By Ben Jenkins, Guest Writer

The WNBA playoffs are off to a fantastic start and semifinals seem to be heading in the same direction. 

The Minnesota Lynx handled business in the first round, sweeping the Golden State Valkyries. The Lynx dominated game one, winning 101-72. They were led in scoring by Napheesa Collier, who had 20 points.

After being blown out in game one, the Valkyries played much better in game two, but fell just short losing 75-74. Collier once again led the way for the Lynx with 24 points. Although the playoffs did not go as they would have wanted, it was an all around great inaugural year for the Valkyries.

The Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm series was much more competitive. Game one saw the Storm squeak out a 86-80 victory behind a 26 point performance from Skylar Diggins. The Aces were able to bounce back and win 90-86 in game two. 

A’ja Wilson poured it on and finished the game with 28 points. The four time WNBA MVP had an all time performance to close out the Storm in game three. She had 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, carrying the Aces to the semifinals.

The first two games of the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever series saw both teams come away with wins in a deceptive manner. The Dream took game one 74-66 and the Fever won game two 92-70. 

Game three was a different story. The Fever won 78-77 on the back of All-Star Kelsey Mitchell who had 34 points to lead the Fever to the semifinals despite being without super star Caitlin Clark. 

The New York Liberty took a close game one, 76-69. WNBA legend Breanna Stewart was elite, finishing game one with 18 points. Game two was a dominant Phoenix Mercury win. The Mercury had four players in double figures en route to a 86-60 dismantling of the Liberty. 

The Mercury finished the job in game three, winning 79-73. ​​Breanna Stewart did all she could to keep the Liberty’s season alive putting up 30 points, but it was not enough as the Liberty fell 79-73. 

The first round set up two great matchups in the semifinals. The one seeded Lynx get the Mercury on one side of the bracket and on the other the Aces play the red hot Fever.

Many thought after the Fever lost the WNBA mega-star, Caitlin Clark, they would struggle but they are proving they can win without her. Clark, who many consider to be the best player in the league, was shut down in July after battling lower body injuries all year. Clark was on the way to her second WNBA first team in her first two seasons of her career. The Fever stole the game in Las Vegas driven by a 34 point game from Mitchell. The Fever may be without one of the best players in the league, but with two other all-stars in Mitchell and Alyiah Boston they might just be able to pull off another upset in round two.

The Minnesota Lynx, who finished the regular season as the number one team in the league, showed their greatness in game one vs. the Mercury. Collier struggled slightly, only putting up 18 points, which is five points below her average of 22, but luckily for the Lynx, they have elite depth. Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams both had 20 plus point games to help the Lynx take a lead in the series.