The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) playoff brackets are now set, following an exciting final night of the regular season that saw the Las Vegas Aces clinch the No. 3 seed.

The Las Vegas Aces, the reigning champions of the WNBA, defeated the Phoenix Mercury 100-82, propelled by A’ja Wilson’s impressive performance of 34 points and 10 rebounds.

The Golden State’s stunning 76-75 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Sparks secured the No. 2 seed for the Valkyries, leaving the Aces at No. 3, even though they finished the season with a strong 31-13 record.

Aces to Face Fever in First Round

The Washington Mystics’ 101-93 win over Chicago, combined with the Indiana Fever’s 86-66 loss to Minnesota, led to the Mystics securing the No. 5 seed and the Fever falling to No. 6.

This sets up a first-round series between the Aces and the Fever, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday (Sept. 27) at 4 p.m. EST at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

Moneyline Favorites in Game 1

Indiana will be without center Aliyah Boston and guard Tyasha Harris, while the Aces will miss guard Dana Evans and forward NaLyssa Smith.

In Game 1, the Aces are favored on the moneyline at -155, with the Fever at +130. The Aces are also 3.5-point favorites for Sunday’s matchup.

The Aces aim to succeed once again with their core players – Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. Wilson, the reigning MVP of the league, is considered by many to be the best player in the WNBA.

Bowers Close to Return for Raiders

Star tight end Brock Bowers is likely to make his return to the Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) lineup for their upcoming game on Sunday (Sept. 27) at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans against the Saints, according to head coach Klint Kubiak in a recent press briefing.

The Saints (1-1) are the favorites on the moneyline at DraftKings with odds of -192, while the Raiders are at +160. The Saints are also 3-point favorites (-122), leaving the Raiders as 3-point underdogs (+102).

Kubiak expressed optimism about Bowers’ return, as he has been recovering from knee surgery since Sept. 8. The Raiders will not conduct a pregame workout for him, unlike last week’s game against the L.A. Chargers.

Jeanty Seeks Redemption

Defensive end Kwity Paye is doubtful due to an illness, and quarterback Aidan O’Connell is absent from the team due to a family matter.

Kubiak addressed running back Ashton Jeanty’s disappointing performance last week, despite the Raiders’ 26-14 victory. Jeanty managed only 48 yards on 21 carries in the game.

He emphasized the ups and downs in the NFL and the importance of responding to challenges. The Raiders face a tough opponent in Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who has performed well in the early part of the season.

Golden Knights Preseason Finale

The Vegas Golden Knights secured a 5-4 overtime victory over the Utah Mammoth in their third preseason game, with veteran players leading the way with goals from Jeremy Lauzon, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, and Jack Eichel.

The Golden Knights will conclude their preseason campaign against the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 26.

Meanwhile, top prospect Trevor Connelly is making a strong case to secure a spot on the team’s roster for the upcoming regular season.

Connelly Pushes for Roster Spot

Vegas recently reduced its roster to 28 players, with Connelly making the cut. He is currently playing on a line with Hertl and Victor Olofsson.

Connelly, who had an impressive performance in the AHL last season, has shown progress during this year’s training camp under coach Ryan Craig, who previously coached him in the AHL.

Regular Season Begins Tuesday

The Golden Knights will open their season at home on Tuesday (Sept. 29) against the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena.