Inside look at WNBA first-round playoff matchups, plus predictions

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.The past four months have been building toward this moment.

And after a record 44-game regular season, the field is set and WNBA playoffs are finally here.There are plenty of storylines to follow.Will the Liberty be successful in defending their title? Or will last year’s runners-up, the Lynx, wreak vengeance on anyone in their path on their way to the top after a dramatic ending to the 2024 Finals?Or will it be the Aces, who finished the season on an insane 16-game winning streak?The Valkyries are the first expansion team to secure a postseason berth in its inaugural season, setting a high bar for future newcomers.The Caitlin Clark-less Fever and Nneka Ogwumike-led Storm are also in the mix for this year’s crown.Though the Lynx are the obvious front-runner to go all the way, this year’s race does feel like there’s the potential for more upsets or a dark horse to make a run given the league’s parity this season.Storm coach Noelle Quinn previously said that’s what makes this season “unique.”“I’m not sure that I’ve seen anything like this year,” she said.

“Usually in previous years, at a certain point in the season, you know who the top tier is and it just hasn’t happened this year early.… Everyone has beaten everybody at some point.”It all starts with a four-game slate Sunday, with all eight teams vying to be crowned this year’s champion playing.Here’s a breakdown of all four of the WNBA’s first-round series:Records: Lynx 34-10, Valkyries 23-21 Season series: Lynx 4-0Players to watch: Lynx F Napheesa Collier (23 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.6 BPG), Valkyries G Veronica Burton (12 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6 APG)Key matchup: The Lynx’s top-ranked defense versus the Valkyries’ 10th-ranked offense.

The Valkyries are going to have a really tough time producing on offense.We already saw this was an issue in th...