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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Matchups Are Locked & We’re in for a Ride 🎢
After weeks of movement, we finally know our first-round playoff matchups. The Washington Mystics jumped the Indiana Fever for the No. 5 seed on the final night of the regular season, and the Golden State Valkyries came from behind to beat the Los Angeles Sparks, holding on to the No. 2 seed.
Here are the final First Round matchups:
No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 8 Liberty
No. 2 Valkyries vs. No. 7 Wings
No. 3 Aces vs. No. 6 Fever
No. 4 Dream vs. No. 5 Mystics
WHY IT MATTERS: This could be one of the most competitive first rounds we’ve seen in a while. Only three games separate the top four seeds, while just two games separate Nos. 5 through 8. There isn’t much distance between these teams, and now everyone gets a fresh start with a championship on the line.
All four series tip off this Sunday, with game times expected to be announced today. Game details will be available on the WNBA website.
🗳️ Do you think we'll see an upset in the First Round?
2. The Sun Sets in Connecticut ☀️
And what a beautiful sunset it was. The Connecticut Sun played their final game at Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday night, beating the Toronto Tempo 95–81 in an emotional farewell. The franchise relocates to Houston next season. (CT Insider)
WHY IT MATTERS: After 24 seasons in Connecticut, this was a difficult goodbye for a fanbase that has supported the Sun through more than two decades of basketball. The franchise gave them one last win at home before starting a new chapter.
3. Team USA Is Back on Top 🇺🇸
The U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team is a world champion again. The Americans edged Canada 77–76 in the IWBF World Championship final last weekend. (IWBF)
WHY IT MATTERS: The win ended a 16-year world championship drought for Team USA, which last won the title in 2010. The U.S. now heads toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics as the reigning world champion, with a title to defend on home soil.
💌 Last Call for October’s Post-Up Club
Fall always gets us thinking about change. The WNBA season is moving into the playoffs just as a new college season begins, reminding us that no version of the game lasts forever. That idea inspired October’s Post-Up Club issue, which explores impermanence, transformation, and appreciating each season while it’s here.
Members will receive a letter written by Kim, along with a surprise collection of paper extras inspired by the theme. Friday is the final day to join for $10.99 a month and begin with the October issue.
OVERTIME ⏱️
One Last Time as a Spark: Nneka Ogwumike closed out her 15-year WNBA career with an emotional address to the Los Angeles crowd after her final game.
Another “One”: A’ja Wilson became the first player in WNBA history with multiple 1,000-point seasons.
Sending Healthy Thoughts: Ty Harris and Aliyah Boston both exited the Fever’s regular-season finale with injuries. Here’s hoping they’re able to recover quickly.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if you thought the standings would change on the final night of the regular season, and it was nearly a toss-up. 42% of you thought at least two teams would flip spots (you guessed correctly!), while 40% thought the standings would stay exactly the same.
