A new playoff spotlight: Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers set for their WNBA postseason debuts

Angela Reese and Paige Bueckers are poised to make their WNBA playoff debuts while Caitlin Clark returns to postseason competition following a prior injury-related absence. The WNBA postseason commences on Sunday with four first-round games. Clark's Fever will face A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in a repeat of last season's semifinals.

Reese and the Atlanta Dream will contest a match against the Washington Mystics, while Bueckers' Dallas Wings will take on the Golden State Valkyries. A rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals is also on the roster, with New York set to face Minnesota. Reese transitioned from Chicago to the Dream in a trade, where she fortified her standing as a top defender in the league.

Bueckers' impressive season has secured the Wings a playoff berth for the first time since 2023, with her leading the league in scoring and assists. The Valkyries have dominated the league, achieving the second seed in the playoffs and posting an impressive 17-5 home record, aided by their formidable defense. The first-round series will be a best-of-three format, an evolution from previous years where the higher-seeded team hosted the first two games.

The coaches are eager to see the format expand to a best-of-five series in the future. ESPN, NBC, USA Sports, Amazon Prime, and Peacock will broadcast the games, with ESPN, Prime, and USA Sports covering the first round and ESPN, NBC, and Peacock handling the semifinals. NBC and USA Sports will broadcast the WNBA Finals, with the games streaming on Peacock as well.