The story of any postseason series, of course, continues with who advances to the ensuing rounds. In the case of this year’s WNBA playoffs, the semifinals will see the Minnesota Lynx face off against the Phoenix Mercury and the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever match up in best-of-five series.
But, of course, there are four teams whose 2025s have come to a close – the Atlanta Dream, Golden State Valkyries, Seattle Storm and defending champion New York Liberty.
Without further ado, we analyze what is next for the four teams whose 2025 seasons ended in the first round of this season’s playoffs.
Atlanta Dream
The 2025 version of the Atlanta Dream did cross off a major item on its wish list – it won a playoff game for the first time since 2018 when the team was in the Finals.
But this version of the Dream was not merely built to win one postseason contest.
When Dan Padover added Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to a team that already featured Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, Padover had visions of a deep playoff run – possibly even a Finals run – in mind.
Instead, the Dream’s championship dreams were dashed in three games by the Indiana Fever. Atlanta was the only higher seed that failed to qualify for the semifinals.
It is very clear that Gray is a franchise player – but many a Dream fan is beginning to have doubts as to if Howard – first overall pick in 2022’s draft – is.
New York Liberty
The phrase “championship hangover” often gets thrown around in the sporting lexicon. As the 2025 season wore on, it appeared that Sandy Brondello’s Liberty fell victim to it.
Not all of this is on the team. New York sorely missed Betnijah Laney-Hamilton – a cornerstone of the franchise for the past several years. Her injury finally caught up to the Liberty in the first round of the postseason against the Phoenix Mercury.
It was not only the injuries that did in the seafoam, black and copper. The Liberty of 2024 was not the same as the Liberty of 2025. Last year’s New York team was supposed to win – hence why the players wanted it so badly following the heartbreak of the 2023 Finals loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
Many a Liberty fan will certainly ask what happened to Jonquel Jones in that series with the Mercury. Jones was the most consistent player for New York in the 2023 and 2024 playoffs (including her Finals MVP) but was held in check this time.
Seattle Storm
For the Seattle Storm, the 2025 season can be considered a rollercoaster of a campaign. If the postseason were to begin at the All-Star break, coach Noelle Quinn’s team would have been the fourth seed in the playoffs.
Instead, the Storm encountered struggles down the stretch and said woes nearly cost Seattle a playoff berth only to qualify eventually as the seventh seed.
When all looked finished for Seattle late in Game 2 on its home floor at Climate Pledge Arena, clutch defense from Dominique Malonga – the 19-year-old No. 2 overall draft pick out of France, allowed the Storm to fight another day.
Ultimately, there was too much A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young for Seattle to overcome in Game 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena, but taking a surging team like the Aces to the brink on its home floor has to instill some optimism back in the Emerald City.
One would also think it would mean the Storm would stick with Quinn as coach – instead, she was let go from the team. The only Black woman head coach and she was fired by her organization. This is not a good look for the WNBA as a whole.
Golden State Valkyries
Considering the expansion status of the Golden State Valkyries, coach Natalie Nakase’s team entered this year’s playoffs playing with all the house money there could be.
After all, the Valkyries were not supposed to be anywhere near the postseason in its first campaign – and Golden State looks more stable than established WNBA franchises – looking at you, Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun.
Veronica Burton won Most Improved Player and Nakase was named Coach of the Year. Not to mention the Valkyries nearly earned its first-ever playoff win before a fourth quarter comeback from the Lynx dashed those hopes.
Regardless, it was already a successful season in Ballhalla. The only thing Golden State should have on its brain is to build on 2025. A winning team plus investment from ownership should make the Valkyries more attractive to free agents.
