The field for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is officially locked, with eight teams ready to compete for the championship under an updated postseason format. 

The opening round tips off Sunday, September 14, and for the first time, the finals will expand to a best-of-seven series. Teams are seeded strictly by overall record, with no conference separation, and the first round will now follow a 1-1-1 format.

This year’s postseason includes a mix of proven contenders and fresh faces — headlined by the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who capped their inaugural season with a historic playoff berth. The stage is set for an unpredictable run to the WNBA title.

The Matchups

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs (8) Golden State Valkyries
The Lynx finished with the league’s best record at 34-10, dominating the regular season with balance on both ends. They’ll face the expansion Valkyries, who clinched the final playoff spot at 23-21 and became the first new franchise in league history to reach the postseason in year one. Minnesota will be heavy favorites, but Golden State has already exceeded expectations and enters with nothing to lose.

(2) Las Vegas Aces vs (7) Seattle Storm
The defending champion Aces surged late in the season, winning consistently behind A’ja Wilson’s MVP-level play. Seattle, led by Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, will try to slow down Las Vegas’ rhythm and pull off the upset. The Aces are seeking another title, while the Storm are looking to play spoiler as a lower seed.

(3) Atlanta Dream vs (6) Indiana Fever
Atlanta and Indiana square off in a matchup of two resurgent franchises. The Dream finished 30-14, leaning on Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. The Fever, powered by Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, will try to upend the dream even without star guard Caitlin Clark.

(4) Phoenix Mercury vs (5) New York Liberty
On paper, this is the tightest series of the opening round. Both Phoenix and New York finished 27-17, with the Mercury edging the Liberty for home-court advantage. Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally anchor a Phoenix squad with playoff pedigree, while Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu lead New York’s hopes of going back-to-back. This battle of heavyweights may come down to depth and execution in late-game situations, and this could be one of the most entertaining series of the first round.

– – –

The first round will be a best-of-three series with a 1-1-1 format, meaning higher seeds host Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3. The semifinals will expand to best-of-five, while the finals move to best-of-seven for the first time in league history.

With parity at the top and plenty of star power spread across the bracket, the 2025 postseason promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. 

Will the top-seeded Lynx validate their dominance? Can the Aces work its way back to the top? Or will a newcomer like Golden State shock the league?

The answers begin Sunday when the chase for the WNBA championship tips off.