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RotoWire expert Joe Mayo picks his top risers and fallers for the WNBA Finals, including Jackie Young, who has been instrumental for the Las Vegas Aces in their first two games against the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces secured a 2-0 series lead Sunday, and the Finals now shift to Phoenix as the Mercury attempt to spark a comeback on their home court. October 6, 2025 Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the WNBA Finals (Part 2) Joe Mayo Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for the Finals A'ja Wilson , Las Vegas Aces: Wilson has been nothing short of amazing in the postseason, continuing to reach new heights with the Aces now two wins away from their third WNBA championship in the last four seasons. The four-time MVP has scored at least 21 points in four straight outings, averaging 52.8 ESPN fantasy points per game during that span. Through two games in the Finals, the 29-year-old has logged a pair of double-doubles while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, averaging 24.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks across 35.0 minutes per game. After sweeping their two-game homestand, the Aces will look to carry their momentum into Phoenix, where they'll need their stars at their best to fend off a potential Mercury comeback. Jackie Young , Las Vegas Aces: Aside from a 10-point performance in Game 1 of the Finals, Young has continued to deliver throughout the playoffs. The star guard has tallied at least 32 points in two of her last three appearances and was instrumental in Las Vegas securing a 2-0 series lead in Sunday's 91-78 victory. Young has produced at least 34 ESPN fantasy points in four of her last five outings, shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from beyond the arc during that span. As the series shifts to Phoenix, the Aces will again lean on their stars to prevent a Mercury rally. Young will look to build on her impressive postseason, having averaged 20.6 points, 4.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals across 34.6 minutes per game in 10 playoff appearances so far. Kahleah Copper , Phoenix Mercury: Copper averaged 15.0 points on 43.0 percent shooting from the field across the first two rounds of the playoffs. However, she has elevated her play in the Finals, averaging 22.0 points while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. With the Mercury facing a 2-0 deficit, Copper will be key in helping the team turn the tide. Additionally, Satou Sabally sustained an ankle injury during Game 2, and Sami Whitcomb hyperextended her knee in Game 1. While it appears likely both will play in Wednesday's pivotal Game 3, Copper could continue to see an increased role in the offense. It also wouldn't be surprising if the Mercury shortened their rotation moving forward, which could result in Copper seeing a slight uptick in minutes. Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week NaLyssa Smith , Las Vegas Aces: Smith continues to take limited shot attempts and has scored single-digit points in four consecutive appearances, averaging 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds across 21.3 minutes per game during that span. While the 25-year-old forward has shot an efficient 56.3 percent from the field in those four outings, she has struggled from the charity stripe, going 1-for-6 from the free-throw line in the Finals. Smith will likely continue to see meaningful minutes in a starting role, but surrounded by star power, she remains largely reliant on her rebounding for fantasy production. Sami Whitcomb , Phoenix Mercury: Whitcomb hyperextended her knee in Game 1 of the Finals and logged only 14 minutes in Game 2, finishing scoreless (0-3 FG, 0-2 3Pt) with two assists and one steal. The 37-year-old guard is expected to suit up for the remainder of the series barring any setbacks, though she isn't guaranteed 20-plus minutes per game with the Mercury trailing 2-0 in the series. Whitcomb has scored six or fewer points in four consecutive outings, averaging 4.0 points and 2.3 assists while shooting an abysmal 23.1 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from beyond the arc over that span. Kathryn Westbeld , Phoenix Mercury: Westbeld has been held scoreless in back-to-back outings during the Finals, going 0-for-5 from the field during that span. The 29-year-old forward logged double-digit minutes in all four semifinal matchups, but she saw just five minutes in Game 1 of the Finals and 17 in Game 2 -- including four minutes in garbage time with the game seemingly out of reach. With the Mercury facing a 2-0 deficit as the series shifts to Phoenix, they'll lean on their stars to spark a comeback. Westbeld has contributed single-digit ESPN fantasy points in four consecutive appearances and isn't expected to play a major role the rest of the series as Phoenix fights to keep its title hopes alive DeWanna Bonner , Phoenix Mercury: While Bonner struggled mightily in Game 2, she has still recorded at least 24 ESPN fantasy points in two of her last three appearances. During that span, she's averaged 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks across 25.0 minutes per game. The veteran forward continues to see meaningful minutes off the bench, and the Mercury will likely need her to provide a spark during their two-game homestand after dropping the first two matchups of the WNBA Finals. Additionally, with Sami Whitcomb dealing with a hyperextended knee and struggling of late, Bonner's production off the bench could prove even more important. Those looking for up-to-the-minute fantasy WNBA news can check out RotoWire's WNBA Injury Report and WNBA Lineups . RotoWire also features Top WNBA Picks and Player Props on a daily basis to help find the best betting lines for each night's slate. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

Discover the top contenders and sleepers at the 2025 Wuhan Open, where Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek headline a star-studded field on China’s hard courts. Women's main draw play at the 2025 Wuhan Open will begin Monday, Oct. 6. This outdoor hard-court WTA 1000 event serves as one of the final major stops before the WTA Finals and features eight of the top-10 players in the world. Below are the top title contenders and dark horses for the 2025 Wuhan Open. October 5, 2025 Women's Wuhan Open 2025 Preview D.J. Trainor Favorite to Win the 2025 Wuhan Open Aryna Sabalenka : The world No. 1 and top seed headlines the field in Wuhan, where her explosive power and aggressive baseline play are ideally suited for the fast hard courts. Sabalenka has already captured four titles in 2025 and remains the tour's most consistent performer on this surface. She took home the Wuhan title last year and should again be favored deep into the draw, with no major threats until a potential quarterfinal clash against No. 8 seed Elena Rybakina . In the Mix to Win the 2025 Wuhan Open Iga Swiatek : Swiatek enters Wuhan as the No. 2 seed and would normally be considered a clear co-favorite alongside Sabalenka, if not for stumbling last week in Beijing by failing to reach the quarterfinals. Otherwise, the world No. 2 continues to dominate from the baseline with her heavy topspin and elite movement. A projected final meeting with Sabalenka could provide an early preview of the WTA Finals showdown fans are hoping to see later this fall. Coco Gauff : The 2025 French Open champion remains one of the toughest outs on tour thanks to her reliable defensive play, but inconsistency on hard courts this season (15–8 record) has limited her title haul to just one across all of 2025. A strong showing in Wuhan could reassert her position among the top contenders heading into the year-end championships. She's projected to face Swiatek (3-11 H2H) in the semifinals, a matchup heavily tilted towards Swiatek to date. Jessica Pegula : The steady American has quietly posted another strong hard-court season with a record of 28-12 so far in 2025. Pegula's tactical precision and flat hitting translate well to Wuhan's quick surface, and her section of the draw appears favorable for another deep run. A potential quarterfinal match against Amanda Anisimova will be a notable hurdle despite a 3-0 overall record against her fellow countrywoman. Sleepers to Win the 2025 Wuhan Open Jelena Ostapenko : The 2017 French Open champion's fearless and first-strike style always makes her a dangerous floater in the draw. She notably owns 2025 wins over Sabalenka, Swiatek (twice), and Jasmine Paolini . Belinda Bencic : The Swiss star hasn't had the most consistent 2025 season but remains one of the tour's most polished hard-court players when healthy. Bencic's compact strokes and sharp return game can bother more powerful opponents, and with a manageable early path, she's a legitimate sleeper threat to make the semifinals or better in Wuhan. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

I can say with confidence that Chelsea Gray is the clutchest player in the league. The difficulty in which she makes some of her biggest, toughest buckets is actually unreal! She's well-known as THE dime dropper with her flashy assists, but her shot-making ability is the most underrated part of her game in my eyes. She's not a high volume scorer by any means, but thrives in crunch time. She knows how to maneuver around the defense and escape traps, creating space to operate freely. October 3, 2025 WNBA Finals: Keys to Victory in Games 1-3 EJ Arocho LAS VEGAS ACES Jackie Young's Court Vision Dishing out a postseason career-high 5.3 APG, Jackie's been dropping dimes at a furious pace! This has been a crucial part of Vegas's victories, especially the Game 5 OT dub over Vegas. She's finding A'ja inside, Jewell & Chelsea around the perimeter and keeping the turnovers low. The Aces and the Mercury were two of the Top 3 leaders in assists this regular season, so expect both teams to bring it! And like league leader Alyssa Thomas, Jackie is also capable of going off for double-digit assists, something she's done four times this year! Big Shot Chels I can say with confidence that Chelsea Gray is the clutchest player in the league. The difficulty in which she makes some of her biggest, toughest buckets is actually unreal! She's well-known as THE dime dropper with her flashy assists, but her shot-making ability is the most underrated part of her game in my eyes. She's not a high volume scorer by any means, but thrives in crunch time. She knows how to maneuver around the defense and escape traps, creating space to operate freely. MV'4 Vegas has A'ja and you don't, it's plain and simple. She's in her prime and has single-handedly turned this team's season around. She's averaging a career-high 26.0 PPG in these playoffs and is playing like a woman possessed! Enough said! She Shows Speed When the Aces need to change the pace of the game and get the opponent out of sorts, they bring Dana Evans off the bench. One of the quickest players in the league, she's their energizer and an instant spark. Her defense to offense conversion will be crucial against a very defensive-minded Phoenix team who also loves to run. I believe she deserves a starting role in place of KB in this series. PHOENIX MERCURY Electricity and Experience Besides Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell, there might not be a more electric player in the league than Kahleah Copper. A one-woman show in transition, she knows how to get to the basket by any means necessary. The former Finals MVP knows what it takes to snatch the title and leave a lasting impression. Her no-nonsense, hard-nosed style of play is a tough assignment for anybody. Stopping her once she turns on the jets is a task for Vegas all on its own! Swiss-Army Knife off the Bench DeWanna Bonner is dangerous, plain and simple. The 6'4" Forward has come off the bench and given New York and Minnesota fits in these playoffs! Her championship pedigree and 3x 6POY resume is something that could get Phoenix through some close games this week. She does it all and does it well. A total matchup nightmare! The Ultimate X-Factor They don't call the Mercury fans "the X-Factor" for nothing! One of the most raucous crowds in all of women's basketball, they create a very hostile environment for the away team. Going up against a loaded Phoenix squad is already an arduous task, but when you throw in the loudest crowd in the WNBA too?? Whew!! I don't think Phoenix loses a home game in these Finals. So far this postseason, they're 3-1. Expect noise. Lots and lots of noise. AT Scary Hours Ahead Alyssa Thomas is the league's most dangerous player across the board. She will likely face pressure she hasn't felt yet this season, because Vegas is undoubtedly going to come hard. However, she's a master at dishing dimes, so we could see record assists in these Finals from AT if/when the doubles and traps are effective and looks at the basket are limited. Vegas is well aware that single coverage just won't work on her, so look for the double on nearly every touch. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author EJ Arocho is Mr. Women’s Basketball and lives in New Jersey. Lives by the shore but looking to make waves everywhere!

I’m still not over the fact that the Minnesota Lynx aren’t in the Finals, but we have two excellent teams in the Finals, and it should be a great matchup. The Aces have history on their side, as they ended the regular season on a 16-game winning streak, tied for second-longest in WNBA history. Only three other teams have had winning streaks of at least 15 games, and all three of those teams won the WNBA title. Phoenix is trying to get Alyssa Thomas the first WNBA title of her 12-year WNBA career. There is a lot to love about this matchup, so let’s break it down. October 2, 2025 WNBA Finals Preview Steve Pimental I’m still not over the fact that the Minnesota Lynx aren’t in the Finals, but we have two excellent teams in the Finals, and it should be a great matchup. The Aces have history on their side, as they ended the regular season on a 16-game winning streak, tied for second-longest in WNBA history. Only three other teams have had winning streaks of at least 15 games, and all three of those teams won the WNBA title. Phoenix is trying to get Alyssa Thomas the first WNBA title of her 12-year WNBA career. There is a lot to love about this matchup, so let’s break it down. The Aces went 3-1 against Phoenix in the regular season, including two wins during the Aces 16-game winning streak. The first three games were decided by six points or fewer, though Las Vegas won the last game by 22 points. I feel like this series could come down to which team does a better job of hunting mismatches. Both teams have defenders who can be attacked, especially off the bench. In watching the tape, I was surprised at how often both teams seemed not to recognize when they had a mismatch, especially on a switch or in transition. Satou Sabally, on the other hand, is a walking mismatch. Las Vegas often defended her with smaller guards, and I think she needs to do a better job in those situations of getting into the paint. Sabally has a smooth jump shot, but when she’s pulling up against Jewell Loyd, that is a win for Las Vegas. I wonder if Phoenix will give Sabally more time at the 4 to match her up with NaLyssa Smith, so she can use her speed and shooting to her advantage. I think we could see more Kierstan Bell minutes in this series, as she has the size to give Sabally trouble while chasing her around the perimeter. Both coaches will have difficult decisions to make regarding their rotations in this series. By my count, both teams have four or five two-way players. I think both teams could go with more defensive-minded options like Bell, Natasha Mack, and Monique Akoa Makani, trusting their stars to make plays on the other end. Speaking of the stars, I think Phoenix has an advantage because they have more bodies they can throw at A’Ja Wilson. Wilson and Alyssa Thomas will primarily guard each other, but Phoenix can go with Natasha Mack, Satou Sabally, or even DeWanna Bonner at times. Las Vegas will try to steal some possessions with a guard on Thomas, but those require instant double-teams. I’ll also be interested to see if Las Vegas takes a page out of Minnesota’s book and defends Thomas higher up the floor. I think they want A’ja Wilson closer to the paint, but they should definitely change it up more often. I think this series might come down to the play of Las Vegas’s three All-Star guards. If Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd can play Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and DeWanna Bonner to a draw, they will have an excellent chance of winning this game. Loyd and, to a lesser extent, Gray both struggled against Indiana. Loyd will spend plenty of time defended by former teammate Sami Whitcomb, and Loyd needs to take advantage of that matchup. She should have the speed advantage, and I would love to see her get more opportunities in the pick-and-roll. Gray did a good job of picking her spots against Indiana in Game 7, going 7-for-12 from the field. She played well against Phoenix in the regular season, and I love it when they use her as a screener. She might have to be even more aggressive in hunting her own shot in this series. On the surface, Phoenix had the more difficult road to get here. They eliminated both Finals teams from last season despite losing Game 1 in both series. Of course, Phoenix benefitted from injuries to Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. There is a decent chance those series end differently, or the Minnesota series at least goes to five games, without those injuries. The Aces, meanwhile, were pushed to the brink by a mediocre Seattle team and an undermanned Fever squad. For the first time, the WNBA Finals is a best-of-seven series. Both teams are guaranteed to host two games, with the Aces also hosting games 5 and 7, if necessary. I have been skeptical of Las Vegas all season, and for the last two months, that has left me looking exceptionally silly. I just think Phoenix has the more complete team, and so long as A’Ja Wilson doesn’t completely outplay Alyssa Thomas, I don’t know how the Aces deal with Phoenix’s depth. I’ll pick Mercury in seven. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

For the third week in a row, we had an excellent slate of WNBA games on Sunday. We were a few minutes away from getting two Game 5s, but instead, we got Alyssa Thomas making the WNBA Finals for the first time in her 12-year career. So how did we get here? Let’s take a look back at what we learned from those Game 4s. Then, on Thursday, we can look ahead to our WNBA Finals matchup. September 30, 2025 What We Learned From Big Wins For Fever, Mercury In Game 4 Steve Pimental For the third week in a row, we had an excellent slate of WNBA games on Sunday. We were a few minutes away from getting two Game 5s, but instead, we got Alyssa Thomas making the WNBA Finals for the first time in her 12-year career. So how did we get here? Let’s take a look back at what we learned from those Game 4s. Then, on Thursday, we can look ahead to our WNBA Finals matchup. The Mercury did a great job running the Lynx off the three-point line. The Lynx were 0-5 on threes in the first half after shooting a league-best 37.8 percent on 25.4 attempts per game in the regular season. I thought the Lynx actually could have done more to generate pick-and-pop threes for Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton, but give Phoenix credit for taking away Minnesota’s biggest weapon. The Lynx did a good job in the first quarter of taking what the defense was giving them by consistently driving and cutting to the basket, but that is not this team’s forte with Napheesa Collier out, and eventually those looks dried up. Alyssa Thomas played like an MVP. I’m disappointed we didn’t get to see a full-strength Lynx team back in the WNBA Finals, but it's hard not to be happy for Alyssa Thomas, who has finally gotten over one hump after coming very close with some very good Connecticut teams. Outside of Satou Sabally and DeWanna Bonner knocking down some timely threes, it's hard to point to much that was working for Phoenix offensively outside of Thomas. Thomas finished two rebounds shy of a double-double while shooting 61.1 percent from the field. Perhaps more importantly, she put Minnesota’s thin frontcourt in consistent foul trouble. After watching her match up with Napheesa Collier for most of this series, we will get another fun matchup with Thomas and either Aliyah Boston or A’ja Wilson. Minnesota needed one more offensive creator. The Lynx had a legit chance to force a Game 5 like Indiana did, but at the end of the day, Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride are not offensive engines like Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell. McBride made a valiant effort to get to the rim in the first half even though that isn’t her strength, and things might have looked different if a couple of calls had gone her way. But in the fourth quarter, Minnesota did not have anyone they could throw the ball to who would go and get a good shot, and Phoenix had four of those players. That was the biggest difference in this game. Phoenix’s depth has turned into a strength. No matter who they play in the Finals, Phoenix will have the deeper team. This wasn’t a great matchup for Natasha Mack and Monique Akoa Makani, but I think they will be more important in the next series. It was clear they were able to wear out the Lynx in Game 4, which I believe played a huge role in the fourth-quarter comeback. The Lynx ran out of gas. No team outside of Indiana is going to survive the absence of two of their top rotation players, but the Lynx pretty clearly ran out of gas with their five-player rotation. Jessica Shepard was outstanding in the first half, but she played more minutes in that half than she had played in all of Game 3. I thought Associate Head Coach Eric Thibault could have maybe snuck a few more minutes of rest for Courtney Williams and/or Kayla MBride at the end of the third quarter, but they had a hard enough time scoring with both of their All-Stars on the court. Las Vegas needs to help on Aliyah Boston. You might think that the four-time MVP and reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year shouldn’t need help guarding anyone, and there is some merit to that. That being said, Boston was very good against Wilson on Sunday. That was helped by Indiana playing four-out and Las Vegas sticking to Boston’s teammates. Helping off of Lexie Hull or Kelsey Mitchell is death, but I think Las Vegas needs to take advantage of Indiana’s injury-riddled roster by helping off of everyone else. Megan Gustafson was called for defensive three-seconds in the fourth quarter for trying to hedge off of Natasha Howard and getting caught in no-man’s land. I think she should have just double-teamed Boston and made Natasha Howard beat them from the elbow. Brianna Turner and Makayla Timpson basically don’t need to get guarded, but Las Vegas is letting Indiana get away with playing multiple players who contribute very little on offense. Where is Cheyenne Parker-Tyus? Megan Gustafson plays hard and is skilled offensively, but the Aces desperately need another big who can play on both ends of the floor. She hasn’t played since Game 2, and I know she hasn’t been great in her limited action, but I think Becky Hammon needs to just throw her out there and hope for the best. If there’s even a chance you can get two-way play off the bench, you should take it. Is NaLyssa Smith a starter in this league? I picked Smith to win Most Improved at the start of the season, believing a change of scenery would be good for her. Instead, she has been underwhelming on offense and bad on defense for two different teams. I don’t think Las Vegas is desperate enough (or has good enough options) to take her out of the starting lineup at this juncture, but I will be extremely interested to see what her free agent market looks like after the season. Lexie Hull is a winning basketball player. I’m not sure Hull got the credit she deserved, especially from me, or how well she has played this season. A lot has been made of her similarities to Sophie Cunningham on and off the court, but there is no doubt the Fever would be vacationing right now if not for Hull’s efforts in Game 4. She grabbed seven defensive rebounds, and it seemed like all of them were huge plays in traffic. She’ll never have the foot speed to be an elite three-and-D wing, but she works exceptionally hard on that end and is a pest who drives opposing fans crazy. Hull missed several open shots in this game that she normally makes, but she was relentless in 38 minutes. She deserves a lot of credit for the Fever making it this far. The Aces need to figure out a way to get Chelsea Gray and/or Jewell Loyd going. They shot a combined 6-for-21 in this game, including 1-for-7 on two-pointers. I know they’re not the athletes they once were but they need to find a way to get into the paint, if not all the way to the basket. I thought Gray settled for mid-range shots when she might have gotten layups, and that is a problem for this offense. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Steve Pimental would rather write 20,000 words about Stef Dolson than write two sentences about himself. He lives near Chicago with his beagle/shepard mix, Hootie.

RotoWire expert Joe Mayo breaks down his top risers and fallers for the WNBA Finals, including Jewell Loyd, who is a player to watch despite her bench role. With a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line in Tuesday's Game 5, the Aces and Fever are still vying for the chance to face the Mercury on the league's biggest stage. September 29, 2025 Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the WNBA Finals Joe Mayo Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for the Finals Satou Sabally , Phoenix Mercury: After a lackluster Game 1 performance in the semifinals against the Lynx in which Sabally shot 3-for-11 from the field with 10 points, the star forward recorded three consecutive outings with at least 21 points. During that three-game span, she averaged 22.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting an impressive 45.5 percent from beyond the arc in 34.7 minutes per game. The 27-year-old was crucial in the Mercury's 3-1 victory over Minnesota in the second round. Regardless of the opponent, Sabally will need to continue having a strong impact for the Mercury to capture their first championship since 2014. Lexie Hull , Indiana Fever: Hull struggled in the first-round series win over Atlanta, averaging 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 30.8 percent from the field across 30.3 minutes per game in three outings. Her efficiency has improved slightly in the second round, during which she has shot 34.1 percent from the floor and 37.0 percent from three-point range. The 26-year-old guard has been far more productive over four games against the Aces, averaging 11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game. The Fever will look to advance to the WNBA Finals in Tuesday's Game 5 at Las Vegas, and Hull's ability to impact the game alongside Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston will be important in doing so. Chelsea Gray , Las Vegas Aces: Gray totaled just 12 points over her first two postseason appearances, though she has reached double figures in four of her last five outings. Her ability to rack up assists and steals has been crucial for the Aces. During that five-game span, the veteran guard has averaged 11.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals across 35.2 minutes per game. She has also shot an impressive 50 percent from three-point range on 3.2 attempts per game. Including the playoffs, the Aces are 11-3 when Gray dishes out at least eight assists this season, and her ability to stuff the stat sheet will be crucial in Tuesday's win-or-go-home Game 5 in Las Vegas. Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week Monique Akoa-Makani , Phoenix Mercury: The rookie continues to see meaningful playing time in the starting five but has yet to record double-digit points or more than three assists in the postseason. During the team's 3-1 series win over the Lynx, Akoa-Makani averaged 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists across 21.3 minutes per game, shooting just 34.8 percent from the field. Sami Whitcomb remains an impactful player off the Mercury's bench, so Akoa-Makani isn't likely to see an increase in playing time during the Finals. Moreover, Alyssa Thomas should continue to handle most of the playmaking duties for the starting unit. Aerial Powers , Indiana Fever: Powers continues to play a limited role in the playoffs after enjoying a steady run off the bench to end the regular season. The 31-year-old forward has logged single-digit minutes in three of her last four appearances, averaging 0.5 points and 1.0 rebounds across 7.0 minutes per game during that span. Powers will likely continue to compete for playing time off the bench with Brianna Turner and Makayla Timpson if the Fever manage to defeat the Aces in Tuesday's Game 5 at Las Vegas and advance to the Finals. Kierstan Bell , Las Vegas Aces: After averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds over her first five playoff appearances, Bell has logged single-digit minutes in back-to-back games, totaling three points, one assist and one block during that span. The 25-year-old guard remains in the starting five, but Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans continue to see more playing time than Bell. Her limited role will likely continue into the Finals if the Aces manage to advance past the Fever in Tuesday's Game 5 at Las Vegas. Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch This Week Jewell Loyd , Las Vegas Aces: Loyd has been a mainstay in the second unit since July 27, but she continues to see ample playing time off the bench. The veteran guard has absorbed a considerable amount of Kierstan Bell's minutes during the playoffs, averaging 27.6 minutes per game in seven postseason appearances. While Loyd has provided a relatively inconsistent scoring punch in the postseason, she continues to see increased minutes. Her impact in Tuesday's win-or-go-home Game 5 will be an important factor. If the Aces keep their season alive and advance to the Finals, Loyd's role will be one to monitor closely. Those looking for up-to-the-minute fantasy WNBA news can check out RotoWire's WNBA Injury Report and WNBA Lineups . RotoWire also features Top WNBA Picks and Player Props on a daily basis to help find the best betting lines for each night's slate. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

Gainbridge boasts one of the most raucous environments in basketball and if you're the away team, watch out! The sell-out crowds Friday and Sunday will look to rattle A'ja Wilson & Vegas as Indiana looks to go up 3-1 and advance to the Finals. The ultimate 6th [wo]man! September 25, 2025 WNBA Playoff Semifinal Spice EJ Arocho Indiana vs Las Vegas Home Court Advantage Gainbridge boasts one of the most raucous environments in basketball and if you're the away team, watch out! The sell-out crowds Friday and Sunday will look to rattle A'ja Wilson & Vegas as Indiana looks to go up 3-1 and advance to the Finals. The ultimate 6th [wo]man! Aerial Powers Has To Show Up AP has been an asset leading up to this semifinal series but was a non-factor in Games 1 & 2, combining for just 1 point in 15 minutes off the bench. This Fever team is light on healthy bodies, so bench production is crucial to their playoff success. Her court vision must be clicking in order to get the ball moving and feed AB in the post or K Mitch around the arc. Vegas's X-Factor NaLyssa Smith came alive on Tuesday to help the Aces even things up at 1-1. Her versatility was a game-changer, able to impact the scoring inside and out at a near 78% clip. She gives their front court an almost "Twin Tower" presence with A'ja Wilson (both 6'4"). A 5'6" Problem Dana Evans is here to hoop! She's come alive in this playoff series scoring over her regular season average of 6.6 PPG in Games 1 & 2 (14 points & 10 points, respectively). A total spark off the bench for a team that's struggled with bench production all season long. If she can continue averaging double-digits this series, Vegas will be in a great spot to win. How Do You Solve a Problem Like A'ja? You can't keep A'ja down for long. After an underwhelming Game 1, she came alive in true MVP & DPOY fashion on Tuesday for 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals & 2 blocks. This will continue being the primary assignment for Aliyah Boston, but also Tash Howard and Bri Turner! It will take a team effort to slow her down because I don't believe single coverage works on a player of her caliber. She's too long, too quick and too versatile. My hot take : If they can hold her to 15 points (or less) AND single-digit rebounds, Indiana wins. Minnesota vs Phoenix Clash of the Titans Phee & AT have not disappointed in this series! Trading buckets and wins, the series is deadlocked at 1-1 heading into today's fiery matchup. There's no slowing either of these two down, so fans can just sit back and appreciate the battle. It's unfortunate that one team has to lose because this is the series we all wanted! The Reserves Will Decide the Outcome The Lynx have more depth than the Mercury, but it was Phoenix's bench that came through clutch in Game 2 to snag the W. With three reserves compared to the Merc's six, they managed to outperform them 25 points to just 3. DiJonai was unavailable due to injury and their 6th woman Natisha Hiedeman was held scoreless. If Phoenix can replicate Tuesday's success at home the next two games, they'll surely snag the dubs and take the series 3-1. Minnesota's 3-Point Sniper Bridget Carleton has not been able to get going just yet. The last two games were forgettable, going 1-8 from 3 combined playing 35.5 minutes per game. She must get clicking from long range if the Lynx want to advance. Her primary role as this team's 3-point specialist is too important, especially at this stage in the [post]season. KFC Kahleah Copper scored only 8 points in Tuesday's win but it didn't matter. However, don't expect that to be the norm going forward because the former Finals MVP is averaging nearly 16.0 PPG and can light it up at any given moment! She gives Phoenix their Big 3 with AT & Satou that is determined to upset the top seed. [Unsuspecting] X-Factor Sami Whitcomb was huge off the bench for Phoenix in Game 2 and they wouldn't have gotten the win without her, plain and simple. She remained confident and clutch under pressure, sinking a triple with seconds in regulation to send the game to OT en-route to 13 points. Her facilitation was on-point, recording the third-most assists in the game from either team. This combo guard skill-set will pay dividends for the Mercury as they look to tame the Lynx and their deep roster. Her motto should be: Hit 3's & dish dimes. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author EJ Arocho is Mr. Women’s Basketball and lives in New Jersey. Lives by the shore but looking to make waves everywhere!

This week, the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty parted ways with head coaches Noelle Quinn and Sandy Brondello following first-round playoff exits. While I understand why both teams would feel like they underachieved, I'm not sure coaching was to blame in either case. Instead, these playoffs in general, and New York and Seattle in particular, have demonstrated the importance of building a team that fits together over assembling the best possible talent. September 25, 2025 Liberty and Storm Should Blame Team Building, not Coaching Steve Pimental This week, the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty parted ways with head coaches Noelle Quinn and Sandy Brondello following first-round playoff exits. While I understand why both teams would feel like they underachieved, I'm not sure coaching was to blame in either case. Instead, these playoffs in general, and New York and Seattle in particular, have demonstrated the importance of building a team that fits together over assembling the best possible talent. We’ll start with Seattle because I think that situation is more nuanced. Based on talent alone, they probably should have been competing for homecourt advantage in the first round, not the last team to secure a playoff berth. Seattle had three All-Stars this season, and they made a bold move at the trade deadline to add a fourth. And that doesn’t even include three-time All-Defensive Team player Ezi Magbegor and second overall draft pick Dominique Malonga. I will never understand how a team with those two bigs and former MVP Nneka Ogwumike finished last in the league in rebounding rate and second-to-last in defensive rebounding rate. If Seattle wanted to make a coaching change based on that alone, I wouldn’t blame them, but Seattle’s issues went far beyond coaching. Seattle attempted a three-pointer on 27.7 percent of their possessions, ranking ninth in the league and worst among the eight playoff teams. We wondered all the way back in May if this team would shoot enough threes to be competitive, but they simply did not have the personnel to jack up a bunch of threes. Erica Wheeler, who led the team with 6.5 three-point attempts per 36 minutes, is a career 33.8 percent three-point shooter. Nneka Ogwumike shot 36.8 percent on threes in her career but this was her first season attempting more than 2.7 per 36 minutes. Skylar Diggins has shot 32.6 percent on threes in her career, while Brittney Sykes is at 30.2 percent. They look like snipers compared to Gabby Williams at 27.5 percent. I’m not sure it matters how many individual scorers and playmakers you have when your only floor spacer is the player who won the MVP for her post play. Perhaps even more problematic than Seattle’s lack of outside shooting was the overlapping skillsets of their best players. Gabby Williams and Skylar Diggins are both great passers who use their size and vision to find open teammates. The problem is that only one of them can have the ball at any given time and neither is good off the ball. You can stagger them, but now you’re taking the ball out of Erica Wheeler’s hands or Brittney Sykes’s hands. Sykes was leading the league in free-throw attempts in Washington, but it’s a lot more difficult to draw fouls when you’re driving into a crowded lane. There was even more overlap amongst the bigs. None of the three are great passers, and while Nneka can space the floor, that’s not her best use, either. Whichever two bigs are on the floor, both want to operate in the paint, and that just makes it harder for everyone. None of that was Noelle Quinn’s fault, but at the same time, its hard to argue that she did an amazing job or that this was a terrible decision. The Liberty, on the other hand, seem to be making a Hall of Fame coach a scapegoat for an ill-conceived roster with bad injury luck. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton missing the entire season with a knee injury wasn’t Sandy Brondello’s fault. Breanna Stewart shooting 24.1 percent on threes was almost certainly not Brondello’s fault. Neither were the injuries to Stewart, Jonquel Jones and others. You could certainly argue that with better health or no Eurobasket, the Liberty would have earned a top-three seed, a better matchup in the first round, and would still be alive in the playoffs. That being said, this is another case of the roster being less than the sum of its parts. The Liberty were never able to find a suitable replacement for Laney-Hamilton’s defense and ability to play off the ball. I think they likewise missed Kayla Thornton’s defense, rebounding and leadership. They replaced those players and Courtney Vandersloot with very good players who never fit quite as well, and I blame that, more than anything else, for their inability to return to the WNBA finals. By contrast, the four remaining playoff rosters fit very well. Las Vegas struggled to integrate former All-Star Jewell Loyd, but they had a historic winning streak once they moved her to the bench in favor of Kierstan Bell. Bell is not nearly the player Loyd is, but she plays defense and doesn’t need the ball on offense. That has been more valuable in the starting lineup than Loyd’s scoring and playmaking. The Mercury were questioned by many, including me, for not surrounding their big three with more proven talent. They benefited from DeWanna Bonner getting released by Indiana, but more importantly, players like Natasha Mack and Monique Akoa Makani fit perfectly next to Phoenix’s stars. They defend their butts off and don’t need the ball to be effective on offense. The Fever have been great even with Bonner leaving and the rest of the roster getting injured, in part because all of the pieces fit. Lexie Hull has been the perfect three-and-D wing. Odyssey Sims gets the ball to the right players in the right spots. Kelsey Mitchell never stops moving and never misses a shot. Minnesota technically has three All-Stars, but Kayla McBride is the best off-ball player in the league, and all of their rotation players can dribble, pass and shoot. They basically don’t have any weaknesses, which has gotten them much farther than additional star power could have. The other thing we have to consider with regard to the coaching changes is the upcoming free agent bonanza in the offseason. While it will always be important to have a coach who gets the most out of players and puts them in a position to succeed, it is almost equally important to have a coach who players want to play for. So if the Liberty and Storm concluded they would do better in free agency with new coaches, it is difficult to fault them for making a change. I woul adjust keep in mind when we’re evaluating this offseason that the goal isn’t to compile the most talent or put together the best fantasy basketball team. Fit matters, maybe even more than talent. If we learn nothing else from the playoffs, we should know that. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Steve Pimental would rather write 20,000 words about Stef Dolson than write two sentences about himself. He lives near Chicago with his beagle/shepard mix, Hootie.

RotoWire expert Joe Mayo offers his top risers and fallers for the WNBA semifinals, including Kahleah Copper, who has been stellar for the Phoenix Mercury to begin the playoffs. Just four teams remain as the WNBA playoffs heat up, and key role players will need to step up to help their squads advance to the Finals. September 22, 2025 Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the Semifinals Joe Mayo Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for the Semifinals Odyssey Sims , Indiana Fever: Sims joined the injury-riddled Fever on a seven-day hardship contract Aug. 10 with Caitlin Clark (groin), Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee) sidelined. Just a week later, Sophie Cunningham was shut down for the remainder of the season due to a torn MCL. Sims signed three hardship deals with Indiana before ultimately agreeing to a rest-of-season contract, and she has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since mid-August. The veteran guard has posted double-digit points in four of her last five outings, averaging 12.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 30.2 minutes per game during that span. Additionally, she finished as the Fever's second-leading scorer in Sunday's Game 1 win over the Aces, contributing 17 points (7-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three assists, three steals and two rebounds in 32 minutes. The 33-year-old should continue to see ample playing time as the Fever aim to upset the Aces and advance to the WNBA Finals. Kayla McBride , Minnesota Lynx: McBride struggled in Minnesota's playoff-opening loss to Golden State on Sept. 11, but she has been terrific since. Over her last three appearances, the veteran sharpshooter has averaged 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals across 34.0 minutes per game. Additionally, she has shot 50.0 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from beyond the arc during that span. With DiJonai Carrington ruled out for the remainder of the postseason due to a foot injury, the Lynx's top backcourt options will likely continue to absorb extra minutes. McBride has logged 38 minutes in back-to-back outings and is expected to continue seeing heavy minutes as the Lynx aim to go up 2-0 in the second round in Tuesday's Game 2 against Phoenix. Kahleah Copper , Phoenix Mercury: Copper has been productive for the Mercury in the postseason thus far, scoring 12 or more points in all four games. The star guard has logged 29-plus minutes in each of those appearances, averaging 15.8 points and 3.8 rebounds across 34.0 minutes per game during that span. As the Mercury's rotation shrinks, Copper is likely to continue receiving heavy minutes. The 31-year-old's scoring ability alongside Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally will be crucial for Phoenix as the team looks to tie the second-round series at 1-1 in Tuesday's Game 2 against Minnesota. Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week Kierstan Bell, Las Vegas Aces: Bell has been held scoreless in back-to-back outings, logging 20 or fewer minutes per game despite maintaining a starting role. The 25-year-old guard has had a limited impact in the postseason, averaging 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 35.7 percent from the field across 15.5 minutes per game in four appearances. Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd both saw increased playing time off the bench in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Fever, and Bell's struggles bode poorly for her playing time as the Aces aim to tie the series at 1-1 in Tuesday's Game 2. Aerial Powers , Indiana Fever: Powers enjoyed a steady role after joining the Fever on Aug. 23, and she averaged 16.3 minutes per game in the first round of the playoffs. However, she averaged just 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 26.7 percent from the field during that span. The 31-year-old forward logged only eight minutes during Sunday's Game 1 win over the Aces and isn't guaranteed meaningful playing time moving forward, especially considering Brianna Turner has seen an uptick in minutes recently. Natasha Mack , Phoenix Mercury: Mack has been a mainstay in the Mercury's starting lineup since early August, though she hasn't logged more than 20 minutes in a game since Sept. 6. Over her last six outings, Mack has averaged 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds across 16.3 minutes per game. During that span, she has posted more than 10 ESPN fantasy points just once. Mack's fantasy value is reliant on her rebounding and defensive abilities, though her limited impact and minutes don't bode well for her role in the rest of the playoffs. Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch in the Semifinals Brianna Turner , Indiana Fever: Turner saw limited playing time in the first half of the season, though she has received an uptick in minutes since several of Indiana's key contributors are sidelined. The 29-year-old forward has logged double-digit minutes in five straight outings, including a season-high 23 minutes in Sunday's Game 1 win over the Aces. Turner has posted double-digit ESPN fantasy points in three straight appearances, averaging 4.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 assists across 20.3 minutes per game during that span. She has taken minutes from Aerial Powers of late, and Turner's role will be worth monitoring moving forward. Those looking for up-to-the-minute fantasy WNBA news can check out RotoWire's WNBA Injury Report and WNBA Lineups . RotoWire also features Top WNBA Picks and Player Props on a daily basis to help find the best betting lines for each night's slate. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

We have been talking for months now about how the Lynx were head-and-shoulders above the rest of the league...The playoffs have been more of the same, as the Lynx are the only team who have not yet lost a game. Much like we did in the first round, we learned a lot from the semifinal Game 1s on Sunday, so let’s break it on down. September 23, 2025 Lynx Still in Driver’s Seat after Game 1 Steve Pimental We have been talking for months now about how the Lynx were head-and-shoulders above the rest of the league. The other seven playoff teams were relatively even, but the Lynx stood out in terms of record, consistency, and net rating. The playoffs have been more of the same, as the Lynx are the only team who have not yet lost a game. Much like we did in the first round, we learned a lot from the semifinal Game 1s on Sunday, so let’s break it on down. The Aces are in Trouble If we learned anything from Round 1, it should be not to overreact to one game. The Mercury were the only home team to lose in Game 1 and they blew out the Liberty in Game 2 to eventually advance.The Aces looked unbeatable in Game 1 last week but barely squeaked out a win in Game 3. That being said, they lost home court after wasting a career game from Dana Evans. She almost certainly won’t play that well. Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd need to be more aggressive. Gray was second on the Aces in field goal attempts, going 5-12 from the field for 13 points. I thought she settled for midrange shots when she had opportunities to get all the way to the rim. Indiana’s guards made Dana Evans of all people look like an All-Star. If Evans can consistently get all the way to the rim, Gray and Loyd should be able to as well. I thought Loyd was largely invisible. She had been much, much better since coming off the bench, but she reverted to the passivity she displayed as a starter. She can’t get outplayed by Odyssey Sims and Lexie Hull. Las Vegas needs Cheyenne Parker-Tyus Parker-Tyus was -9 in 4:36 after averaging 9 mpg against Seattle. She is still working her way back after giving birth in July, but she is the Aces only two-way post player outside of A’ja Wilson. NaLyssa Smith was basically unplayable in Game 1, and while the Aces got eight strong minutes from Megan Gustafson, I don’t think they can count on that going forward. If Parker-Tyus can give them good minutes off the bench, it would go a long way towards getting back in this series. It's going to be a long series for Las Vegas if they’re never going to call a foul on Lexie Hull. I cannot even begin to explain how Lexie Hull was only called for one personal foul. She what she lacks in quickness on defense she makes up with physicality, and part of the strategy is to foul so often that they cannot possibly call them all. Indiana does not have the depth to withstand foul trouble from any of their starters, so I will be watching closely how this series is officiated going forward. The Aces need to do a better job of attacking her off the dribble. Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd are all capable of playing the point, and any time one of them is guarded by Hull, I would have them bring the ball up and attack off the bounce. A’ja Wilson has to be better On the one hand, a lot of her 16 misses were makable shots around the basket. On the other hand I thought Indiana, and especially Aliyah Boston, did a great job of making her work for every touch and every shot. Midway through the third quarter, the ESPN broadcast showed a graphic that Wilson was 1-9 when guarded by Boston, and she immediately missed her next shot when guarded by Boston. She will definitely be better going forward, but I think it would help if the Aces could get one of their other All-Stars going so the entire defense can’t collapse on Wilson. Kelsey Mitchell was the best player in Game 1 Mitchell was fifth in MVP voting and was the second guard, trailing only Allisha Gray. Mitchell’s 34 points were the second-most for a Fever player in the playoffs, and I think the most impressive part was the way all of her points seemed to come in the flow of the offense. As usual, she did a great job moving without the ball and attacking when she had an advantage. I don’t know that the Aces have any answer for her, though I might try to play Jewell Loyd more minutes so that she can take that matchup as much as possible. The Lynx are a second-half team The Lynx are the deepest team in the league, and I still think they should have had the sixth player of the year over Naz Hillmon of the Dream. Their depth especially shows up in the second halves of games, when they are generally the fresher team. Minnesota had a 14.9 net rating in second halves in the regular season, compared to 9.1 in the first halves. For the second consecutive playoff game, Minnesota trailed big at the half but mounted a second-half comeback. I think that trend could continue, especially if Minnesota makes the WNBA finals. Minnesota’s offense is very impressive I don’t think it's hyperbole to say Minnesota got a good shot nearly every time down the floor. The Lynx shot just 31.0 percent on threes, but based on the looks they got and the players getting those shots, the Mercury got pretty lucky. Minnesota does a great job of screening off the ball to generate open looks, but I was really impressed at how many threes they got out of the pick-and-roll. Phoenix understandably wants to guard that action two-on-two, but they may need to blitz that action occasionally and force somebody else to make a play. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride are too good to let them just walk into open threes. Phoenix won’t shoot this poorly again If Phoenix is going to take a positive out of this game, it that it felt pretty similar to their Game 1 loss to the Liberty. Phoenix missed a ton of shots in that game, most notably by Satou Sabally. We said after that game that they couldn’t possibly shoot that poorly again, and they proceeded to win the next two games and the series. Phoenix was 3-for-23 on threes after shooting 34 percent beyond the arc in the regular season. They aren’t likely to win a three-point contest against Minnesota, but they have to shoot better to keep the defense honest. Minnesota has to avoid switching on defense Phoenix did a great job getting Courtney Wiliams or Natisha Hiedeman switched onto a big and then attacking that matchup. Minnesota could afford to switch more with DiJonai Carrington in the game, but after Carrington suffered a season-ending foot injury, that won’t be as much of an option in this series. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Steve Pimental would rather write 20,000 words about Stef Dolson than write two sentences about himself. He lives near Chicago with his beagle/shepard mix, Hootie.

Discover top contenders and dark horses at the 2025 China Open, where Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff vie for victory on Beijing's hard courts. September 22, 2025 Women's China Open 2025 Preview D.J. Trainor Women's main draw play at the 2025 China Open will begin Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 11:00 a.m. local time in Beijing. This outdoor hard-court WTA 1000-level event is loaded with talent and will feature eight of the top-10 players in the world, as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and American Madison Keys have elected to sit out this week. Below are the title contenders and sleepers for the 2025 China Open. Favorites to Win the 2025 China Open Iga Swiatek : The reigning Wimbledon champion also won this tournament in 2023 and comes into this year as the No. 1 seed while notably not having to worry about Sabalenka looming in later rounds. A firm test won't likely come until the quarterfinals, where she'd face Naomi Osaka (2-1 H2H) or Jessica Pegula (6-4 H2H), both of whom she has winning records against. Coco Gauff : The top American will be defending her 2024 title here in Beijing and should be favored all the way until a potential finals match against the aforementioned Swiatek. Though, Gauff holds just a 15-8 record on hard courts so far in 2025, so while she'll still be favored to advance far, her lacking level of consistency needs to be recognized. In the Mix to Win the 2025 China Open Naomi Osaka : Osaka is the only player in the draw not named Iga or Coco to have previously won the China Open, which she did back in 2019. A tough match against Pegula (1-1 H2H) likely awaits in Round 4, however, and so even just reaching the finals of this seven-round event would be an impressive feat with such a challenging draw since she'd also likely need a win over Swiatek in the semifinals to do it. Amanda Anisimova : Runner-up finishes at both Wimbledon and the US Open have the American currently sitting with a career-high ranking of No. 4. The question at hand is whether or not she has enough left in the tank to finish out the season playing at the same high level. As for Beijing, her competition won't likely become threatening until a potential Round 4 matchup against No. 13 seed Karolina Muchova . Qinwen Zheng : The No. 7 seed will have the home country support for every match she plays, but perhaps more importantly, she was able to make a deep run to the semifinals last year in Beijing and her career trajectory has continued to point upward ever since. A potential match against No. 4 seed Mirra Andreeva looms in the quarterfinals, though Zheng already defeated Andreeva during her semifinal run last year. Sleepers to Win the 2025 China Open Bianca Andreescu : The Canadian possesses an elite level of play but has not stayed healthy ever since her unexpected US Open title back in 2019, and in fact, she's currently recovering from an ankle injury that prevented her from playing in this year's US Open. A Round 1 match against Magda Linette awaits her in Beijing, and if that goes smoothly, she could cause some havoc in her area of the draw as an unseeded player with much more talent than her current ranking of No. 181 would suggest. Barbora Krejcikova : The unseeded 29-year-old is coming off quarterfinal appearances at both the US Open and last week's Korea Open. Despite not truly challenging for those titles, she's showing a consistent level of play of late and will be heavily favored in her first-round match against Anna Blinkova (3-0 H2H) before the potential foes get stiffer, but wins are plausible, against the likes of No. 9 Ekaterina Alexandrova (2-3 H2H), No. 20 Elise Mertens (0-0 H2H), and No. 8 Elena Rybakina (3-0 H2H). Those looking for more tennis coverage can check out RotoWire's latest tennis news , Tennis Injury Report , Tennis Eventspage , and Tennis Player Comparison tool . SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author @TrainorDJ : Tennis Editor and Director of Media and Personnel at RotoWire. NCAA Student Radio Call of the Week Award way back in 2014, and more recently, winner of the 2017 FSWA Podcast of the Year.

Regardless of who Minnesota faces, they'll have to fire on all cylinders if they want to advance. A very up-and-down end to the regular season, coupled with a shaky Game 2 win over Golden State, has made the Lynx look very beatable. September 19, 2025 Bold WNBA Playoff Predictions For The Week EJ Arocho Rd 1, Game 3: (4) Phoenix vs (5) New York It's been up and down so far, with the Liberty squeezing out an OT dub in Game 1 and Phoenix returning the favor in blowout fashion (26-point win) right after. With Stewie not at 100%, NY has struggled mightily to produce points. However... they still have a Big 3 in Meesseman, JJ & Sab! They haven't quite got going yet, combining for 25 points on Sunday and 27 on Wednesday, but I don't think you can keep that kind of talent down for long, especially considering the playoff experience each has. For Phoenix, Kah, AT & DeWanna have been solid all series long, each averaging double-figures. One of their best players, Satou Sabally, was ice cold in Game 1 (2-17 FG) but surely turned it up in the blowout win, going 5 for 11 from the field (15 points). It comes down to depth and I think New York has more of it, even with a slightly injured Breanna Stewart. Prediction: New York wins 78-70 and takes the series 2-1. X-Factors: DeWanna Bonner (Phoenix) & Kennedy Burke (New York) Semifinals, Game 1: (2) Las Vegas vs (6) Indiana Both teams squeezed out thrilling Game 3 wins on Thursday night to advance. The Fever are this year's Cinderella story after battling through multiple season-ending injuries & losing DeWanna Bonner to Phoenix. Things didn't look good at one point this summer, but through resilience and Herculean efforts by Kelsey Mitchell, they now find themselves in the semis for the first time in a decade. Since August, the Aces have looked like the hottest team in the league spearheaded by the queen herself, A'ja Wilson. This matchup will feature Gamecock on Gamecock crime in the post, with Aliyah Boston battling A'ja. A couple of former Baylor bears clash in Odyssey Sims and NaLyssa Smith, while a trio of Irish reunite in Bri Turner, Jackie Young & Jewell Loyd. Each team has two keys to winning: for Vegas, A'ja will have to do A'ja things, plain and simple! Jewell Loyd, their secret weapon off the bench, will have to be better than she was vs Seattle. If she can pour in double-digits [and everyone else does their part], they'll be hard to beat. For Indy, backcourt tandem Sims and Mitchell will have to continue to lead the way. They'll likely throw two bigs at A'ja to slow her down, because single-coverage won't work, so Makayla Timpson will have to be on her A-game. Prediction: Vegas wins 78-68 to go up 1-0. X-Factors: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (Vegas) & Aerial Powers (Indiana) Game 2: Tuesday, September 23rd Semifinals, Game 1: (1) Minnesota vs TBD (4) Phoenix/(5) New York Regardless of who Minnesota faces, they'll have to fire on all cylinders if they want to advance. A very up-and-down end to the regular season, coupled with a shaky Game 2 win over Golden State, has made the Lynx look very beatable. Both Phoenix and NY have deep rosters with some of the very best players in the W. The StudBuds were quiet in Game 2, combining for an uncharacteristic 8 points. Swiss-Army knife Jess Shepard was held scoreless, marking only the second time that's happened all season. These three will have to be better moving forward, it's that simple. Phee will always do MVP-like things and Kayla McBride will always be that menacing perimeter threat, but they'll need help to get past either the Liberty or the Mercury. Something interesting to note: When their 6th woman Tisha Hiedeman scores in double-figures, the Lynx are 15-3 on the season. X-Factors: DiJonai Carrington & Jessica Shepard Game 2: Tuesday, September 23rd SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author EJ Arocho is Mr. Women’s Basketball and lives in New Jersey. Lives by the shore but looking to make waves everywhere!