The 2025 WNBA Playoffs are here, and this year promises to be one of the most exciting postseasons yet. With a historic Finals format change, an expansion team breaking through, and several teams peaking at the right time, there’s a lot to unpack.
🗓️ Format, Dates & Key Changes
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The playoffs begin Sunday, September 14, 2025.
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Eight teams qualify, regardless of conference, seeded by regular-season record.
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New / changed formats:
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First Round is best-of-three, with a 1-1-1 home structure: Higher seed hosts Games 1 & 3 (if needed), lower seed hosts Game 2. This guarantees every team a home game in the first round.
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Semifinals: best-of-five (2-2-1) — higher seed gets Games 1, 2, and 5.
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Finals: new for 2025, the WNBA Finals will be best-of-seven (2-2-1-1-1) instead of previous best-of-five format.
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Duration: The Finals could run as late as October 17, 2025, if it goes the full seven games.
🏀 The Teams & Seeds
Here are the 8 teams that made the playoffs in 2025, seeded by their regular-season records:
| Seed | Team | Regular Season Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 34-10 |
| 2 | Las Vegas Aces | 30-14 |
| 3 | Atlanta Dream | 30-14 |
| 4 | Phoenix Mercury | 27-17 |
| 5 | New York Liberty | 27-17 |
| 6 | Indiana Fever | 24-20 |
| 7 | Seattle Storm | 23-21 |
| 8 | Golden State Valkyries | 23-21 |
*Golden State Valkyries are a new expansion team in 2025, and made history as the first expansion team to reach the WNBA Playoffs in their inaugural season.
🔁 First-Round Matchups
Here are the matchups and some initial thoughts on each:
⭐ Players & X-Factors to Watch
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Napheesa Collier (Lynx) — standout season; shooting splits, defense, leadership. If she stays hot, Lynx are dangerous. A’ja Wilson (Aces) — MVP candidate, anchor for her team on both ends. Her performance often tilts momentum.
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Jonquel Jones (Liberty) — known for stepping up in playoffs; her health and consistency will be crucial.
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Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, Kahleah Copper (Mercury) — strong core for Phoenix. If they keep executing, they have upset potential.
Also keep an eye on depth players, bench contributions, and injuries—which can swing short series (especially the best-of-three first round).
🔍 Predictions & Expectations
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The Lynx are the clear favorites. Best regular-season record, home-court through the playoffs, dominant defense and offense. If they avoid major injuries, they’re poised for a deep run.
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The Aces are probably the next biggest threat; their late-season surge gives them momentum.
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The tightest first-round series might be Mercury vs Liberty—both teams are well-matched and hungry.
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Potential dark horse: The Valkyries. Even though they are underdogs, being a first-year team making the playoffs is already an achievement. If they can steal a game or two early, they could make noise.
📺 How to Watch & Broadcast Info
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All playoff games will be televised across the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ABC) in the U.S.
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Outside the U.S. & Canada, games are available via WNBA League Pass.
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First Round games are spread out: Sunday Sept 14 is the kickoff with a quadrupleheader of first‐round Game 1s.
🎯 Why 2025 is Special
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First time ever the WNBA Finals are best-of-seven. Big change meant to align more with other major leagues.
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The Golden State Valkyries making the playoffs in their inaugural season. That’s historic.
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All eight playoff teams have a winning record—speaks to how competitive the league has become.
💬 Final Thoughts
The 2025 WNBA Playoffs are shaping up to be one for the ages. Between the format changes, historic moments, and high-stakes matchups, there’s a lot to look forward to. Whether you're a casual fan or a longtime follower, expect intensity, surprises, and moments that could define careers.
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