10 AU Pro Basketball Stars are headed to the WNBA Playoffs
Of the athletes who have already been announced for this winter’s fifth Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball season, 10 will appear in the WNBA playoffs starting Sunday, Sept. 14. From rookies getting their first taste of postseason action to veterans bringing valuable experience, these AU players are set to leave their mark in the W’s 2025 finale.
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx – Jaylyn Sherrod
Second-year guard Jaylyn Sherrod is now part of the league’s top seed after joining Minnesota mid-season. She appeared in 18 games with New York before signing with the Lynx, where she’s since added seven more contests. Sherrod has averaged 1.1 points and 0.5 assists, providing defensive pressure in limited minutes.
Despite dropping their regular-season finale to Indiana, the Lynx finished 33-10 and secured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They’ll host Golden State to start their title chase.
No. 2 Atlanta Dream – Te-Hina Paopao
Rookie guard Te-Hina Paopao has been a key contributor in Atlanta’s rise up the standings. The second-round pick from South Carolina logged 43 appearances with 15 starts, averaging 5.8 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game.
The Dream closed the regular season on a six-game winning streak. As the No. 2 seed, they’ll enter the postseason with momentum and home-court advantage in their opening series.
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No. 3 Las Vegas Aces – Aaliyah Nye, NaLyssa Smith & Kiah Stokes
Aaliyah Nye, another rookie, carved out a rotation spot with Las Vegas by playing in 43 games. She posted 3.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per contest, adjusting quickly to the pace of the professional game.
NaLyssa Smith, the 2023 AU Pro Basketball champion, split her 2025 campaign between Dallas and Las Vegas. With the Aces, she averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 rebounds, adding reliable scoring in the paint and postseason experience.
Kiah Stokes, a 10-year veteran, continues to be a defensive anchor. She appeared in 39 games and averaged 3.7 rebounds to go with her interior presence.
The Aces enter the playoffs as the hottest team in the league, riding a 16-game winning streak dating back to Aug. 2. They’ll open against Los Angeles.
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No. 5 New York Liberty – Isabelle Harrison
Forward Isabelle Harrison provided steady depth for the Liberty this season, appearing in 33 games despite missing some time with a concussion. She contributed 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while giving New York a versatile option in the frontcourt.
New York is also peaking at the right time, winning three straight to close the regular season, including a 91-86 victory over Chicago on Sept. 10. The Liberty will now face the Sky again in Round 1.
No. 6 Indiana Fever – Odyssey Sims & Bree Hall
Odyssey Sims secured her long-term spot with Indiana after two short-term hardship deals, eventually signing for the remainder of the season. She has averaged 10.3 points in 12 games with the Fever, filling a critical role in the absence of injured stars. Combined with her earlier stint in Los Angeles, Sims has posted 10.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game in 2025.
Bree Hall, meanwhile, just began her WNBA journey. The rookie from South Carolina recently joined Indiana after a short stint in Golden State, and has already made her debut in the Fever rotation. She’ll experience playoff basketball early in her career after appearing in her first contest this month.
The Fever will enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak, capped by a 77–74 upset of the top-seeded Lynx on Sept. 9, and will open against Phoenix.
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No. 7 Golden State Valkyries – Kaitlyn Chen
Rookie guard Kaitlyn Chen has quickly become a fan favorite in Golden State’s inaugural season. She has played in 23 games, averaging 2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. While her minutes have been limited, Chen’s energy and connection with the Valkyries fanbase add a spark as the team makes playoff history.
The Valkyries, who finished 23-20, will face the Lynx in Round 1.
No. 8 Seattle Storm – Lexie Brown
Guard Lexie Brown is heading into the postseason with the Storm after appearing in 24 games during the regular season. She averaged 2.1 points, 1.0 assists, and 0.7 rebounds per outing. Seattle clinched the final playoff spot by edging out Golden State 74-73 on Tuesday, snapping a two-game skid. The Storm will open against Minnesota.
Schedule and Format
The opening round of the playoffs is a best-of-three series played in a 1-1-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and Game 3, if necessary. The semifinals shift to a best-of-five series in a 2-2-1 format, in which the higher seed gets home court advantage for Games 1, 2, and 5.
First Round, Sunday, Sept. 14
Game 1: Golden State at Minnesota
Game 1: Indiana at Atlanta
Game 1: New York at Phoenix
Game 1: Seattle at Las Vegas
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
