continue making a case for this season's dark horse.

The Dream's starters shouldered the bulk of Sunday's scoring, punctuated by 20-point performances from forward Rhyne Howard and guard Allisha Gray, while the Fever's Kelsey Mitchell put up 27 points to give her injury-laden team a chance.

"This is [this roster's] first home game, period, in the playoffs," Howard reminded reporters after the win. "So for us to even have accomplished that much to have the home-court advantage, we knew we had to make it a good one."

Atlanta hasn't made it past the first round since the 2016 playoffs, but a dominant regular season has the team eyeing a long-awaited return to the WNBA semifinals.

This year's Dream won a franchise-record 30 games under first-year head coach Karl Smesko, while also leading the league in rebounds per game.

"This wasn't going to be a year that we were going to be satisfied with everybody telling us, 'Wow, you really improved over last year,'" said Smesko. "That's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to be the best team in the league."

How to watch Atlanta vs. Indiana in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs

The short-staffed No. 6 Indiana will look to halt the No. 6 Atlanta Dream's momentum on Tuesday, when the first round's Game 2 takes over Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the Fever's first home playoff game since 2016.

The 2025 WNBA Playoffs will continue when the Dream visit the Fever at 7:30 PM ET on Tuesday, airing live on ESPN.

Jaedyn Shaw Scores Against Former NWSL Club San Diego in Gotham Debut

New Gotham FC addition Jaedyn Shaw walks across the pitch after her first NWSL match with the NJ/NY club.
Jaedyn Shaw scored in her Gotham debut to send her new NWSL club surging to No. 3 in the 2025 standings. (Gotham FC)

Jaedyn Shaw hit the ground running in her Gotham FC debut this weekend, as the NJ/NY club's recent $1.25 million-dollar signing scored against her former club in Friday's 2-0 win over the now-No. 5 San Diego Wave — helping boost the Bats to No. 3 in the 2025 NWSL standings.

"This year has been really difficult," an emotional Shaw said after the match. "I'm so grateful for this team and the opportunities I've gotten this year…. I'm extremely grateful for this moment."

The 20-year-old previously shattered scoring records during her time with San Diego, but struggled this year after her offseason transfer to the North Carolina Courage.

Already finding the back of the net for her new team, Shaw will look to put the past behind her as Gotham extends their climb up the table, having risen from No. 8 to No. 3 behind a four-game unbeaten streak that now includes three straight wins.

Gotham forward Esther González is also excelling, retaking the lead in the 2025 NWSL Golden Boot race by tallying her 13th goal of the season in the last minute of Friday's first half against the Wave.

With the club gaining momentum and the 2025 NWSL Playoffs looming, Gotham is looking to make a run to add a second championship trophy to their 2023 title.

"Even in the most difficult moments, they've stayed united, kept pushing together, and kept working hard. That's been our key," said head coach Juan Carlos Amorós after Friday's match.

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