WNBA 2025 Playoffs: Bracket, Schedule, Format, and Viewing Guide

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WNBA Playoffs 2025: Bracket, schedule, and Key Storylines

The competition for the WNBA championship is poised to ignite as the playoff field has been officially established. Eight teams have earned their place in the postseason, culminating in a thrilling quest for the coveted title. The opening of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is slated for Sunday, September 14th.

The Contenders: A Look at the Eight Playoff Teams

Following the conclusion of the regular season on Thursday, the final bracket was revealed. Leading the pack is the Minnesota Lynx, spearheaded by Napheesa Collier, who posted a record-tying 34 wins this season. The defending champions, the New York Liberty, also secured a playoff berth, though they did not attain the top seed as they did last year.

The Las Vegas Aces, led by three-time MVP A’ja Wilson, clinched the number two seed after an notable 16-game winning streak at the season’s end.The Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury have also secured home-court advantage in the initial round, showcasing their strong performances this year. In a historic achievement, the Golden State Valkyries became the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in its inaugural season.

Rounding out the playoff picture are the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm. Despite a challenging season marked by injury, including the absence of Caitlin Clark, the Fever managed to capture the Commissioner’s Cup earlier in the year.

Rank	Team	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

Playoff Format and Schedule

The WNBA Playoffs will initiate with a first round composed of best-of-three series. Matchups are set as follows: No. 1 versus No. 8, No. 2 against No. 7,No. 3 versus No. 6, and No. 4 against No. 5. The higher-seeded team will enjoy home-court advantage in Games 1 and, if required, Game 3.

Advancing teams will then compete in best-of-five series during the semifinals, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, and potentially 5. This year marks a historic change, as the WNBA Finals will adopt a best-of-seven series format for the first time, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, if necessary.

Round 1 Matchups

• No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 Golden State Valkyries
• No. 4 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 5 New York Liberty
• No. 2 Las Vegas Aces vs.No. 7 seattle Storm
• No. 3 Atlanta Dream vs. No.6 Indiana fever

Round 1 Schedule

• No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 Golden State Valkyries
  • Game 1: Valkyries at Lynx, Sept. 14, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 2: Lynx at Valkyries, Sept. 17, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 3 (if necessary): Valkyries at Lynx, Sept. 19, time TBD, ESPN2
• No. 4 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 5 New York Liberty
  • Game 1: Liberty at Mercury, Sept. 14, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • game 2: Mercury at Liberty, Sept. 17, 8 p.m. ET,ESPN
  • Game 3 (if necessary): Liberty at Mercury,Sept.19, time TBD, ESPN2
• No. 2 Las vegas Aces vs. No.7 Seattle Storm
  • Game 1: Storm at Aces, Sept. 14,10 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 2: Aces at Storm, Sept. 16, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
  • Game 3 (if necessary): Storm at Aces, Sept. 18, time TBD, ESPN2
• No. 3 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
  • Game 1: Fever at Dream, Sept. 14,3 p.m. ET, ABC
  • Game 2: Dream at fever, Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m.ET, ESPN
  • game 3 (if necessary): Fever at Dream, Sept. 18, time TBD, ESPN2

All four series will commence on September 14th.The action will be broadcast across ESPN networks and ABC, with streaming options available on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

The New York Liberty emerged victorious in the 2024 WNBA finals,defeating the Minnesota Lynx in a captivating five-game series.

WNBA Playoff History and Evolution

The WNBA playoffs have evolved considerably since its inception in 1997. Originally featuring a smaller field of teams and different series formats, the league has continuously refined its postseason structure to enhance competitiveness and fan engagement. The move to a best-of-seven Finals format in 2025 represents the latest step in elevating the championship series to a premier sporting event.

Did You Know? The Minnesota Lynx are tied with the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets for the most WNBA Championships, with four titles each.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on player matchups during the playoffs. Individual star performances and strategic defensive assignments often determine the outcome of each game.

Frequently Asked Questions about the WNBA Playoffs

• What is the WNBA playoff format? The playoffs begin with a best-of-three first round, followed by best-of-five semifinals, and culminate in a best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
• How many teams qualify for the WNBA playoffs? Eight teams, irrespective of conference, qualify for the WNBA playoffs.
• When do the WNBA playoffs start in 2025? The first round of the WNBA Playoffs begins on September 14th.
• Who is favored to win the 2025 WNBA Championship? The minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces are considered strong contenders for the championship.
• Where can I watch the WNBA playoffs? Games will be broadcast on ESPN networks, ABC, and streamed via ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

Will the Minnesota Lynx reclaim the championship title, or will another team rise to the occasion? What impact will player injuries have on the playoff races? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

What determines the seeding order for teams ranked 2-4 in each conference?

Playoff Qualification & Seeding

The 2025 WNBA Playoffs feature eight teams from each conference (Eastern and Western), totaling 16 playoff contenders. Qualification is based on regular season record. Here’s how seeding works:

* #1 Seed: Regular season champion in each conference. Receives a double-bye to the Semifinals.

* #2-4 Seeds: Receive a single-bye to the First Round.

* #5-8 Seeds: Compete in the First Round.

Tiebreakers for seeding are complex,prioritizing head-to-head record,division record,record against playoff teams within the conference,and then overall record. Detailed tiebreaker rules can be found on the official WNBA website (https://www.wnba.com/). Understanding these nuances is crucial for WNBA playoff predictions.

2025 WNBA Playoff Bracket

(Bracket will be updated as games are played. This is a projected bracket based on regular season performance as of September 12, 2025)

Eastern Conference

* (1) New York Liberty – double Bye to Semifinals

* (2) Connecticut Sun – First Round Bye

* (3) Washington Mystics – First Round Bye

* (4) Atlanta Dream – First Round Bye

* (5) Chicago Sky vs. (8) Indiana Fever – First Round

* (6) Minnesota Lynx vs. (7) boston Celtics – First Round

Western Conference

* (1) Las Vegas Aces – Double Bye to Semifinals

* (2) Phoenix Mercury – First Round Bye

* (3) Los Angeles Sparks – First Round Bye

* (4) Seattle Storm – First Round Bye

* (5) Dallas Wings vs. (8) Utah Royals – First Round

* (6) Portland Storm vs. (7) San Antonio Stars – First Round

WNBA Playoff Schedule (September 12, 2025 Onward)

(All times eastern. Schedule subject to change. check https://www.wnba.com/schedule for the most up-to-date details)

First Round (September 12 – September 15, 2025)

* September 12: (5E) Chicago Sky at (8E) indiana Fever – 7:30 PM ET (ESPN2)

* September 13: (6E) Minnesota Lynx at (7E) Boston Celtics – 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass)

* September 14: (5W) Dallas Wings at (8W) Utah Royals – 8:00 PM ET (ESPNU)

* September 15: (6W) Portland Storm at (7W) San Antonio Stars – 9:00 PM ET (WNBA League Pass)

first Round – Single Elimination

Semifinals (September 17 – September 22, 2025)

* Game 1: September 17 – Higher Seed hosts

* Game 2: September 19 – Higher Seed hosts

* Game 3 (if necessary): September 22 – Lower Seed hosts

WNBA Finals (september 24 – october 2, 2025)

* Game 1: September 24 – Higher seed hosts

* Game 2: September 26 – Higher Seed hosts

* Game 3: September 28 – Lower Seed hosts

* Game 4 (if necessary): september 30 – lower Seed hosts

* Game 5 (if necessary): October 2 – Higher Seed hosts

WNBA Playoff Format Explained

The WNBA Playoffs utilize a single-elimination format for the First Round. The Semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series. This format emphasizes the importance of securing a high seed to gain home-court advantage and avoid early elimination.

Here’s a breakdown:

1. First Round: Best-of-one game. Winners advance to the Semifinals.
2. Semifinals: Best-of-five series. The team that wins three games advances to the WNBA Finals.
3. WNBA Finals: Best-of-five series. The team that wins three games is crowned the WNBA Champion.

Viewing options: Watch the WNBA Playoffs

Fans have multiple options to catch all the WNBA Playoff action:

* ESPN Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU will broadcast select games.

* WNBA League Pass: Offers live streaming of every game, including those not televised nationally.(https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass)

* CBS Sports Network: Select games will also be aired on CBS Sports Network.

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