WNBA playoffs: How far can the Fever go — and other first-round predictions

The WNBA playoffs are about to begin, with teams like the Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, and Minnesota Lynx vying for a championship. The Atlanta Dream clinched the final playoff spot, setting up exciting matchups for the first round. The Liberty, led by MVP Breanna Stewart, are looking strong, while the Dream have had a roller coaster season but are determined to make their mark. The series between New York and Atlanta is expected to be competitive, with star players like Sabrina Ionescu and Rhyne Howard facing off. Ultimately, the Liberty are favored to win the series, but anything can happen in the playoffs. The Lynx and Mercury have had different seasons, with the Lynx being consistent and the Mercury struggling. The Lynx have dominated the series against the Mercury, but the Mercury have shown flashes of brilliance. The Lynx play well as a team and have a strong bench, making them hard to beat. The key players for the Mercury will be Copper and Griner, who need to step up for a chance to upset the Lynx. In the series between the Sun and Fever, the Sun have a more experienced roster, while the Fever have shown improvement throughout the season. The Sun will need to focus on stopping the Fever’s dynamic offense led by Mitchell and Clark. Both series are expected to be won by the higher seeds. After a scare with a player’s health, the Indiana Fever need to focus on their defense and minimizing turnovers to have a chance against the Connecticut Sun. Experts predict the Sun will win in three games. The Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm have had different journeys to the playoffs, with the Aces overcoming early season struggles and the Storm making a huge improvement from last year. The Aces have the edge in shooting, but the Storm’s health, particularly with key players Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor, will be crucial in determining the series outcome. Experts predict the Aces will win in two games.