The 2025 WNBA Playoffs are here, bringing the spotlight to the top WNBA players who define the league’s highest level of competition. With the brightest stars and dynamic up-and-comers ready to battle on the national stage, this postseason promises breakouts, redemption stories, and legacy moments.
This guide breaks down the top WNBA players to watch in the 2025 playoffs—highlighting the game-changers, X-factors, and emerging legends who will shape this year’s narrative. Want to track live stats, win probabilities, and advanced matchup analytics as the action unfolds? TigerSport.ai is your go-to hub for real-time analysis, delivering the data edge for fans, media, and coaches looking to stay ahead.
All team seeds and leaderboards reflect the 2025 regular-season finish as of September 13, 2025. First-round matchups: (1) Lynx vs (8) Valkyries, (2) Aces vs (7) Storm, (3) Dream vs (6) Fever, and (4) Mercury vs (5) Liberty.
Top WNBA Players To Watch At The First Round Matchups
1) A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces): The Franchise Cornerstone Chasing Another Title
Wilson enters the playoffs as the league’s dominant two-way center, leading both in scoring and shot-blocking while serving as the defensive anchor for the No. 2-seeded Aces. Her impact goes beyond the box score—Las Vegas relies on her in isolation and pick-and-roll sets, where her footwork and quick decision-making keep defenses guessing. Expect Wilson to be front and center as the Aces pursue back-to-back championships.
The Storm have their work cut out. Expect Seattle to send early double teams, mix up defensive looks, and try to force Wilson away from her preferred spots. But with her improved passing and relentless rim protection, Wilson’s presence will demand constant attention on both ends of the floor.
Key Stat: Free-throw rate. Wilson’s ability to get to the line and convert will be a barometer for Vegas’ offensive success. If she’s drawing fouls and piling up free points, the Aces will be tough to stop.
2) Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx): The Quiet Superstar Fueling Minnesota’s Title Hopes
Collier is authoring one of the great two-way seasons in recent memory, combining rare shooting efficiency with elite defense. She’s the engine of the top-seeded Lynx, orchestrating the offense from the high post and closing games with a blend of mid-range mastery and timely threes. Minnesota’s sets are designed to maximize her versatility—expect plenty of split actions and quick seals to keep defenses guessing.
Opponents will try to crowd Collier early, sending aggressive help to force the ball out of her hands. But her poise under pressure and ability to create for teammates often make this a losing proposition. Collier’s defensive instincts also spark Minnesota’s fast break—a single steal can swing momentum in an instant.
Key Stat: Catch-and-shoot threes. If Collier keeps drilling open looks, the Lynx offense goes from great to unstoppable.
3) Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury): Relentless Playmaker and Defensive Menace
Thomas leads the league in assists and remains the heart of Phoenix’s attack, directing traffic and setting the tempo from the forward position. Her relentless motor and vision power the Mercury’s offense, especially when she connects with stars like Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally. Thomas is the type of player who changes the game’s rhythm even when she’s not scoring.
The Liberty will look to disrupt Thomas by switching on dribble handoffs and sagging off Phoenix’s non-shooters to clog the paint. But Thomas and the Mercury have counters ready: creative screening actions, Spain pick-and-rolls with Thomas as the decision-maker, and early offense sets that spring Kahleah Copper for easy looks. If New York can’t keep Thomas off the boards or out of the lane, Phoenix will dictate the tempo.
Key Stat: Turnovers in traffic. If Thomas protects her dribble and keeps Phoenix’s ball movement crisp, the Mercury’s offense will put constant pressure on the Liberty defense.
4) Angel Reese (Chicago Sky): The Rebounding Force Who Shifts Games
There’s no player in the league who controls the boards quite like Angel Reese. The rookie sensation has already established herself as the WNBA’s offensive rebounding queen, giving Chicago extra possessions and creating chaos in the paint. Her knack for timely put-backs and her physicality put pressure on opposing bigs, making her a difference-maker even when her shot isn’t falling. Expect Reese’s relentless effort to be a storyline every night the Sky takes the floor.
Opponents will try everything—fronting her on the glass, sending extra bodies, and boxing out with guards—to slow Reese down. But her motor and anticipation are tough to match, and her play often forces foul trouble for the other team’s frontcourt. If Chicago can capitalize on open threes after her offensive boards, the Sky become a playoff wild card.
Key Stat: Three-point shooting after offensive rebounds. If the Sky can turn Reese’s hustle into points from deep, they’ll have the edge in tight contests.
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5) Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever): The Perimeter Marksman Igniting Indiana
Mitchell is the engine behind Indiana’s perimeter attack, leading the league in made threes with a dizzying array of off-ball movement and quick releases. Defenses must always account for her—her shooting gravity opens the floor for Aliyah Boston and forces opponents into tough choices. When Mitchell gets hot, the Fever’s offense becomes one of the most dangerous in the postseason field.
Atlanta’s defensive game plan will focus on denying Mitchell clean looks, top-locking her off the ball, and sending extra help from the middle. However, Indiana’s playbook is designed for this challenge, featuring creative screening actions that free Mitchell for rhythm shots or catch defenders off guard in mismatches. Give her daylight early, and the Fever’s offense could catch fire.
Key Stat: Threes off movement. When Mitchell is hitting shots on the run, Indiana’s offense reaches a new level.
6) Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks): The High-Octane Scorer Powering L.A.’s Attack
Plum continues to light up the league as a dual-threat scorer and playmaker, ranking top-five in both points and assists. Her deep pull-up range forces defenders to pick their poison, and the Sparks’ offense runs through her command of double-drag screens and quick-hitting reads. When Plum is in rhythm, L.A. can score with anyone in the field.
Opponents will try to blitz Plum at the point of attack, rotate early, and force her into late-clock decisions. The Sparks counter by slipping screens and creating open lanes for finishers like Dearica Hamby and Azurá Stevens. If Plum stays poised against pressure, the Sparks’ offense will hum.
Key Stat: Assist-to-turnover ratio versus traps. If Plum keeps the mistakes down, L.A. becomes a dangerous upset pick.
7) Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings): Rising Star, Waiting for the Playoff Stage
Although Dallas missed the playoffs, Bueckers’ rookie campaign was nothing short of electric. The AP Rookie of the Year demonstrated composure beyond her years, running Dallas’ offense with savvy passing and mid-range touch. Her ability to read defenses, manipulate coverages, and keep the offense flowing marks her as a future postseason star.
Defenses will test Bueckers with switches and physicality, but her feel for the game and quick decision-making should translate when the stakes are highest. If she develops a consistent pull-up three, she’ll be a playoff nightmare for years to come.
Key Stat: Pull-up three-point attempts. That next step will make her a true force in the postseason.
8) Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm): Defensive Anchor and Momentum Shifter
Williams is the heartbeat of Seattle’s defense, leading the league in steals and setting a new franchise record along the way. Her knack for timely deflections and back-tap steals sparks fast breaks and frustrates opposing stars. In the playoff spotlight, Williams’ ability to shadow scorers and blow up actions will be critical against the league’s best.
Opposing teams will look to use decoy sets and off-ball screens to keep Williams out of her help positions, while Vegas may try to exploit mismatches by posting their guards. Seattle’s answer: scram-switching and trusting Williams’ anticipation to create chaos. When the Storm wins the turnover battle, Williams is almost always at the center.
Key Stat: Team points off turnovers. Williams’ pressure defense is the engine for Seattle’s transition game.
9) Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream): Instant-Offense Threat With Unlimited Range
Howard leads the WNBA in three-point makes per game and is always a threat to explode late in the clock. Atlanta’s offense transforms when Howard is on, pulling defenders out of the paint and creating room for her teammates. Her confidence from deep—often launching from well beyond the arc—makes her one of the league’s most feared shooters.
Indiana will try to force Howard off the line and challenge her to finish at the rim, but Atlanta can counter with creative ghost screens and Spain actions to keep her open. When the Dream generates catch-and-shoot opportunities for Howard, their offense hits another gear.
Key Stat: Assisted versus unassisted threes. The cleaner Howard gets, the higher Atlanta’s ceiling.
10) Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty): Veteran Leader With Championship DNA
Stewart remains the league’s ultimate matchup weapon—a superstar who can dominate either as a scorer or as an anchor on defense. Against Phoenix, she’ll be tasked with containing everything from Sabally’s size to the Mercury’s perimeter threats, while also orchestrating the Liberty’s offense through clever sets and quick reads.
Opponents will try to disrupt Stewart’s rhythm by crowding her early and forcing her into tough mid-range shots. The Liberty, meanwhile, will leverage Stewart’s versatility with empty-corner post-ups and high-low actions, especially if she and Jonquel Jones can control the glass.
Key Stat: Defensive rebounding share. If Stewart and JJ dominate the boards, New York’s transition attack will be hard to stop.
Honorable Mentions: X-Factors to Watch
- Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx): The ultimate movement shooter, McBride’s off-ball activity and second-best rate in threes made per game give Minnesota’s offense a new dimension. Her ability to stretch defenses perfectly complements Napheesa Collier’s inside-out game.
- Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx): Williams is the maestro of Minnesota’s ball movement, ranking among the league leaders in assists (6.2 APG). Her vision and ability to keep the offense flowing make her indispensable to the Lynx’s title hopes.
- Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago Sky): Cardoso is a force on the glass (8.5 RPG) and flashes elite rim protection. Her physicality and defensive presence are tailor-made for playoff basketball.
- Jessica Shepard (Minnesota Lynx): Shepard quietly leads the league in field goal percentage (~64%) and brings maximum efficiency in a limited role—an unsung hero who makes every touch count.
- Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm): Magbegor anchors Seattle’s paint defense with 2.2 blocks per game, erasing mistakes, switching onto guards, and sparking transition with her ability to run the floor.
For live win-probability graphs, matchup scouting reports, and rolling player impact metrics throughout the playoffs, head to TigerSport.ai—your real-time WNBA analysis hub.
