Huge Upset Changes WNBA Finals Picture

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

Sunday brought major WNBA Playoffs drama. Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally led the Mercury past a short-handed Lynx to book their spot in the Finals. Meanwhile, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell powered the Fever over the Aces to set up a decisive Game 5. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: Minnesota, missing MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier and head coach Cheryl Reeve, was a favorite to win it all. Their early exit reshapes the title picture, while Phoenix heads to the Finals for the first time since 2021.

On the other side, Indiana keeps surprising. Aces were expected to roll, but instead, it’s winner-takes-all Tuesday night for the last spot in the Finals.

Unrivaled’s 2026 roster continues to take shape. On Friday, the league welcomed Kahleah Copper, Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin, the “StudBudz” duo Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, plus newcomer Sug Sutton to its 2026 roster. That brings the announced roster to 30, with more to come this week. (Yahoo Sports)

👉 See the updated Unrivaled list

WHY IT MATTERS: Unrivaled continues adding to its mix of returning stars and exciting new additions. Sutton’s addition caps her breakout WNBA season with the Mystics. And for Hiedeman, who filled in as an injury reserve last year, landing a full roster spot shoes her growth and impact.

JuJu Watkins will sit out the 2025-26 college season as she continues recovering from her ACL injury. The USC star led the Trojans to a No. 1 seed and an Elite Eight run before going down last spring. (USC)

WHY IT MATTERS: It was expected, but it still stings. JuJu was a major face of college hoops last season, winning National Player of the Year and elevating USC back to powerhouse status. Without her, the Trojans face a steep test to keep their momentum.