In Game 1, the Minnesota Lynx proved why they are the best team in the WNBA, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 82-69 in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals.

Although they were down seven at halftime, the battle-tested Lynx showed their resolve, holding the Mercury to just 22 points in the second half.

Courtney Williams scored a game-high 23 points, alongside a career-high five steals. Kayla McBride added 21 points, and Napheesa Collier contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. 

"We've been through a lot of adverse situations in the last two years together. We always know it's a team effort," McBride said after the game.. "We know in those moments when we need to brainstorm. We're never on islands. We're doing it together. We are trying to problem-solve and do whatever it takes to win. It was another example of that today in the halftime conversation."

In a major upset, the resilient Indiana Fever defeated the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 in Game 1.

Kelsey Mitchell, who finished fifth in MVP voting, had an epic performance for the Fever, scoring a playoff-career high 34 points. She shot 12-for-23 from the field and 4-for-6 from three-point range. Odyssey Sims chipped in with 17 points, while Natasha Howard had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Playing again without Caitlin Clark, Chloe Bibby, Sydney Colson, and  Sophie Cunningham, the Fever kept on rolling with total team effort.

“It felt good,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said postgame. “Our group has seen it all. We wanted to come in and be the aggressor right away to make sure that we were dictating on the defensive end, and we were dictating from a pace standpoint. They're champions for a reason. We knew that they were gonna make runs.”

Although she earned her fourth MVP, A’ja Wilson did not play up to her usual standards, finishing with 16 points on just 6-for-22 shooting and 13 rebounds. Jackie Young led the Aces with 19 points.

Both Game 2s of each best-of-five series are set for Tuesday, September 23, in Las Vegas and Minnesota.