Four weeks of the NFL season are already in the books. Injuries have affected the outlook for some teams across the league, others are outperforming what many expected in 2025 and a few fanbases are already looking forward to next offseason.

The biggest event of the offseason is the 2026 NFL Draft. This upcoming class is more in line with the 2024 class than what we saw in 2025. Offense is once again the strength, and we could see more players selected in the first round come April.

Within that, the strengths of this class are at quarterback and offensive line, especially tackle. A third of the first round could be devoted to those two positions alone. Similar to 2025, there are some standouts at edge and defensive tackle, indicating this is a strong class for teams seeking help in the trenches overall.

One of the biggest surprises in college football this season is Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s regression. He entered the season widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick thanks to his traits, tape and name.

That’s no longer the case in our first mock draft of the season. Here’s how the first round looks with the order from Tankathon:

2026 NFL mock draft

1. New Orleans Saints: QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Yes, the Saints draft a third quarterback in as many years at the top of this draft. There’s plenty of time in the season for 2025 pick Tyler Shough to come in and prove us wrong but we opt for another QB.

Nussmeier extends plays in the pocket with an NFL-caliber arm. He’s already showing improvement during the 2025 season as he fully recovers from a torso injury sustained during the offseason. Plus, his father Doug is the Saints’ offensive coordinator.

2. New York Jets: QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

New York’s offensive line is bookended by young tackles so they already have players in place to protect Sellers. The South Carolina quarterback possesses elite physical tools, packed into a 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame.

A former soccer player, Sellers has the speed in the open field to make players miss. However, he needs to improve his decision-making as a passer to avoid costly mistakes that have emerged early in 2025.

3. Tennessee Titans: OT Spencer Fano, Utah

Through four games, Cam Ward’s taken 17 sacks – the most in the NFL. His 35.6% completion percentage when pressured is the worst in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) data.

This is a very good offensive tackle class but Fano looks to be the top guy at the position. The 6-foot-6 tackle has an ideal mix of quickness and power to handle different types of rushers. He’s played on both the right and left side in college and could fit in on either side in Tennessee.

4. Cleveland Browns: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Cleveland uses their first of two draft picks in the first round to upgrade its quarterback position. Joe Flacco turns 41 in January and can’t be the answer long-term.

This is assuming Shedeur Sanders isn’t, either. Like Shough, there’s still time for us to be proven wrong on that front. We’ll take what we’ve seen so far to assume he isn’t. Mendoza has an NFL arm, good athleticism and a surprisingly quick release despite his size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds).

He’s shown in 2025 an ability to adapt to more quick-game or run-pass option (RPO) game plans as well as downfield passing concepts. He’d be a moldable quarterback for Kevin Stefanski to maximize.

5. Miami Dolphins: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

Miami gets the top edge rusher in the class in Bain, thanks to the quarterback-needy teams in front of them. Bain entered 2025 in high regard thanks to his power packed in a 6-foot-3, 275-pound frame. That size means he can kick inside for a creative defensive coordinator like Anthony Weaver.

The Dolphins have other needs on both sides of the ball but this pick maximizes value at a foundational position. Cornerback and offensive line were also under consideration.

6. Baltimore Ravens: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Baltimore’s been the third-worst run defense by expected points added (EPA) per play, per SumerSports, through four weeks. Woods could be the answer immediately.

Clemson may be underperforming as a whole in 2025 but Woods still warrants a top-10 pick. At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, he combines elite power with rare explosiveness. He can line up at multiple spots on the interior and play at a Pro Bowl-caliber level sooner than later.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: QB John Mateer, Oklahoma

With young talent at tight end, running back and wide receiver but an aging (and regressing) Geno Smith at quarterback, Las Vegas pulls the trigger on a young passer.

Mateer’s currently sidelined with a broken bone in his throwing hand but if he recovers well, he should be in consideration for a top-10 pick. He’s a creative runner who can extend plays as a dual-threat quarterback and create explosives. His performance against Michigan showed he can handle the tougher defenses in college football.

8. Carolina Panthers: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Carolina hits the edge rusher position again in the 2026 NFL Draft by taking Woods’ running mate at Clemson in Parker. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge rusher uses his heavy hands to disrupt plays in both phases. He set a school record for forced fumbles in 2024 with six and tackles for loss by a freshman in 2023 with 12.5.

He’s racked up a pair of sacks already in 2025. His power and explosiveness would give Carolina another potential difference-maker on the defensive line alongside Derrick Brown.

9. New York Giants: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Jaxson Dart may be the long-term answer at quarterback. If so, New York needs to bolster the protection in front of him. Proctor is a physical marvel at 6-foot-7 and 369 pounds with some of the quickest feet in the class. He absolutely stonewalled Georgia defenders with zero pressures, hurries or quarterback hits allowed on 43 pass blocking snaps.

Lazy analysts may compare Proctor to former Giants first-round offensive lineman Evan Neal, as they both attended Alabama. But this is simply a different type of prospect who is multiple tiers better.

10. Houston Texans: OT Francois Mauigoa, Miami

Houston’s offensive line continues to create issues for the Texans’ offense. Rookie Aireontae Ersey’s learning on the job at left tackle and Mauigoa fits in on the right side to bookend the Texans’ offensive line with young pieces.

At 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, Mauigoa has the size and tools to be a franchise tackle for years. His foot speed and power project well to the NFL level.

11. Dallas Cowboys: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Dallas’ offense is enjoying life with a reliable No. 2 wideout behind CeeDee Lamb in George Pickens. But Pickens will be a free agent this upcoming offseason.

Tyson’s a potential ready-made option to replace him. He’s not a burner but Tyson has ideal size for an outside receiver with impressive separation ability. His quickness and footwork make him a problem for defenders.

12. New England Patriots: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Downs is arguably the best player in the draft class regardless of position. Unfortunately, he plays one of the least valuable positions in the class.

An NFL defensive coordinator will have a fantastic time finding ways to deploy Downs in the box, at the slot position and at deep safety. He can do it all and could complement former first-round pick Christian Gonzalez in the Patriots’ secondary.

13. Denver Broncos: EDGE LT Overton, Alabama

Denver demonstrated in the 2025 NFL Draft that it’s not afraid to double down on a strength with its premium draft capital. They do it again by taking Overton at No. 13 here.

His larger frame and ability to bend at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds mean he can line up inside or at the edge. John Franklin-Myers will be a free agent in 2026 and Overton could help fill his shoes.

14. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): QB Arch Manning, Texas

Okay, here we go. Manning has looked rough through the first month of the college football season. His feet are unsettled and that’s causing issues with his accuracy and decision-making.

But we’ve all seen the flashes. What he showed in spot starts during the 2024 season made him a lock for the No. 1 pick in 2026 if he chose to declare. Los Angeles uses its extra first-round pick from Atlanta to draft him and sit him behind Matthew Stafford for a year before he develops into a potential long-term starter.

15. Chicago Bears: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Braxton Jones will be a free agent next offseason, and Lomu is in his second season as the starting left tackle for the Utes. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound tackle gives Chicago an option there or he can kick inside to be a guard if 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo solidifies himself at the position.

16. Washington Commanders: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Faulk somehow falls this far and Washington takes him as a building block for the future on defense. Faulk’s game is reminiscent of Calais Campbell; at 6-foot-6 and nearly 290 pounds, he has the length and power to line up on the inside or at edge for a Commanders team needing talent up front.

Wide receiver was in consideration here but Faulk’s value at No. 16 was too good to ignore.

17. Arizona Cardinals: WR Nyck Harbor, South Carolina

Arizona went all defense in its 2025 draft class and swing the other way to start 2026. ‘Elite’ isn’t an apt enough description for Harbor’s athleticism; at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Harbor boasts a low 4.2-second speed.

The Cardinals could use a field-stretching piece on the outside to unlock Marvin Harrison Jr. You won’t find a better athlete at the position in this class.

18. Minnesota Vikings: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

The Vikings’ defense is relying on veteran players in the secondary once again this year. McCoy could provide a long-term answer in a division with plenty of talented wide receivers.

His processing speed is special and ball production projects well to the NFL. He won’t keep up in the NFL on athleticism alone. Instead, his instincts will make him a starter. He is recovering from an ACL injury this offseason; how he looks when healthy could make a difference of a whole round.

19. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Cincinnati went with one of the most athletic edge rushers in the class last draft with Shemar Stewart. They balance that with Uiagalelei, a high-floor rusher with lots of production against top competition.

He’s notched four sacks on 100 pass rush snaps so far in 2025. His first step is what NFL evaluators want to see and his bend is an asset off the edge. He’ll need to improve against double-teams.

20. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Sadiq is exactly the kind of matchup nightmare NFL teams look for in tight ends. At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Sadiq is a more than capable blocker with elite speed for his size.

Kansas City needs more athletic difference-makers on offense. Sadiq could be the heir to Travis Kelce as a versatile, dynamic threat inline or outside.

21. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Dallas continues to bolster the offense with its extra first-round pick. The Cowboys’ running game has taken a step forward with Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams in 2025. Love would give them a dynamic threat to maximize it.

He’s a true three-down running back with burst to make plays in the running or passing game. A year after the Cowboys missed out on Ashton Jeanty, they get the top running back in the class this time around.

22. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): OT Xavier Chaplin, Auburn

Cleveland has plenty of needs on offense but one of the more subtle ones is up front. Both starting guards are pending free agents, the Browns just traded for Cam Robinson to help out at left tackle and right tackle Jack Conklin is dealing with injuries once again.

Chaplin is a raw prospect but the tools he has at 6-foot-7 and 348 pounds are remarkable. Cleveland went with a potential quarterback of the future in the top four and get a developmental piece to protect him here.

23. Seattle Seahawks: OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa

The Seahawks hit interior offensive line in Round 1 once again. Dunker started at right tackle at Iowa but likely projects best at guard where his lateral limitations will be less of an issue.

His power and finishing ability in the run game are fantastic. He’s a mauler who can help the Seahawks’ rushing attack get a step better under Klint Kubiak.

24. Los Angeles Rams: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Terrell is on the smaller side for an NFL cornerback at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds but he more than makes up for it with his impressive athleticism and ball skills.

The younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, the Clemson standout offers the full package at the position. In 2024, he notched a sack, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and three forced fumbles.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

Tampa Bay’s investments in the secondary are already paying off from the 2025 draft. In 2026, they lead with addressing the defensive line.

Bailey made the move from Stanford to Texas Tech and continued his pace. He faced NFL-caliber talent against Utah in Week 4 and still had three hurries and a sack on 37 pass rush snaps. He could be a piece up front to complement the young secondary.

26. Indianapolis Colts: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Indianapolis’ defense was exposed in Week 4 at the cornerback spots opposite Charvarius Ward. The veteran Ward turns 30 next offseason, often when the cliff comes.

Delane’s been one of the best coverage cornerbacks in college football this season. He’s allowed just six receptions on 20 targets through five games for the Tigers. He’s a bit slight at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds and not the best athlete but his fluid athleticism and impressive instincts keep him in the right spot.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Drew Allar, Penn State

Aaron Rodgers will be 42 by Christmas and can’t be the long-term answer at quarterback. Will Howard may be but Allar provides a much higher ceiling.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Allar has improved in each of his years as a starter. His arm strength and mobility has drawn comparisons to Josh Allen as a prospect. Allar’s trajectory may not reach Allen’s heights but he has a higher ceiling than most passers in this class.

28. Detroit Lions: C Connor Lew, Auburn

Detroit’s offensive line has long been a strength for the team and Lew presents a way to ensure that into the future.

The Auburn product is one of the more athletic offensive linemen in the class, boasting an ideal skillset for pass protection. His wrestling background is quickly apparent on tape. He’ll likely need to bulk up to handle NFL size but Detroit is a great environment for him to grow.

29. Los Angeles Chargers: DT Caleb Banks, Florida

The Chargers’ defense has been one of the best against the pass in the NFL in 2025. Against the run, however, things have been tougher as the Chargers rank 20th in EPA per rush allowed league-wide.

Enter Banks, one of the biggest defenders in the class at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds. He possesses more than enough traits to become an elite player on the interior, especially with his first step, but needs development. He can line up at multiple positions on the defensive line and give the Chargers a building block up front.

29. San Francisco 49ers: OT Isaiah World, Oregon

Age may finally be catching up to future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers’ blindside protector has 12 pressures allowed through four games. His last full season – 2023 – had just 17 allowed through 15 games.

San Francisco needs to invest in the offensive line. World transferred to Oregon ahead of 2025 with a penchant for good pass blocking. What he’s shown already in Eugene is an improvement in the running game. The 6-foot-8, 312-pound World combines good instincts with a high ceiling thanks to his lateral movement abilities.

31. Buffalo Bills: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Buffalo invested in the secondary and defensive line in the 2025 draft. They get reinforcements in between those groups in Styles.

Styles has outlier size (6-foot-4, 238 pounds) and athleticism to make him a difference-maker at the second level for an NFL defense. His background as a safety means he can handle multiple assignments. He’s a noted leader in the locker room as well.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

It’s hard to poke holes in the Eagles’ roster but one spot you could do so is the secondary, specifically at safety. Reed Blankenship has allowed a 121.8 passer rating when targeted, according to PFF.

Thieneman is as sure a tackler as you’ll find in this safety class. His elite athleticism and instincts consistently put him in the right place. Oregon is experimenting with more diverse safety usage in 2025, which only sets Thieneman up more for success in the NFL.

Penn State coach James Franklin is facing similar scrutiny to what Ohio State’s Ryan Day experienced last season.
Despite a recent loss to Oregon, Penn State can look to Ohio State’s 2024 national title run as a model for recovery.
Fans have expressed frustration with Franklin’s record against Top 10 teams, similar to how Ohio State fans reacted to Day’s losses to Michigan.

The same lonely, desperate look. Saw it on the face of Ryan Day last season, saw it on James Franklin last weekend. 

But there’s a road back for Penn State, no matter what Franklin feels gnawing at his insides. From the lowest of lows, to maybe — just maybe — the highest of highs.

“At some point, and quickly, you make a decision to move on with a plan of how to make it right,” Day said in January, days before his Ohio State team rebounded from the worst loss of his coaching career by winning the national title. 

If there’s one takeaway following Penn State’s gut-punch of an overtime loss to Oregon, it’s this: at least it wasn’t to a bitter rival for the fourth consecutive season.

Because other than that, Franklin is mirroring Day in some sort of sick symphony of the unexplainable. Day found a way out of the crushing reality last season, rallying from another loss to Michigan to win the College Football Playoff as a No. 8 seed. 

Franklin will begin down that road this week, days removed from yet another loss to a Top 10 team despite a talented, loaded roster and a three-year starter at quarterback.

But how do you respond to an irrecoverable loss? How do you move forward when unrelenting noise from the outside begins to creep inside and infect everything? 

How do you convince a group of 18-22-year-olds, as consumed with NIL deals and social media standing as their place in a championship race, that all isn’t lost?

How do you convince a coaching staff that spent all offseason preparing for this moment — after three gimme putts to begin the season against vastly inferior opponents — the goals haven’t changed? 

This was the opportunity to make a statement early, and ride it all the way to Columbus, Ohio in early November and slay that dragon, too. 

And now what? 

Penn State is 4-21 vs. Top 10 teams under Franklin, and early in the fourth quarter of the Oregon game — after the Ducks had taken a 17-3 lead — Lions fans began chanting “Fire Franklin” for the coach with a 37-9 record since 2022. Those chants from fans in Happy Valley at the end of their rope with a coach who has won at least 11 games five times since 2016.

Meanwhile, back in last November, as Michigan celebrated its fourth straight win over Ohio State and the teams fought at midfield after the game, fans in Columbus began chanting “Fire Ryan Day.” For a coach that has won at least 11 games five times since 2019.

Day and Ohio State rallied behind a senior-laden team, and an experienced quarterback who got hot at the right time. They beat a surging SEC team (Tennessee) to begin the CFP, then beat No. 1 Oregon, SEC runner-up Texas and a Notre Dame team that had won 13 straight games.

They did it by doubling down on what they did best: run the ball and throw off play action. It was no longer about proving toughness, it was about getting the ball into the hands of the most-talented players on the team. 

It was also about continuing to play tough, punishing defense behind coordinator Jim Knowles, who spent three years tweaking and perfecting his system before moving to Penn State at the end of last season. 

Hours after the soul-stealing loss to Oregon, Franklin started talking to Knowles about how Ohio State found a way back from the abyss. Then Franklin had Knowles address the players and staff. 

You can listen to words, but can you hear it? In this highly visual society, it’s advantageous to have someone who can paint the picture of success for all to clearly see.

It’s easy to yammer on about not letting one loss turn into two, or how great teams don’t get beat twice by the same game. Or how the CFP has given teams a longer runway to find a way to the big prize. 

All of that is philosophical mind games. Teams and players today need to see it, feel it and more important, follow a step-by-step path.

Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught five passes for 35 yards against Michigan. In four CFP games after Ohio State decided to double down on what it does best — Smith had 19 catches for 381 yards and five touchdowns.

There’s nothing magical to it. Do what you do best, and do it without hesitation or disruption. 

Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, the strength of the Penn State offense for three seasons, combined for just 96 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries against Oregon. That will drastically change over the next two months of the season. 

Because if you’re James Franklin and your career is mirroring Ryan Day’s, keep doing what he did. Get back to the basics, and do them better than you ever have to find a way out. 

“There’s a ton of football left to be played,” Franklin said. 

And a road back to the highest of highs. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB. 

Arkansas’ firing of Sam Pittman triggers motion on SEC football coaching carousel.
Dan Mullen makes more sense for Arkansas than Jon Gruden or Bobby Petrino.
Rhett Lashlee might make the most sense of all, if only he’d leave SMU.

We have motion on the SEC coaching carousel, and it’s full steam ahead.

Arkansas needs a coach after firing Sam Pittman, and, hey Jon Gruden’s not only available, but he wants to coach in the SEC.

A perfect match? Well, about that …

On this edition of ‘SEC Football Unfiltered,’ a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider potential candidates for the Arkansas job with a round of love it, like it or no thanks.

Arkansas is not an elite job, but with the right hire, it can be a top-25 job. The Razorbacks’ glory days occurred back in the Southwest Conference. In the years since Petrino crashed his motorcycle, the Razorbacks finished the season ranked just one time.

Fan passion isn’t an issue, and there’s money in Northwest Arkansas (see Walmart and Tyson Foods), but John Calipari’s basketball program demands financial support, and Arkansas cares about its baseball program, too.

So, who’s the coach that not only could connect with boosters but also handle the recruiting and CEO duties, alongside being a good coach on game day?

Here are seven potential candidates for the Arkansas job, and what our ‘SEC Football Unfiltered’ hosts think of the idea, with this round of ‘love it, like it, or no thanks.’:

Should Arkansas football consider hiring these coaching candidates?

Gus Malzahn, Florida State offensive coordinator

No thanks. Malzahn is right where he needs to be at this stage of his career — coordinating an offense.

Dan Mullen, UNLV coach

Like it. He won at Mississippi State. Arkansas should be no harder of a job than that. Mullen’s biggest chore would be connecting with boosters.

Jon Sumrall, Tulane coach

Like it. He’s won at Troy. He’s won at Tulane. Next stop: a Power Four job. Arkansas could cut Kentucky in line and hire Sumrall.

Rhett Lashlee, SMU coach

Love it. The Arkansas native and alumnus led the Mustangs to the playoff last season, and he’s got SMU’s booster game humming. He’d be a fit for Arkansas, but would he leave a good thing at SMU?

Ryan Silverfield, Memphis coach

No thanks. We almost like it, and Silverfield’s Tigers beat Arkansas, but if hiring from the Group of Five ranks, Sumrall seems like maybe the hotter commodity.

Bobby Petrino, interim Arkansas coach

No thanks. Even putting the motorcycle incident aside, can you imagine Petrino thriving in the SEC in the player empowerment era? We can’t. He’s suited to SEC coordinator jobs, not coaching jobs.

Jon Gruden, Barstool Sports personality

No thanks. Gruden is well suited to the job he has as an internet content creator, and where’s the evidence he’d be a good college coach? There is none. He wasn’t a good NFL coach, either, by the time he took a blowtorch to his career.

Later in the episode

∎ Is Alabama ‘back’? We’re not quite ready to go there. Impressive though the win against Georgia was, we saw this film last season. Beat Vanderbilt and Missouri, and then we’ll talk.

∎ LSU’s problems didn’t end with a loss to Mississippi. There’s trouble with the Tigers.

Week 6 picks against the spread!

Toppmeyer’s five-pack of picks (picks in bold):

∎ Kentucky at Georgia (-20.5)

∎ Vanderbilt at Alabama (-10.5)

∎ Kent Stateat Oklahoma (-45.5)

∎ Mississippi State at Texas A&M (-14.5)

∎ Iowa State at Cincinnati (-1.5)

Season record: 12-13 (1-4 last week)

Adams’ five-pack of picks (picks in bold):

∎ Kentucky at Georgia (-20.5)

∎ Texas (-6.5) at Florida

∎ Vanderbilt at Alabama (-10.5)

∎ Kent Stateat Oklahoma (-45.5)

∎ Texas Tech (-11.5) at Houston

Season record: 11-14 (1-4 last week)

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez each hit two homers in Dodgers’ Game 1 romp.
Blake Snell dazzled in his postseason debut for the Dodgers.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts Game 2 for the Dodgers with the chance to clinch.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ players couldn’t help but watch in disbelief Tuesday night, even giggling at times, admiring the greatest postseason power show they’ve ever witnessed.

If it wasn’t Shohei Ohtani hitting a 100-mph fastball that left his bat at a record 117.7-mph, it was Ohtani hitting a homer 454 feet into the night, the longest in Dodgers postseason history.

If it wasn’t Teoscar Hernández hitting a home run to left field, twirling his bat like a baton before an epic flip, it was Hernández hitting a home run to right field and simply admiring it as he slowly strolled up the line.

By the end of the night, and the Dodgers’ 10-5 rout over the Cincinnati Reds was complete, the Dodgers tied a franchise postseason record with five home runs, traveling a total 1,997 feet, with Ohtani and Hernández becoming only the fifth set of teammates to hit two or more homers in a postseason game.

“That was a lot of fun,’ Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman said. “A lot of feet of home runs. That’s just the explosive nature of our offense.’

And, well, their star power, too.

‘I think it’s the clutch gene,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think they’re not afraid to fail. They like the spotlight. And it’s just a really good heartbeat for those guys in those big moments.’

The Dodgers, the team that everyone feared when they opened the season with all of their stars and $416 million payroll, are back to being the scariest team entering October.

They finished the season winning 15 of their last 20 games and are now showing everyone that the World Series still runs through Los Angeles.

They pulverized the Reds and ace Hunter Greene, producing 15 hits, including six that went for extra-bases, while Blake Snell snuffed out the Reds offense, limiting them to one hit in his first six innings. If the Dodgers keep playing anything like this, even with a bullpen that left their own fans booing them, they may want to start planning for another parade.

“We’ve been playing really good baseball the last two, three weeks,’ Hernandez said. “We knew the things that we can do, especially in big moments like this. The focus is always there, but I think as a player, you get more when the playoffs start.’

Ohtani set the tone when he took Reds ace Hunter Greene deep on the fourth pitch in the bottom of the first.

‘That’s the reason why he signed to be with this ballclub, this organization,’ Roberts said, “to play in games like this. To showcase his other-worldly talent. I expect really fun things this postseason out of Shohei.’

If this is only the beginning, just wait until stakes get even greater, with even Ohtani hinting at the possibility that this offense can’t be stopped.

“Overall, looking at our lineup, we’ve been able to move guys over,’ Ohtani said, “score early and score with runners in scoring position. I think we had a pretty good flow to the game today.’

Yep, when you’re up 5-0 in the third inning and 8-0 in the sixth inning, that qualifies as a flow.

“I think that the leadoff homer from Shohei was big,’ Roberts said. “I think that the shutdown inning from Blake was big. And I just thought from the outset we had a really good game plan against Hunter, and we just didn’t miss pitches when he made mistakes. And Teo was big tonight. …

“I still think Hunter [Greene] is one of the really, really talented pitchers in the game, and for us to get to him like we did, pretty impressive.’

The Dodgers will tell you it started with Ohtani, and once he homered, there was no stopping them. Hernández, who is hitting .429 during his seven-game postseason hitting streak, and Edman hit two homers in a span of three pitches. Freddie Freeman reached base three times. Enrique Hernandez produced a couple of singles.

“I mean, I don’t really have any more words for Shohei,’ Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said, “but Teo definitely helped us a lot. It just makes the lineup so much longer. It’s huge for us. We took it from there.’’

It was the 15th time the Dodgers scored 10 or more runs in a postseason game, and it was their 11th victory in the last 14 postseason games dating back to last year’s division series against the San Diego Padres.

“We’re playing,’’ Betts said, “Dodger baseball.’

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

When the Indiana Fever started the season, the vibes were immaculate.

The had perhaps the biggest superstar in women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark, leading a Big 3 that included Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. They had gone out and signed free agents DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and sharp-shooter Sophie Cunningham with the goal of making the team a championship contender.  

It didn’t take long for the mood to change.

Bonner lost her starting job and fell out of the team’s regular rotation. She missed two weeks in June due to personal reasons and was released June 25 when the team was unable to find a trade partner.

Clark sustained a series of soft tissue injuries and announced Sept. 4 she would not return this season because of a left groin injury. Backup point guard Sydney Colson (torn ACL), Aari McDonald (broken foot), Cunningham (knee injury) and Chloe Bibby (knee injury) also suffered season-ending injuries.

The Fever pushed through all these obstacles to finish 24-20 and make the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. They advanced to the semifinals before being eliminated by the Las Vegas Aces 107-98 in overtime of Game 5 Tuesday in Atlanta.

“It says a lot about this group, how resilient they’ve been, how tough they’ve been, how locked in they’ve been to just putting one foot in front of the other and doing whatever is necessary to position ourselves to win ball games,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “And I think it says a lot about them that they’ve been able to bring in and we’ve been able to bring in new players, and they’ve adjusted and adapted to them.”

The Fever had nine different starting lineups and 16 players on the roster this season. Who will return in 2026? Clark, Boston and Makayla Timpson are all on rookie deals but are the only players locked in for next year. The rest of the roster, with the impending collective bargaining agreement, are free agents.

That said, if the new CBA includes core players, the Fever will likely use the designation on Mitchell for a second straight season. She started all 44 games for the Fever this season averaging a career best 20.2 points and added 3.4 assists. Being designated as a WNBA core player means the Fever will have exclusive rights to negotiate with Mitchell for a one-year, supermax contract.

As for the remaining starters, Howard is a free agent after signing a one-year deal for $214,466 in February, returning to the franchise that drafted her in 2014. She has started 44 games, averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. Lexie Hull is a restricted free agent after playing under a three-year, $217,502 rookie-scale contract that includes a fourth-year option that was exercised by the team. She started 30 games and averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Odyssey Sims’ was signed on a short-term hardship contract after Clark and Colson’s injuries. She was initially signed to a series of seven-day contracts, they converted them to rest-of-season contract to make her eligible for the playoffs. 

White, who left the Connecticut Sun to return to Indiana in the offseason, is also expected to return.

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Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet struck out 11 Yankees in his unbelievable postseason debut.
Boston acquired Crochet last winter and signed him to a $170 million extension.
The Red Sox can advance to the ALDS with a win in Game 2 on Wednesday.

NEW YORK – Garrett Crochet seemingly had plenty left in the tank.

In an era where starting pitchers are yanked at the first sign of trouble, usually before completing six innings, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora rolled the dice and let his ace play the starring role.

On the last of his career-high 117th pitches, Crochet blew a 100-mph four-seam heater by Austin Wells, who went back to the New York Yankees’ bench in disgust as the Red Sox ace’s 11th strikeout victim.

It was the most pitches by a starter in a playoff game since Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg threw 117 in Game 3 of the 2019 National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“With them leaving me in there, I wanted to honor that decision. I felt like he’s put a lot of faith in me this year, and I haven’t let him down yet,” Crochet said. “So I was going to be damn sure this wasn’t the first time.

“I feel like in this environment it is hard to feel any sort of fatigue beyond mental. Up until that point I was incredibly locked into the game, especially right after we took the lead. There was a lot at stake, so it kept me locked in and engaged the whole time.”

Crochet, who improved to 4-0 against the Yankees this year, held the Bronx Bombers at bay until his offense picked up the slack in the top half of the innings, staking him to a 2-1 lead, ultimately, holding on for a 3-1 victory in Game 1 of the wild card series. Boston is one win away from an ALDS matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“We are talking about a stud pitcher. I still thought we got some good swings off,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Crochet. “Look, he’s really good. I thought we had some decent at-bats. We weren’t able to pressure them enough and put enough traffic against him to put him in real trouble.”

The 26-year-old Crochet had it working all night, from his lethal heater to his slider. The one mistake he did make was when Anthony Volpe, who had two of the four hits against Crochet, sent a 97 mph slider into the right field seats. Volpe’s 382-foot home run would have cleared the fences in every major league ballpark – except Boston’s Fenway Park.

That’s precisely why Red Sox management sent four prospects to the Chicago White Sox in December for the left-hander, for performances like he had Tuesday night. The six-year, $170 million extension he signed in March is looking all the more genius.

“He’s the best pitcher in the game,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who went 2-for-4 in Game 1. “He’s going to work all his pitches. We got the Volpe homer but after we got guys on we couldn’t do much after that.”

Cora said he never felt Crochet was overextended because of the care that Boston has taken to keep him fresh. But a Monday conversation with his ace foreshadowed Game 1, Crochet telling Cora that he would be handing the ball ‘straight to (closer Aroldis Chapman).’

“You have to make sure you stay with the process. That’s the most important thing. For how great he was tonight, I tip my hat to the medical staff,” Cora added. “They have done an amazing job with a guy that has never pitched 200 innings, had never made more than 30 starts, has never pitched seven and two-thirds in the playoffs.”

Crochet’s seven-inning masterclass saw him retire 17 of the final 18 batters he faced in his first postseason start. Over the last month of the season, Crochet began throwing more sinkers because his cutter was getting hit and the command on his four-seam fastball was spotty.

‘He is a guy that wants it bad, to be honest with you,’ Cora said. ‘He was in a situation last year that he was learning how to become a starter. He got traded to become the ace. He got paid like an ace, and since day one he has acted like that.’

Crochet also doesn’t let the outside noise affect how he goes about his business.

“For me, it was just a commitment to play for the team that, you know, I owed something to. At the time, it was the White Sox, now it is the Red Sox,’ he said. “I am going to do everything I can to give us a chance to win every time I grab the ball.”

The Indiana Fever’s Cinderella run has officially come to an end. 

The No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces eliminated the No. 6 seed Fever from the WNBA playoffs on Tuesday with a 107-98 overtime win in Game 5 to clinch the semifinal series and advance to the WNBA Finals for the third time in four years.

The Aces led by as many as nine points in Game 5, but the Fever outscored the Aces 23-15 in the fourth quarter to tie it up and force overtime, all without All-Star Kelsey Mitchell, who was ruled out in the third quarter after suffering severe cramps in her legs. The Fever were also without Aliyah Boston, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, for the extra period.

A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young carried the Aces in regulation, but overtime belonged to Chelsea Gray, who scored eight of her 17 points in the extra period, including back-to-back 3-pointers.

‘It’s not just one person, it’s not just five people, it’s everybody. Everybody you see contributed to this game… that’s the same of a championship team,’ Aces center A’ja Wilson said. ‘We’ve worked so hard to get to this point. People counted all of us out, but we’re making it to the Finals right now. We’re not done.’

Wilson finished with 35 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks on Tuesday, becoming the first player in WNBA history to record 25-plus points, 3-plus blocks and 3-plus steals in consecutive games in the regular season or postseason. It was Wilson’s eighth career 30-point playoff game, tying Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi for the most all time.

Wilson (35) and Jackie Young (30) combined for 65 points, becoming the first pair of teammates to score 30-plus in the same game in WNBA playoff history. 

Fever guard Odyssey Sims finished with 27 points in the loss.

End of regulation: Aces 86, Fever 86

The Indiana Fever may be down but they are not out. The Fever lost Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of the game in the third quarter, but the Fever outscored the Aces 23-15 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Aces guard Jackie Young had a look at a game-winning layup, but missed the shot and a putback attempt.

A’ja Wilson (33) and Jackie Young (28) combined for 61 points, while the rest of the team scored 25 points. 

The Fever will be without Aliyah Boston, who fouled out in the fourth quarter. She exited with 11 points and 16 rebounds. Odyssey Sims has a team-high 23 points

End of 3Q: Aces 71, Fever 63

The Aces are 10 minutes away from their third trip to the WNBA Finals in four years. 

A’ja Wilson (27 points) and Jackie Young (21 points) have combined for 48 of the Aces 71 points. 

Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever with 15 points, but was ruled out the remainder of the contest after going down with an injury. Odyssey Sims is up to 13 points, while Aliyah Boston has seven points, 13 rebounds and five personal fouls. 

Kelsey Mitchell exits game with injury

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell went down with an injury with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter as the Fever trailed the Aces, 59-55. Fever players surrounded Mitchell with towels as she laid on her back. Mitchell subsequently rolled over onto her stomach while team staff appeared to stretch her leg. The ESPN broadcast initially reported that Mitchell was suffering from a cramp, but a stretcher was then brought on the floor, signaling something more. Mitchell didn’t get on the stretcher, but was carried to the locker room by team staff. She couldn’t put any pressure on her left leg. Holly Rowe reported Mitchell is out for the remainder of the game.  

Fever center Aliyah Boston in foul trouble

Aliyah Boston picked up her fifth personal foul with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter and Fever head coach Stephanie White subsequently pulled Boston from the game.

Aces guard Chelsea Gray exits game with injury

Aces guard Chelsea Gray limped back to the locker room after turning her right ankle after Fever guard Odyssey Sims stepped on her foot with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter. Gray exited the game with seven points, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field, in addition to four assists and one steal. Dana Evans entered the game for Gray, but Gray returned in the third quarter.

Halftime: Aces 47, Fever 45

Game 5 has been has close as it gets so far, with 11 lead changes and 14 ties in the first half alone. Neither team has led by more than five points at any time so far.  The Aces have a two-point lead over the Fever heading into halftime.  

Aces center A’ja Wilson has a game-high 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Jackie Young has 12 points and Megan Gustafson added five points in nine minutes off the bench. 

Kesley Mitchell scored 12 points in the first half, while Aliyah Boston is nearing a double-double with seven points and 11 rebounds, including four offensive rebounds. Odyssey Sims has nine points, while Lexie Hull is looking to get going from beyond the arc after going 0-of-4 from the 3-point line. 

The Fever have been controlling the boards with 22 rebounds (eight offensive), compared to 10 rebounds (two offensive) for the Aces. Indiana, however, is up to 10 turnovers that have led to 11 points for the Aces. 

DiJonai Carrington in the building

What happens in Las Vegas doesn’t always stay in Las Vegas. Minnesota Lynx guard DiJonai Carrington was spotted courtside at Michelob ULTRA Arena fresh off the Lynx’s playoff ousting on Sunday. Carrington is wearing a No. 3 NaLyssa Smith jersey, paired with a walking boot on her left foot. (Carrington sat out the Lynx’s semifinals series against the Phoenix Mercury with a significant mid-foot sprain.) Carrington and Smith were teammates on Dallas Wings earlier this season before Smith was traded to the Aces and Carrington was traded to the Lynx.

End of Q1: Fever 23, Aces 23

We’re all tied up in the do-or-die Game 5. 

Aces center A’ja Wilson leads all scorers with eight points and two rebounds, while Jackie Young added seven points. Shey Peddy has given the Fever some huge minutes off the bench and scored a team-high seven points in the first quarter. Kelsey Mitchell is up to six points, while Aliyah Boston has four points and six rebounds.

Fever lead Aces early in winner-take-all game

Game 5 is underway at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas and the Fever have an early 11-9 lead over the Aces. Both teams appeared to have some early jitters and frequently turned over the ball. The Fever turned the ball over five times to start the first quarter, while the Aces are up to two turnovers. 

Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever with five points, while Aliyah Boston has four points. The Fever are out-rebounding the Aces 10-2, including five offensive rebounds. Nine of the Fever’s 11 points have come from second-chance opportunities. 

Jackie Young has a team-high four points for the Aces, while A’ja Wilson has two points. 

Shey Peddy stats

Indiana Fever guard Shey Peddy, 36, has averaged 5.2 points, 1.7 steals and 0.8 rebounds in nine regular season game with the Fever. Peddy had seven points, three rebounds and two steals in the Fever’s Game 4 win over the Aces on Sunday. 

Las Vegas Aces roster

Indiana Fever roster

What time is Fever vs. Aces Game 5?

Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals series between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 6 seed Indiana Fever is scheduled to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

How to watch Fever vs. Aces in WNBA playoffs: TV, streaming for Game 5

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 30
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Location: Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas)
TV: ESPN2
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Stream Fever-Aces series on Fubo (free trial)

Indiana Fever starting lineup

Head coach: Stephanie White

0 Kelsey Mitchell | G 5′ 8′ – Ohio State
1 Odyssey Sims | G 5′ 8′ – Baylor
6 Natasha Howard | F 6′ 3′ – Florida State
7 Aliyah Boston | C 6′ 5′ – South Carolina
10 Lexie Hull | G 6′ 1′ – Stanford

Is Caitlin Clark playing tonight? Indiana Fever injury report

Chloe Bibby (left knee), Caitlin Clark (right groin), Sydney Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (right knee), Damiris Dantas (concussion protocol) and Aari McDonald (right foot) have all been ruled out for Game 5.

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

WNBA MVP: A’ja Wilson wins for record fourth time

A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season. She is the first four-time MVP, besting three-time winners Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson. 

Wilson received 51 of 72 first-place votes and 21 second-place votes (657 points) from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The Las Vegas Aces center won the award over finalists Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (534),  Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (391), Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (180) and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (93).

Caitlin Clark injury timeline

May 24: Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark couldn’t pinpoint the specific play that caused her injury, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, ‘Adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle. After the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see.’ She missed the Fever’s next five games.
June 14: Clark returned to Indiana’s lineup in the Fever’s 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. 
June 24: Clark suffered a left groin injury in the Fever’s 94-86 winover the Seattle Storm, which resulted in Clark missing the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said she learned of Clark’s groin injury the following night after Clark alerted team trainers of discomfort.
July 1: Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s 2025 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from rightfully celebrating the team’s hardware.
July 9: Clark returned to the Fever’s lineup in the Fever’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line, and had six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blowout loss, Clark said it was ‘going to take me a second to get my wind back. … Just trying to get my legs under me.’
July 15: Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston. White later confirmed Clark ‘felt a little something in her groin.’ This marked the last game for which Clark suited up.
July 18: Clark announced that she would sit out the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a team captain. Clark was also set to participate in the 3-point contest. She said, ‘I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate … I have to rest my body.’
July 24: The Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s ‘no additional injuries or damage,’ but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.
Aug. 7: Clark reportedly suffered a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during an individual workout session in Phoenix, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Aug. 8: During an appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, ‘Bird’s Eye View,’ Clark spoke about the frustrations of her injury-filled season: “It’s not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It’s like no, you’re tossed into Game 30 — like, ‘Go try to play well.’ It’s hard, it really is.”
Aug. 10: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has progressed in her recovery and has started running full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice just yet: an important step in her ramp-up. ‘She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight. … She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet,’ White said.
Aug. 20: White confirmed that Clark has not returned to practice yet.
Aug. 24: Clark participated in a team shootaround and went through some non-contact drills with the second team, marking her first time practicing with the team since suffering a right groin injury on July 15.
Sept. 4: Clark shared a post on her official X account, stating that she will miss the rest of the regular season and any potential postseason action.

Kelsey Mitchell has been carrying the Indiana Fever — it’s time everyone noticed

In a tumultuous season defined by injuries and resilience, Indiana Feverguard Kelsey Mitchell has remained a constant.

Mitchell has, in fact, been a constant for the Fever organization ever since she was drafted No. 2 overall out of Ohio State in 2018. She’s endured ups and downs during her eight-year career in Indiana, including six losing seasons and five different head coaches, enough turmoil to send any top pick packing.

But Mitchell never bailed and the 29-year-old is now leading the Fever’s improbable postseason charge.

‘There have been multiple times this season where (Mitchell) has put us on her back and she’s carried us,’ Indiana head coach Stephanie White said on Sunday after the Fever upset the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 to steal Game 1 of the WNBA playoff semifinals behind Mitchell’s 34-point performance. Full story here.

2025 WNBA Finals schedule

*if necessary

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And then there were two.

The 2025 WNBA Finals is set as the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury will face off following wins over the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever (3-2) and No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx (3-1), respectively, in the best-of-five semifinal round. This will be the Aces fourth Finals appearance since 2020 and the Mercury’s first since 2021.

The WNBA Finals is expanding to a best-of-seven series, which will follow a 2-2-1-1-1 format that will see the higher seed Aces hosting the first two games at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The series will shift to PHX Arena in Phoenix for Game 3 and 4.

The Aces are vying for their third WNBA championship in four years, while the Mercury are in search of their first title since 2014. Aces center A’ja Wilson is also trying to become the second player in league history to win the league MVP and a WNBA championship in the same season twice. (Cynthia Cooper won the MVP and titles in 1997 and 1998 and Wilson in 2022.)

The journey to the title continues on Friday. Here’s a look at the 2025 WNBA Finals, including projected starting lineups, full rosters, head-to-head records and X factors:

No. 2 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 4 Phoenix Mercury

Las Vegas won the regular-season series vs. Phoenix, 3-1

2025 WNBA Finals schedule

*if necessary

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

Why the Las Vegas Aces could win

Batman has Robin, and A’ja Wilson has teammate Jackie Young. Wilson is a gamechanger but the four-time MVP proved she’s only human with a couple of ‘stinkers’ in the semifinal round against the Fever. Wilson was limited to 13 points (6-of-20 FG; 1-of-2 3PT) in Game 3, but the Aces still beat the Fever behind a 25-point performance from Young.

The dynamic duo were the highest scoring pair in the league this season, averaging a combined 39.9 points per game. Wilson and Young made history in Game 5 by becoming the first pair of teammates to score 30-plus points in the same game, finishing with 35 and 30 points in the must-win game.

Wilson and Young can only carry the team so far, as evidenced in Game 5. Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd lifted the Aces to the finish line in overtime and will be critical moving forward. ‘It’s not just one person, it’s not just five people, it’s everybody,’ Wilson said. The Aces not only have the highest field goal percentage (48.5%) and the highest amount of average points (87.0) in the postseason, Las Vegas has experience, playing in their third WNBA Finals in the four years.

X-factor: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith

Smith was fire in the Aces’ semifinal series win against the Indiana Fever, the team that drafted her No. 2 overall in 2022. After averaging 6.6 points in the Aces’ first-round series against the Seattle Storm, Smith aggressively looked to score against the Fever. The forward averaged 11.5 points in four games, including an 18-point performance in their Game 2 win, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and securing seven rebounds. ‘When you are on a team where winning is the standard, it raises your level of focus,’ Smith said. Wilson’s load is eased when Smith is on the court, but she must stay out of foul trouble. (She had five fouls in Games 3, 4, and 5.)

Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

Head coach: Nate Tibbetts

0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland

Why Phoenix Mercury could win

The Phoenix Mercury’s stout defense is undeniable. The Mercury turned in a defensive clinic and leaned into their physicality to knock out the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. The Mercury have the best defensive rating of the 2025 WNBA playoffs (92.2), holding opponents to the fewest points (75.9) and paint points (32) per game this postseason. That’ll make for an interesting matchup as the Aces’ have scored 47.5% of their points in the paint.

We can’t forget about the Mercury’s ability to score, primarily Phoenix’s Big 3 of Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper, who average 47.3 combined points per game this season. The Mercury haven’t been shooting the 3-pointer as consistently as they did in the regular season, averaging 31.4%, slightly down from the team’s 34% average in the regular season. If the Mercury can get going from the 3-point line and stretch the floor, they will be clicking on all cylinders heading into the WNBA Finals.

X-factor: Mercury’s DeWanna Bonner, Sami Whitcomb

The Mercury entered the postseason with the highest scoring bench in the league and Phoenix will need two-time WNBA champions Sami Whitcomb and DeWanna Bonner to win the Mercury’s first title since 2014. Whitcomb was pivotal in the Mercury’s Game 2 comeback win over the Lynx, knocking down a clutch 3-pointer to send the contest to overtime. But Whitcomb was held to four points (2-of-7 FG, 0-of-2 3PT) in 24 minutes in Game 3 and six points (2-of-8 FG, 1-of-6 3PT) in 27 minutes in Game 4. The Mercury are 2-1 this postseason when Whitcomb scores 10 or more points.

Bonner struggled in the first three games of the semis against the Lynx, averaging 2.6 points in about 24 minutes per game, although she found other ways to impact the game, with eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in Game 3. Bonner turned in a breakout performance in the Mercury’s Game 4 win over the Lynx to clinch the semifinal series, scoring 11 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. The Mercury will benefit if she can consistently contribute on both sides of the ball. Bonner has appeared in 94 career playoff games, the most in WNBA history, and her experience will be crucial in the Finals. She previously won two titles with the Mercury in 2009 and 2014.

Las Vegas Aces roster

Phoenix Mercury roster

WNBA champions by year

Who will be the next team to join this list?

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