It’s playoff time. Most of us call it the main event. The WNBA regular season officially wrapped up yesterday, closing months of drama, grit, and resilience. Teams battled through injuries, rode hot streaks, and survived shocking upsets—all for one thing: a chance to prove themselves in the playoffs. This 2025 season has been packed with unforgettable storylines.

• The Indiana Fever fought through the impossible, qualifying for the playoffs despite losing five key players for the season, including Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, and Chloe Bibby.
• The Golden State Valkyries made history, becoming the first expansion team in their debut season to reach the playoffs while also selling out every one of their 22 home games.
• Atlanta Dream’s Karl Smesko set a WNBA record this season for the most wins by a first-year head coach.
• The Aces went on a staggering 16-game unbeaten streak to not only lock in a playoff spot but also establish themselves as serious championship contenders.

And how could we forget the Lynx, currently the best team in the league, looking to get their revenge on the Liberty for last season? Speaking of the Liberty, they’ve strengthened their squad with the addition of Emma Meesseman. With so many storylines unfolding and the regular season done, it’s the perfect time to highlight the five best ‘season-turning’ plays of the year.

1. Natasha Cloud Seals the Victory vs the Fever

In just their fourth game of the WNBA season against the New York Liberty, the Fever sat at 2-1 and were eager to make it 3-1. For a moment, things looked well in control — they held a commanding 12-point lead (80-68) with under nine minutes left. But then, the Liberty’s powerhouse trio of Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu flipped the script, dragging the defending champs right back into the fight!

Fast forward, and the Liberty were up by 2 heading into the last 2 seconds of the game. The Indy side had one final chance to tie or steal the win. The ball found its way to Caitlin Clark, who tried to rise for a shot but appeared to be bumped by Natasha Cloud with 1.2 seconds remaining. The whistle never came, and the Liberty escaped with a 90-88 victory.

While fans and losing coach Stephanie White alike were not happy with the decision, Caitlin Clark herself admitted that she wasn’t sure if that was a foul or not. But this moment was enough for Natasha Cloud to announce herself to the Liberty fans.

“We’ve never had anyone quite like her before. We have someone who can get downhill and finish, but also create. And she’s also one of the best defenders in the league,” Sandy Brondello had said about her new signing.

Natasha Cloud’s instant impact powered the Liberty to nine straight wins to start the season before injuries sent them into a turbulent stretch. Now, with the roster finally back at full strength, the defending champions look ready to be right back in the championship mix—and Cloud could prove to be the key piece in that push. On the other side, though, Caitlin Clark’s injury struggles started to pile up right after this game, and she would only go on to suit up 9 more times…

2. The Season-Changing Impact of Naz Hillmon for the Dream

Before heading to College Park on July 30 to face the Dallas Wings, the Atlanta Dream were in a tough spot. They had dropped 4 of their last 7 games (15-11), and it was clear something had to shift if they wanted to stay on track for the playoffs. And just like that, the night delivered all the drama you could imagine.

Sixth Player of the Year contender Naz Hillmon came up clutch, drilling the go-ahead three with just 2.6 seconds left. She poured in 12 of her career-high 21 points in the fourth quarter alone, powering the Atlanta Dream to a thrilling 88-85 win over the Dallas Wings.

Naz Hillmon’s clutch three didn’t just seal a win—her shot turned out to be the turning point of Atlanta’s season. From that moment on, the Dream has dropped just 3 of their next 17 games and suddenly looks every bit like dark horse contenders heading into the WNBA playoffs.

They’ve now secured their 30th win of the season, a brand-new franchise record after taking down the Connecticut Sun. It’s crazy how one play can completely shift the course of a season!

3. When Nneka Ogwumike kept the Storm in the race for the WNBA playoffs

“Ogwumike spinning, turns, fades, gets the bounce, and Seattle gets the win.” How many times have we heard that about Madame President over the years? But this season felt different. When the Storm went to CareFirst Arena to play the Mystics on August 24, their playoff hopes were hanging by a thread. They held a 19-18 record back then. Yes, the Storm had picked up back-to-back wins against the Wings and the Sky, but those were games everyone expected them to win. The real story was the rough patch before that.

They had dropped their first six games of August, with four of those losses coming in nail-biters decided by four or fewer points. So when they went up against the Mystics, tied at 82 with the clock winding down, many thought the Storm were headed for yet another heartbreaking finish…

But Ogwumike pulled off some late-game magic, delivering a clutch performance and a 15-foot jumper that kept the Storm’s playoff hopes alive! This was her second 30-point outing of the season.

That game turned out to be massive, as it just barely sparked the push that eventually secured Seattle the 8th seed.

4. Kate Martin Stepped Up in Heroic Fashion for the Valkyries

The Valkyries are a team that defied all logic to qualify for the playoffs despite facing so many injuries. One of the heroes of their season has been Kate Martin, also popularly known to fans as Money Martin. Caitlin Clark’s backcourt partner from Iowa has enjoyed going up against the Fever this season, having won every single game against them.

When these two teams faced off against each other on August 31st, Kate Martin’s heroics ensured that the Valkyries would stay in the hunt for the WNBA playoffs. With 7 minutes left and a 5-point slender lead to defend, Martin shook her defender with a quick jab step and found just enough space on the wing. She let it fly, nailed the three, and drew the foul — turning it into a momentum-shifting four-point play.

That shot stretched Golden State’s lead to nine, and from there, they never looked back. A massive win considering the circumstances, and one that lifted them to 6th in the standings with a handful of games to go.

5. Kelsey Plum Spoilt a Historic WNBA Night for Paige Bueckers

The August 20 clash between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Dallas Wings was a reminder of how ruthless the WNBA can be. Paige Bueckers had a history-making night, dropping 44 points and becoming the first player ever to score 40+ on 80% shooting… but all that brilliance was overshadowed by a single jaw-dropping play from Kelsey Plum that sealed the game.

Paige Bueckers scored Dallas’ final 13 points, the last on a technical free throw with 1:03 remaining to give them an 80-79 lead. But after winning the ensuing jump ball, the Wings turned it over, as Aziaha James missed a corner 3-pointer with about 20 seconds left, handing Los Angeles a golden chance for the final shot.

Kelsey Plum swung around a high screen from Dearica Hamby, sliced through the lane, and floated in a left-handed shot that kissed the glass before dropping, and that was that. Paige Bueckers’ historic night was just about ruined.

These were five instances that we’ve decided to call turning points this WNBA season. In case you have different moments in mind, do let us know in the comments section!