Wed Sep 24 10:50:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The New York Liberty’s championship defense is over after being eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. The Mercury, led by Alyssa Thomas’s triple-double, will now face the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals. The other semifinal matchup features the Las Vegas Aces, who barely survived their first-round series against the Seattle Storm, against the Indiana Fever, who are coming off an upset win against the Atlanta Dream. Analysts favor the Lynx and Aces to advance to the WNBA Finals, citing Minnesota’s strong defense and consistent play, and Las Vegas’s experience and the potential of key players like Jewell Loyd.

**News Article:**

**Mercury Upset Liberty, Advance to WNBA Semifinals; Lynx and Aces Favored to Clash in Finals**

**PHOENIX, AZ** – The Phoenix Mercury have dashed the New York Liberty’s hopes of a repeat championship, eliminating the reigning champs in a thrilling first-round playoff series. Fueled by a dominant performance from Alyssa Thomas, who notched her ninth triple-double of the season, the Mercury defeated the Liberty 79-73 in the decisive Game 3.

Phoenix now faces a formidable challenge in the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, who are heavily favored to advance to the WNBA Finals. The Lynx showcased their dominance in the regular season, going 3-1 against the Mercury, and analysts cite their league-leading defense as a key factor in their potential success. However, the Mercury have added key players since the regular-season matchups and will look to make a statement in the semifinals.

In the other semifinal series, the Las Vegas Aces will battle the Indiana Fever. The Aces, despite a shaky first-round performance against the Seattle Storm, remain a strong contender, thanks to the experience of their core players like A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray. The Indiana Fever, led by rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, are coming off a surprising upset against the Atlanta Dream and will look to continue their momentum. While the Aces are favored due to their experience and depth, the Fever have shown they can’t be counted out.

Game 1 of the Minnesota-Phoenix series will be played Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN, while Game 1 of the Las Vegas-Indiana series will be played Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.

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