The 2025 WNBA playoffs tipped off Sunday, Sept. 14, with eight teams battling to get their hands on the silverware. The Minnesota Lynx ended their regular season with a stellar 34-10 record to finish as the top seed. They will lock horns with the eighth-seeded Golden State Valkyries.
After the 2022 WNBA playoffs, the postseason will consist of three rounds, each played as a series. The WNBA finals will be a best-of-seven series. Ahead of the start of the playoffs, here’s a quick primer on the final stretch of the 2025 WNBA season.
A Quick Guide to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs: Format, Dates, Teams, and More
The 2025 WNBA Playoffs will see the first-round winner advance to the semifinals, and those who win the semis punch a ticket to the WNBA Finals.
Let’s hear it! Fill it out and reply with your bracket picks 👀
WNBA Playoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/tha9pBJwlA
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 14, 2025
The first round started on Sept. 14 and is expected to run through Sept. 19. The semifinals start two days later on Sept. 21, and the finals are slated for Oct. 3.
2025 WNBA Playoffs Teams:
- Minnesota Lynx
- Las Vegas Aces
- Atlanta Dream
- Phoenix Mercury
- New York Liberty
- Indiana Fever
- Seattle Storm
- Golden State Valkyries
2025 WNBA Playoffs Bracket:
First-round Matchups
- Minnesota Lynx (1) vs. Golden State Valkyries (8)
- Las Vegas Aces (2) vs. Seattle Storm (7)
- Atlanta Dream (3) vs. Indiana Fever (6)
- Phoenix Mercury (4) vs. New York Liberty (5)
Semifinals Matchups
The winner of the Minnesota vs. Golden State series will play the winner of the showdown between Phoenix and Mercury. The Las Vegas vs. Seattle winner will take on the victor from the Atlanta vs. Indiana skirmish.
WNBA Finals Matchup
The winner of the semifinals plays in the final, which, for the first time in the WNBA’s history, features the best of a seven-game series. The women’s league will incorporate the format incorporated by the NBA for the first time.
How Did The Teams Making the Playoffs Fare in the Regular Season?
The Minnesota Lynx was the team to beat this season. They put on a clinic in the regular season, winning 34 of their 44 games. Led by MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier, the Lynx capitalized on a solid start and kept their momentum. Such has been their dominance that they will have homecourt advantage throughout the postseason.
The Aces wobbled at the start, but rocketed in the second half to end their regular season with a 16-game winning streak. The explosive finish propelled them to a 30-14 record. They are now looking at getting their hands on a third title in four seasons.
Defending champions Liberty had an injury-plagued campaign, but managed to hold on to their fifth seed after a bumpy run. The Dream was one of the pleasant surprises and was led admirably by stars Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner. Alyssa Thomas led the Mercury to a healthy finish as the fourth seed.
The Indiana Fever were riddled by injuries and will enter the playoffs without star guard Caitlin Clark and more guard depth in Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Aari McDonald. Much of their hope depends on Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.
The Storm scraped together a string of wins to take seventh place with Skylar Diggins leading the charge. The Valkyries have made the right noises, finishing as the eighth seed in their maiden WNBA season. They ended their regular run with a 23-21 record and will take on defensive powerhouse Lynx in the first round.
