The Minnesota Lynx punched their ticket to the WNBA playoff semifinals.

The No. 1-seeded Lynx overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries 75-74 in Game 2 on Wednesday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. With the win, the Lynx advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive year and will face the winner of the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty series, which will be decided Friday.

‘I just happy we got the dub,’ Lynx forward Bridget Carleton, who scored 12 points on four 3s, said. ‘It’s hard to play in this arena, they play hard. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier made a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:24 left and finished with a game-high 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kayla McBride added 18 points and four rebounds, including a layup that gave the Lynx a 71-70 lead with 2:48 remaining. It was Minnesota’s first lead since the first quarter. 

The Valkyries had a shot to win the game. Cecilia Zandalasini missed a buzzer-beating jumper that would have forced a Game 3. Monique Billings had 15 points off the bench, while Zandalasini and Janelle Salaun each finished with 14 points. The Valkyries shot 50% from the 3-point line in the loss.

Here’s what you need to know for Game 2 between the Valkyries and Lynx:

End of Q3: Valkyries 63, Lynx 49

Ten minutes separates the Golden State Valkyries from their first franchise playoff win. The Valkyries have an 14-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Four Valkyries players have scored 10 or more points, lead by 14 points from Janelle Salaun. Veronica Burton and Monique Billings each added 13 points, while Cecilia Zandalasini has 10 points and five rebounds. The Valkyries are collectively shooting 50% from the 3-point line.

Napheesa Collier has a game-high 17 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Kayla McBride is up to 12 points. The Valkyries’ persistent defense has prevented the Lynx from finding their offensive rhythm. Minnesota is shooting 38.5% from the field and 5-of-23 from the 3-point line.

Halftime: Valkyries 41, Lynx 28

The SAP Center at San Jose is rocking as the Golden State Valkyries have a 13-point lead over the league-leading Minnesota Lynx heading into halftime. The Valkyries held the Lynx to nine second-quarter points.

Golden State is firing on all cylinders. Seven Valkyries have scored and five different players have hit at least one 3-pointer. Not only are the Valkyries shooting 55.2% from the field and 63.6% from the 3-point line, Golden State has recorded five steals, two blocks and forced the Lynx into eight turnovers, which the Valkyries have converted to 13 points. Janelle Salaun has a team-high nine points, while Monique Billings has eight points off the bench.

Napheesa Collier has a game-high 10 points and three rebounds for the Lynx. Kayla McBride, who scored seven points in the first quarter, was held scoreless in the second quarter. The Lynx are 2-of-13 beyond the arc.

End of Q1: Valkyries 27, Lynx 19

The Minnesota Lynx jumped to a 5-0 start, but the Golden State Valkyries went on a 10-2 run to take the lead. Golden State has an eight-point lead heading into the second quarter.

Veronica Burton, the WNBA’s Most Improved Player, leads the Valkyries with six points. Janelle Salaun added five points, while Monique Billings had four points off the bench. The Valkyries are shooting a staggering 83.3% from the 3-point line and 66.7% from the field.

Kayla McBride has a team-high seven points and one steal and said the Lynx must play better perimeter defense against the Valkyries moving forward. Napheesa Collier added five points. The Lynx are 2-of-8 from 3.

What time is Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries?

The Golden State Valkyries host the Minnesota Lynx at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, California. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

How to watch Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries: TV, stream

• Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
• Location: SAP Center at San Jose (San Jose, California)
• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscriber

Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx starting lineups

Minnesota Lynx starting lineup

Head coach: Cheryl Reeve

• 6 Bridget Carleton | F 6′ 2′ – Iowa State
• 8 Alanna Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Stanford
• 10 Courtney Williams | G 5′ 8′ – South Florida
• 21 Kayla McBride | G 5′ 11′ – Notre Dame
• 24 Napheesa Collier | F 6′ 1′ – UConn

Golden State Valkyries starting lineup

• 6 Kaila Charles | G 6′ 1′ – Maryland
• 12 Iliana Rupert | C 6′ 4′ – France
• 13 Janelle Salaun | F 6′ 2′ – France
• 22 Cecilia Zandalasini | F 6′ 2′ – Italy
• 22 Veronica Burton | G 5′ 9′ – Northwestern

Golden State Valkyries Natalie Nakase named Coach of the Year

She is going to need her best coaching job of the season to beat the Lynx. Minnesota is 5-0 against Golden State this season.

Golden State Valkyries feeling at home

The Valkyries know the way to San Jose.

Valkyries guard Veronica Burton wins WNBA Most Improved Player

When All-Star Kayla Thornton was lost to a right knee injury in mid-July, many wondered if the Golden State Valkyries would be able to continue on a postseason pace.

In stepped Veronica Burton, who lead the Valkyries in nearly every statistical category – points (11.9), assists (6.0), steals (1.1) and blocks (0.6) – and on Monday, Sept. 15, she was named the WNBA Most Improved Player. Burton’s game is well-rounded, demonstrated by the fact she’s one of five players to average at least 10 points, 5 assists and 1.5 made 3-pointers a game, joining Kelsey Plum, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Skylar Diggins.

Minnesota Lynx arrives in San Jose

The Lynx are ready looked read to get down to business and advance.

Valkyries in their home away from home

The Valkyries are playing at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, and the Caltrain is here for it.

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The NWSL season is heating up, and with every team still in contention, the race to finish above the playoff line has become particularly intense.

Four teams — NJ/NY Gotham FC, Portland Thorns, San Diego Wave and Seattle Reign — are tied for third place on 30 points, while the defending champion Orlando Pride are just one point further back. Three points separate Racing Louisville (currently holding the eighth and final playoff position with 26 points) from 11th-place Angel City FC. The NWSL views its parity as a strength, and it’s looking like the 2025 season at the peak of women’s soccer will come down to the wire.

At the top of the table, the Kansas City Current could end the weekend as regular-season champions, while the Washington Spirit could secure a postseason berth with a win Thursday night coupled with an awful lot of help around the weekend. At the bottom, the Chicago Stars and Utah Royals need to maintain their improved recent form to keep their narrow hopes alive.

Here are kickoff times and how to watch this weekend’s NWSL games, as well as a breakdown of playoff clinching scenarios:

NWSL Matchday 21: Weekend schedule, times, how to watch

All times Eastern. Home teams listed first.

Thursday, Sept. 18

• Angel City FC vs. Washington Spirit, 10:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Fubo

Watch Angel City vs. Spirit on Fubo (free trial)

Friday, Sept. 19

• Houston Dash vs. Chicago Stars, 8 p.m. | NWSL+
• Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. | Prime Video
• Utah Royals vs. Racing Louisville, 10 p.m. | Paramount+

Watch Orlando Pride vs. NC Courage on Prime Video

Saturday, Sept. 20

• Kansas City Current vs. Seattle Reign, 7:30 p.m. | Ion
• Portland Thorns vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. | Ion

Sunday, Sept. 21

• Bay FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 8:30 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN+

Watch Bay FC vs. Gotham FC on ESPN+

What is the NWSL playoff schedule?

The NWSL regular season will end on Sunday, Nov. 2, with all 14 teams playing. After that, the postseason will play out on the following schedule:

• Nov. 7-9: Quarterfinals
• Nov. 14-16: Semifinals
• Nov. 22: NWSL Championship

NWSL playoffs format explained

The NWSL playoffs will see eight teams qualify, with an easy-to-follow format in place. In the quarterfinal round, the top four teams in the regular-season standings will host the other four teams that qualify for the postseason.

The four winning teams move onto the semifinals, with the higher-seeded team on each side of the bracket hosting. The NWSL playoffs do not re-seed after the quarterfinals. Finally, the two surviving teams will play in the 2025 NWSL Championship final.

All games will follow the norms of the sport: If scores are tied after 90 minutes, a given playoff game will go to a 30-minute extra time period (divided into 15-minute halves, with no ‘golden goal’ rule). Should the scores still be even after that, the teams will endure the tension of a penalty-kick tiebreaker.

NWSL playoff picture: If the season ended today …

We’re a long way from settling the NWSL playoff bracket, but if the postseason began today, this is what we’d see:

Home teams listed first.

Quarterfinals

• Quarterfinal 1: Kansas City Current (1) vs. Racing Louisville (8)
• Quarterfinal 2: Washington Spirit (2) vs. Orlando Pride (7)
• Quarterfinal 3: NJ/NY Gotham FC (3) vs. Seattle Reign (6)
• Quarterfinal 4: Portland Thorns (4) vs. San Diego Wave (5)

Semifinals

• Semifinal 1: Quarterfinal 1 winner vs. Quarterfinal 4 winner (higher seed hosts)
• Semifinal 2: Quarterfinal 2 winner vs. Quarterfinal 3 winner (higher seed hosts)

Final

• Final: Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner (final at PayPal Park in San Jose, California)

Who has clinched an NWSL playoff spot?

The Kansas City Current clinched a playoff spot in August and can finish no lower than second. After holding their closest challenge, the Washington Spirit, to a 0-0 draw last week, it’s a matter of when, not if, they’ll claim the NWSL Shield as 2025 regular-season champions.

If the Spirit (36 points) fail to defeat Angel City FC Thursday night, the Current (50) could be ready for a trophy lift Saturday evening at CPKC Stadium. If Washington were to tie or lose in Los Angeles, a Current win over the Seattle Reign this weekend would clinch the Shield for the runaway league leaders.

As for the Spirit, a win in LA could clinch a playoff spot, but only with a lot of help. Washington would need the Courage, Racing, and Dash to all lose later on the weekend to seal the deal. As North Carolina and Louisville face each other on Oct. 4, this set of results would guarantee the Spirit finish somewhere in the top eight.

2025 NWSL Playoffs: Who has been eliminated from contention?

NWSL’s bottom two teams, the Chicago Stars and Utah Royals, both avoided defeat last weekend. Both have 15 points, and while the playoff line is currently held by Racing Louisville (26), there are still 18 points on the table for all teams.

As such, neither is in danger of being eliminated from the postseason race this week, though a loss for either side in this 21st round of games could put them on the brink of mathematical elimination.

AI-assisted summary
• The Miami Dolphins have started their 2025 season with an 0-2 record, increasing pressure on the team’s leadership.
• Upcoming nationally televised games against the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will intensify scrutiny on the team’s performance.
• Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s late-game interception and offensive miscues contributed to the Week 2 loss against the Patriots.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL — The Miami Dolphins are one of the teams to start 0-2 in 2025, but the booming noise around their abysmal start will only get louder with nationally televised matchups in the next two weeks.

The Dolphins will visit Josh Allen and the big, bad Buffalo Bills (especially against them) on ‘Thursday Night Football’ to begin Week 3, where a 0-3 start almost feels like a certainty. Miami will be in prime time again 11 days later hosting the New York Jets on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 4 on Sept. 29.

Whether or not it’s enough time for Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to make wholesale changes, the hot seat will only get hotter for coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier, while shortcomings from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and embattle receiver Tyreek Hill will be amplified if their struggles continue.

Some Dolphins fans voiced their displeasure by flying a banner that read “Fire Grier. Fire McDaniel” above Hard Rock Stadium before the team succumbed to a 33-27 loss to the New England Patriots at home on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Tagovailoa had an overthrow, endured a false start and a sack, and tossed an interception on the final drive – after running back De’Von Achane stepped out of bounds on a potential game-winning touchdown.

“We had the opportunity to win the game, and we robbed it from ourselves,” McDaniel said as his job security was questioned two games into his fourth season, following a 33-8 drubbing to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.

Whether they scored and won or not, any chance for the Dolphins to relish or celebrate their first win of the season would have dissipated quickly before their next opponent.

Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, is 13-2 against the Dolphins since he was drafted by the Bills in 2018.

Simply put, Allen and the Bills have become the AFC East nightmare for the Dolphins like Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots were for the previous 20 years.

This is the big picture reason why the Dolphins have the longest playoff win drought in the NFL – their last in a 2000 AFC wildcard game, the first season when quarterback Jay Fielder and coach Dave Wannstedt took over for a retired Dan Marino and former coach Jimmy Johnson.

Coach Mike Vrabel’s sideline sprint highlights milestone win for him, Patriots

The Dolphins have reached the postseason twice under McDaniel – falling in the wildcard round to the Bills in 2022 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. They failed to make the playoffs with an 8-9 record last season.

While Grier acknowledged Miami has reset its roster following the departures of standouts like Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, Calais Campbell and Terron Armstead, Miami’s 0-2 start lingers with baggage from 25 years of gloom, heightened with every regular-season loss that weighs heavily on this current cast of Dolphins – unfairly or not.

“I’ve seen a team that is trying to do everything they can to win, and coming up short, and pressing forward and trying to change that result,” McDaniel said to begin the week.

“Pressure is opportunity … Obviously, we don’t want to be 0-2. We look at it as fuel to the fire,” added Hill, who had 109 yards against the Patriots, including a 47-yarder which snapped a personal streak of 371 days without a catch longer than 30 yards.

The Dolphins have been unable to weaponize Hill offensively like they did in 2023, when the former Chiefs star led the NFL in touchdown catches and receiving yards in his first season in Miami.

Tagovailoa – who was 26 of 32 for 315 yards with two touchdowns – cited procedural issues offensively on the final drive, which resulted in his fourth turnover and the first 0-2 start of his six-year NFL career.

“Anyone who knows football and anyone who doesn’t know football just knows that was not clean and that was not right, what we were doing at the end of the game,” Tagovailoa said. “We’ll get that fixed, communicate that to those guys, and we’ll move forward from there.’

Added McDaniel: “With the game on the line, our communication and our substitution was not up to par, and ultimately, I hold all responsibility for all things. I will make sure that things that should already be ironed out moving forward. We will not fall victim to the same thing again.”

The Dolphins defense has allowed a field goal or touchdown on 13 of 15 drives excluding kneel downs through two games. They allowed the Colts to score on every drive, and saw the Patriots punt just twice – the first on a drive with three New England penalties, and the second after a poor snap led to a 3^rd and 26.

While Miami’s Malik Washington returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown, the Patriots answered with Antonio Gibson’s 90-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kick – the turning point before Tagovailoa’s end-game miscues.

“It’s a short week. You get this one out your head, learn from it, grow from it, and we got another divisional opponent we’ve had fits with in the past,” Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb said.

Pressure is mounting for McDaniel, Tagovailoa, Grier and the Dolphins.

Their glaring miscues have led to a disappointing start in McDaniel’s fourth season, and will only be amplified in prime time in the next two weeks.

“If I worry about my job security, then I’m not doing my job,” McDaniel said.

Added Tagovailoa: “It’s one of those deals where you can never get too high in this league. You can never be too low. You’ve just got to continue to stick to your process, stay even keel, trust the guys, continue to bring those guys along.”

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The Golden State Valkyries have completed a number of firsts, becoming the first expansion team to reach the postseason in its first year. Is the franchise’s first playoff win next?

The No. 8. Valkyries will host the No. 1 overall seed Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday, Sept. 17, in Game 2 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA playoff series. The matchup won’t be at Chase Center, where Golden State sold out all 22 home games and set a WNBA attendance record. Instead, the Valkyries will be playing at SAP Center at San Jose (home of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks) due to a scheduling conflict.

‘We have faith in our fans that they’re going to continue to show out for us,’ WNBA’s Most Improved Player Veronica Burton said. ‘Wherever we play, we’re going to bring our basketball. So, we’re confident, we’re excited, it’s another opportunity to compete.” 

The Valkyries will need all the help they can get in slowing down MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, who had 20 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal in the Lynx’s 101-72 Game 1 victory. The Lynx controlled the glass (36-26) and the paint (44-18) in their dominant 29-point win.

Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase called out Game 1’s officiating, saying she wants ‘a fair fight’ in Game 2. The Valkyries attempted 27 free throws in Game 1, compared to 24 for the Lynx.

‘We’re playing the No. 1 team,’ Nakase said. ‘We’re playing the best team in the league. They don’t need no help. This team is great. They’re stacked. They play well. They play beautiful basketball. They’re coached well. They don’t need the help.’

Here’s what you need to know for Game 2 between the Valkyries and Lynx:

What time is Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries?

The Golden State Valkyries host the Minnesota Lynx at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, California. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

How to watch Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries: TV, stream

• Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
• Location: SAP Center at San Jose (San Jose, California)
• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscriber

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The Seattle Storm’s 2025 WNBA season looked like it was over, down 14 points in third quarter of a must-win playoff game.

Neither Skylar Diggins nor Nneka Ogwumike would let it end. The pair combined for 50 points on Tuesday to propel the Storm past the Las Vegas Aces, 86-83, in Seattle, ending Las Vegas’ 17-game win streak and forcing a decisive Game 3 on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

‘We weren’t scared to play against them,’ said Diggins, who finished with a game-high 26 points, seven assists and two steals. ‘In the first game, we played hesitant. I was proud of the way we responded tonight and we had a great home crowd on our back to feed off.’

The Storm went on a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to come within two points of the Aces with 2:35 remaining in the game. Erica Wheeler spurred the outburst with 11 points in the final stanza.

Dominique Malonga made a layup and ensuing free throw to give the Storm their first lead since the second quarter, 84-83, with 31 seconds remaining. Diggins hit a jumper with 4.7 remaining to ice the game. Aces guard Jewell Loyd, who played the first 10 season of her career with the Storm, had a good look to tie it up at the end, but missed the 3-point shot that would have sent the game to overtime.

‘We know this team is hard to beat one time and we have to beat (the Aces) again,’ Diggins said. ‘We bought ourselves another 40 minutes.’

WNBA PLAYOFFS WINNERS, LOSERS: Seattle storms back, Fever fans ejected

ACES VS. STORM, GAME 1: Las Vegas dominates Seattle in Game 1 of WNBA playoff series

It was Seattle’s second-largest playoff comeback in franchise history and first playoff win since 2022, snapping a six-game postseason losing streak in the postseason. Ogwumike finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Malonga added a double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds.

End of Q3: Aces 69, Storm 61

The Aces led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, but the Storm closed their deficit to eight points heading into the fourth. Nneka Ogwumike has a game-high 24 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Skylar Diggins added 15 points and six assists. Dominique Malonga added eight points off the bench.

Jackie Young, who turned 28 on Tuesday, leads the Aces with 18 points and five rebounds. A’ja Wilson has 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Halftime: Aces 45, Storm 44

The Las Vegas Aces are shooting 58.6% from the field, yet only have a one-point lead over the Storm at halftime. A’ja Wilson is the only Aces player in double figures with 16 points, five rebounds and two assists. Jewell Loyd is up to nine points against her former team.

Skylar Diggins has a team-high 15 points for the Storm. Nneka Ogumike added 13 points and four rebounds.

End of Q1: Aces 22, Storm 21

The Aces have a one-point advantage heading into the second quarter. A’ja Wilson has a team-high eight points and two rebounds. Jewell Loyd has been money from beyond the arc to start with two made 3-pointers. The Aces need to take better care of the ball, however, after giving up five turnovers for five points.

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogumike leads all scorers with 11 points, while Gabby Williams added four points.

Nneka Ogwumike statistically solid

Seattle Storm Forward Nneka Ogumike has been a consistent presence in her 14th season in the WNBA. She has averaged 18.3 points while shooting 51.9% from the field. A part of the MVP conversation, she is also grabbed seven rebounds a contest.

Birthday girl Jackie Young in the house

Aces guard Jackie Young hopes to celebrate her 28th birthday with a playoff win.

You get some shoes, you get some shoes

Guard Erica Wheeler surprised the Seattle Storm dance troupe with signed AE 1s.

Here’s everything you need to know about Game 2 between the Aces and Storm:

What time is Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm?

The Seattle Storm host the Las Vegas Aces at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT) on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

How to watch Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm: TV, stream

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT)
• Location: Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

Seattle Storm starting lineup

Head coach: Noelle Quinn

• 3 Nneka Ogwumike | F 6′ 2′ – Stanford
• 4 Skylar Diggins | G 5′ 9′ – Notre Dame
• 5 Gabby Williams | F 5′ 11′ – UConn
• 13 Ezi Magbegor | F 6′ 4′ – Australia
• 20 Brittney Sykes | G 5′ 9′ – Syracuse

Las Vegas Aces starting lineup

Head coach: Becky Hammon

• 0 Jackie Young | G 6′ 0′ – Notre Dame
• 1 Kierstan Bell | F 6′ 1′ – Florida Gulf Coast
• 3 NaLyssa Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Baylor
• 12 Chelsea Gray | G 5′ 11′ – Duke
• 22 A’ja Wilson | C 6′ 5′ – South Carolina

Game 2 preview

Can A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces be stopped?

That’s the question on the Seattle Storm’s mind after suffering a 102-77 Game 1 loss to the Aces on Sunday in Las Vegas, extending the Aces’ win streak to 17 consecutive games. The series now shifts to Seattle for Game 2. With a win, the Aces would advance to the semifinals for the seventh consecutive season and tie the league’s longest win streak (18). It was set by Lisa Leslie and the WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks in 2001.

Wilson and company aren’t concerned about the streak. They want to win their third title in four years.

‘In my eyes, the streak was over when the regular season ended,’ said Wilson, who had 29 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks vs. the Storm in Game 1. ‘We have a whole new thing we have to start cooking here. And that’s what I am going to hold up to my teammates every single day.’

It’s safe to say the Aces were cooking Sunday. They shot 50.7% from the field and 14-of-29 from 3, continuing their barrage of 3-pointers after setting a regular-season record (22) in the regualr-season finale on Sept. 11. Jackie Young added 18 points and seven assists in the Game 1 win. Jewell Loyd had 14 off the bench.

Gabby Williams had a team-high 16 points and three rebounds for the Storm. Skylar Diggins and Dominique Malonga each added 12 points in the losing effort. The Storm were swept by the Aces in the 2024 WNBA playoffs and must pick up a win at home to keep their season alive. That’s easier said than done, as the Storm are the only team in the postseason with a losing record at home (10-12) this season.

Dominique Malonga’s quiet start is a win for both her and the Storm

No matter the sport, a top draft pick’s rookie season is usually a rough go. Your team most likely had that pick for a reason (they were bad) and you are expected to help right away. You’re getting used to a new league, and you may or may not have veteran players to ease the learning curve.

For Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft by the Seattle Storm, it’s been the opposite experience. She got to play behind, and learn from, veterans Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor. She didn’t have to absorb a full load of the WNBA’s physicality every game. She was allowed the time and space to see how her game fit in the W rather than figuring it out on the fly.

Aces vs. Storm WNBA Playoffs schedule

• Game 1: Aces 102, Storm 77
• Game 2: Aces at Storm, 9:30 ET Tuesday (ESPN)
• Game 3: Storm at Aces, TBD Thursday (ESPN2)

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