Minnesota Lynx Lead the Pack: Who’s Best Positioned to Win the 2025 WNBA Championship

The 2025 WNBA Playoffs are underway, and four teams stand out as leading contenders: the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces, Indiana Fever, and Phoenix Mercury. Among them, the Lynx look the most equipped to go all the way.

Season Snapshot: Lynx & Competition

• The Minnesota Lynx finished the regular season with a league-best record of 34-10, ranking first in the Western Conference. They led the league in scoring (about 86.1 points per game) and had one of the strongest defenses. Against Phoenix, they held the Mercury to just 16.3% shooting from three-point range. Their net rating was +12.3, far above most others.

• The Las Vegas Aces, led by MVP A’ja Wilson, had a big mid-season turnaround, winning 16 straight games and finishing 30-14. Wilson’s individual excellence—scoring, rebounding, blocks—keeps the Aces dangerous.

• The Indiana Fever have surprised many. In their semifinal series against the Aces, they won Game 1 at Las Vegas behind a 34-point performance from Kelsey Mitchell. This kind of clutch performance could shift momentum.

• The Phoenix Mercury have enough talent—but injuries and consistency have been concerns. Their offense tends to go cold at critical moments, and they’ll need star players like Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper to play at peak performance.

Why the Lynx Are in the Best Position

1. Balance On Both Ends: The Lynx aren’t just good at offense—they defend. Holding Phoenix to terrible three-point shooting in the semis showed how their defense can force struggles.

2. Depth and Star Power: Players like Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride carry big loads. Even when reserves are needed (like stepping up due to injury), they’ve got pieces.

3. Track Record & Home Court Advantage: Being the top seed gives both confidence and favorable matchups. They swept the Valkyries in round one and look composed under pressure.

Wildcards: What Could Stop Them

• Hot Shooting and Upsets: Teams like Phoenix can burst back if their stars stay healthy and find rhythm. Upsets are always possible in playoff basketball.

• Injuries: Key injuries could swing momentum—especially in long series. For example, absence of certain Mercury players earlier in the season made it easier for Lynx in some matchups.

• Mental Toughness in Close Games: Clutch moments matter. Indiana showed how dangerous they are with high pressure games. The Lynx need to keep executing under stress.

Verdict: Who Has the Best Shot?

If everything goes well—if they stay healthy, maintain defensive intensity, and protect leads—the Minnesota Lynx look like the likeliest champions for 2025. The Aces are a close second, given their MVP front-liner and late-season surge. But right now, the gap between them and the Lynx is enough that Minnesota has the edge.

Sources

• Minnesota Lynx team and league stats herhoopstats.com+3Basketball Reference+3ESPN.com+3

• Articles on Lynx vs. Mercury Semifinals performances Swish Appeal+2Bright Side Of The Sun+2

• A’ja Wilson’s MVP season & Aces stats Reuters+1

• Indiana Fever’s upset win over Aces (Game 1) SB Nation+1