The 2025 WNBA regular season officially ends on September 11, 2025, and the playoffs are scheduled to begin just three days later on September 14.
This year’s bracket features eight teams advancing, regardless of conference, and for the first time in league history the Finals will be played as a best-of-seven series.
It is a significant shift in format, underscoring the league’s growth and the heightened competitive balance on display throughout the season.
At the top of the standings, the Minnesota Lynx have been the dominant force.
With a 33-10 record, they clinched the No. 1 seed and secured home-court advantage for the duration of the postseason.
Right behind them, the Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream are locked in a heated battle for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Both clubs finished the season with identical 29-14 records, but the Aces currently hold the edge thanks to tiebreakers.
The middle of the playoff bracket features the Phoenix Mercury in fourth place with a 27-16 record, setting up an opening round matchup against the New York Liberty, who finished 26-17.
That series is already drawing attention, as both squads have the firepower and postseason experience to make things difficult for the other. The Liberty, in particular, are eager to make a deeper run after last season’s disappointment.
The Indiana Fever have secured the sixth seed with a 24-20 record. This marks a return to relevance for the franchise, which has built a roster blending young stars and veterans.
Just behind them, the Golden State Valkyries have made history by reaching the playoffs in their very first season as an expansion franchise.
Sitting at 23-20, the Valkyries have already exceeded expectations and will be tested in their debut postseason campaign.
Rounding out the field, the Seattle Storm clinched the eighth and final playoff spot at 23-21, grabbing a crucial late-season victory to stay alive.
How the bracket is shaping up
The playoff matchups will follow standard seeding, with the top seed facing the eighth, the second seed taking on the seventh, and so on.
That means the Minnesota Lynx will open against the Seattle Storm, while the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty are locked into a battle in the 4-5 matchup.
The contests between the Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Valkyries, along with the Atlanta Dream against the Indiana Fever, promise to be competitive as well, with both series potentially hinging on late-game execution.
This year’s format remains a best-of-three in the opening round, followed by a best-of-five semifinal. The change comes at the Finals stage, where the series will now extend to a full seven games.
The adjustment not only rewards depth and consistency but also mirrors the playoff formats of other professional leagues, offering fans more high-stakes basketball in the process.
The 2025 postseason also carries a number of storylines to watch. The expansion Golden State Valkyries have captivated fans by punching their ticket to the playoffs in year one, a rare feat in professional sports.
Meanwhile, perennial contenders like the Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Connecticut Sun, Chicago Sky, and Dallas Wings find themselves on the outside looking in, with seasons ending short of their goals. For some franchises, it could mean difficult offseason decisions ahead.
With the playoffs tipping off on September 14, every game will carry added weight. The Minnesota Lynx enter as the clear favorite, but history has shown that lower seeds are capable of pulling off upsets when the margins are razor-thin.
Fans can expect a postseason filled with intensity, rivalries, and the kind of drama that has fueled the WNBA’s surge in popularity.
WNBA Season Standings
Eastern Conference
- Atlanta Dream (30 – 14)
- New York Liberty (26 – 17)
- Indiana Fever (24 – 20)
- Washington Mystics (16 – 28)
- Conneticut Sun (11 – 33)
- Chicago Sky (10 – 33)
Western Conference
- Minnesota Lynx (33 – 10)
- Las Vegas Aces (29 – 14)
- Phoenix Mercury (27 – 16)
- Golden State Valkyries (23 – 20)
- Seattle Storm (23 – 21)
- Los Angeles Sparks (21 – 22)
- Dallas Wings (9 – 34)
Read the full article here
