Predictions Playoff VNBA: Selecting the first round, Semis, Champion

The Minnesota Link Enter the playoffs as Favorites to win Championship. But what could stand in the way of seed number 1? Who are their biggest causes? And which players will most influence when all four series of first round on Sunday (13:00 ET, ESPN)?

ESPN surveyed VNBA experts to answer these questions and give the biggest narrative lines moving into postseason. RIS was the most popular choice to win the title, and experts voted unanimously for VNBA finals between Minnesota and no. 2 seeds Las Vegas Aces – which would set a potential epic calculation between the MVP candidates Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson.

How far could they be full of injury Indiana fever Go? How long will the first district move on a distance with a three-game series format, guarantee each team at home?

And what experts think about the VNBA Braniv Champion New York Libertywhich are seeds no. 5 and will not have a domestic court in the playmies?

Let’s look at how we expect the playoffs to shake.

Jump to: Playoff prediction

More: Strengths, shortcomings for each team | Top 25 Players | Schedule

Minnesota is the best team this season. What are the biggest reasons if RIS could (or maybe) win the title?

Miron Medcalf: Aces are the biggest reasons that Lin may not win the championship. I believe Napheesa Collier MVP, but at Wilson can reach the level that no other player can match and now testify. A lot of people thought the aces would not win the title after their rough start of the season, but they found chemistry at the right time. And that is the biggest threat standing between Risa and Championships.

Kevin Pelton: The size can still make a rick uneasy. They are below average on defensive glass, are ranked 10. In the percentage, playing stronger backup messages Jessica Shepard and Maria Kliundikova It takes away some of the fivefold spaces that make Minnesota starting five so strong.

Other Snellings: The link is a championship team. The biggest reason the Minnesota will not win is if the aces play at the top level. Las Vegas has the most dominant internal player of the league next to three perimeter players who are capable of controlling the game. If a synergy was difficult inside for any defense, including RIS, to deal with a string.

Kendra Andrews: Collier said Ris was better than they were a year ago, partly because of what they experienced in the playoffs in 2024, including a loss in five games in the final. They dominated this regular season and set off in postseason with consistency and reliability that other teams are missing. But incredibly dominant teams of regular seasons can come out. (2015-16 Golden State Warriors and 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers have in mind in the NBA.) So, Risa must be used within the regular season and is kept from the out of the vapor.

Alexa Philippou: Six of the past eight Champions of VNBA were no. 1 seeds – including the balloon season of 2020. year who lacked the advantage of the domestic court – and Minnesota is far away and the best team in the league this year. In full force, Minnesota is the team that the team won. But with Collier who went out with an ankle injury and Dijons Carrington Dealing with the problem of the shoulders (the last one played 1. September), Risa may not be so suitable.

PLAYFS VNBA are set 🔥

Who is your choice to take a home title? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kgr4ul0use

– espnv (@ odsnv) 12. September 2025

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If RIS doesn’t win the title, which team will?

Pelton: Freedom can be a championship team if New York can find some cohesion. As Michael Voepil dismissed as part of our playoffs review, New York was Elite with all three stars on the fieldand adding Emma Meesseman Allows the coach of Sandi Brondell to hire better versions of large compositions that had helped freedom outlast last October.

Medcalf: The decision of the coach Becky Hamon to bring Jewell Loid Van Bench changes the dynamics of ASOVA. Draining talent is less significant when they turn to their reserves, who are now led by a player who is on average on average to average only two seasons. Combine it with Wilson and swing, this team has built and easy to see why the aces are in the championship with the link.

Snellings: Add Nalissa Smith He destroyed the interior of ACES at both ends of the court, and Loid found her level from the bench. With Wilson who confirmed his status as the best player in the league and Jackie Young Playing at the level of all-VNBA, the aces are built for success in postseason.

Philippou: He feels like or RIS, aces or freedom – in that order – the champions will be crowned. It’s not disrespect for dreams or living, who both had fantastic seasons. But players on Risa, Aces and Freedoms have a lot of trained experiences they play together, which can make a big difference.

Michael Voepel: The confidence of ACES is intensely after the completion of the regular season to conquer 16 games, which should have provided themselves with seeds no. 2. So, they are at the highest level for more than a month. If I can keep that, the momentum can carry them in the third title. And how did my colleagues say, if it’s not a lynx or aces, we’ll probably be repeated for freedom, which could be the best in postseason.

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Which player may have a unique greatest impact on postseason?

Pelton: Jewell Loid is a fascinating X factor for Las Vegas. Lojdov is an average of more points in less minutes after switching to the bench, recording 42% off the field and 40.5% on 3S compared to 36% and 35%, respectively as a starter. If Loid continues its recent recording success, the ASS will probably return to the finals.

Eric Moodi: Nether-Hiendmanmanman He managed to put her down a bench for Ris, especially down the part of the season. During the last six games of the regular season, there was an average of 16.3 points and 4.2 assists in just 25.7 minutes. Playing next to the links of other talented players allowed her to face less defensive pressure and helped her shine. With that swing, she is well set up to be a key associate of this postseason.

Medcalf: Collier’s defensive presence. To win the title, Risa will have to fight through some elite heritage and centers. The offensive numbers generate titles for Collier, but how to shake the defensive matches – and avoids unbridled distress – will determine the fate links.

Philippou: Historically, New York has reached the championship ceiling when the best is used Jonkuel Jones. She was the MVP final when New York won last year, and Freedom was 34-0 in the playing season when he was filming double double. Jones is a challenge of the match, in the first round and if in the semifinals in the semifinals, if in the semifinals in the semifinals have an advantage in the semifinals in the first round and, if New York progresses in the semifinals. While freedom still relies significantly Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna StewartIt is difficult to see them repeat without the dominant ion.

Supply: Be careful at Aces Point Guard Chelsea GrayWhat was Finals MVP 2022. years. She was fully healthy this season after missing 13 games last season, while he recovered from the injury of the foots suffered in the VNBA 2023 final. Years. Gray is an average 5.4 assist this season, but which jumped to 7.8 in the last 10 matches of the regular season. Gray has a history to be in the greatest best of the best games, so we will see if it is the case in this year’s playoffs.

Playoff prediction

Who wins every best series of first round?

(1) Minnesota Link vs. (8) Gold State of Walkiries

Kendra Andrews: Link in 2

Sean Hurd: Link in 2

Miron Medcalf: Link in 2

Eric Moodi: Link in 2

Neil Paine: Link in 2

Kevin Pelton: Link in 2

Alexa Philippou: Link in 2

Other Snellings: Link in 2

Michael Voepel: Link in 2

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(2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (7) Seattle Storm

Andrews: Aces in 3

HURT: Aces in 3

Medcalf: Aces in 2

Moody: Aces in 3

Paine: Aces in 2

Pelton: Aces in 3

Philippou: Aces in 3

Snellings: Aces in 2

Supply: Aces in 2

Las Vegas Aces did not lose from a defeat of 53 mička at home Minnesota Link 2. August 😮

Complete story: https://t.co/kjsokgknfp pic.twitter.com/h5fhsrevs

– ESPN (@DR) 12. September 2025

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(3) Atlanta Dream vs. (6) Indiana fever

Andrews: San in 2

HURT: San in 2

Medcalf: San in 2

Moody: San in 2

Paine: San in 2

Pelton: San in 2

Philippou: San in 2

Snellings: San in 2

Supply: San in 3

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(4) Phoenix Merkur vs. (5) New York Liberty

Andrews: Freedom in 3

HURT: Mercury in 3

Medcalf: Freedom in 3

Moody: Freedom in 3

Paine: Freedom in 3

Pelton: Freedom in 3

Philippou: Freedom in 3

Snellings: Freedom in 3

Supply: Freedom in 3

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Which teams will meet in the VNBA final?

Andrews: Link vs. Aces

HURT: Link vs. Aces

Medcalf: Link vs. Aces

Moody: Link vs. Aces

Paine: Link vs. Aces

Pelton: Link vs. Aces

Philippou: Link vs. Aces

Snellings: Link vs. Aces

Supply: Link vs. Aces

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Which team will win the championship?

Andrews: Link in 7

HURT: Link in 6

Medcalf: Link in 7

Moody: Aces in 7

Paine: Link in 7

Pelton: Link in 6

Philippou: Link in 6

Snellings: Aces in 6

Supply: Aces in 7

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Which player will be the final MVP?

Andrews: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Link

HURT: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Link

Medcalf: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Link

Moody: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Paine: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Link

Pelton: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Link

Philippou: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Link

Snellings: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Supply: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces