WNBA Playoffs Set for Star Matchup Between Wilson and Clark

Golden State's dramatic comeback against the Los Angeles Sparks secured them the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs. The Valkryies staged a 14-0 run in the final three minutes to defeat the Sparks 76-75, pushing them into the top two spot on the final day of the regular season.

Meanwhile, Indiana's loss to Minnesota placed them at the No. 6 seed, setting up a best-of-three first-round series between the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces and the Fever. The matchup will feature A’Ja Wilson, the four-time WNBA MVP, against Caitlin Clark, the 2024 rookie of the year and three-time All-Star.

The Aces, who have won three of the past four WNBA titles, secured their spot after a 100-82 win over the Phoenix Mercury. However, their position was affected by Golden State's victory, which dropped them to the No. 3 seed. Indiana's loss to Minnesota also impacted their seeding, moving them to the No. 6 spot.

Golden State will face the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings in the opening round, while Minnesota, which clinched the top seed for the second straight season, will take on the eighth-seeded New York Liberty. The Minnesota-New York series will be a rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals, which the Liberty won in seven games.

Other playoff matchups include the Atlanta Dream, the four-seed after a win over New York, facing the No. 5 seed Washington Mystics. The Mystics earned the fifth seed after a 101-93 win over the Chicago Sky. The Liberty, however, have two key players dealing with injuries, including Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.

With New York finishing at 26-18, this marks only the second time in WNBA history that all playoff teams have won at least 59% of their games. The 1998 playoffs, which had only four teams, also saw all four teams at 60% or better. This high win rate is rare across the four major sports.