The chase for the WNBA title is about to start.
The sector for the 2025 playoffs is about, with eight of the league’s 13 groups incomes an opportunity to compete for this yr’s championship. Though, there are nonetheless a number of seeds to be decided on the ultimate day of the common season Thursday.
The reigning champion New York Liberty have carried their title protection to the postseason, however they don’t seem to be the No. 1 seed like final yr. That prime spot was earned by MVP candidate Napheesa Collier and the runner-up Minnesota Lynx, who adopted up their crushing 2024 Finals defeat by posting a league-best 33-10 report.
A few new-look groups — the Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury — secured home-court benefit in Spherical 1, whereas three-time MVP A’ja Wilson powered the Las Vegas Aces to a top-three seed because of an ongoing 15-game successful streak.
Historical past at Chase Middle in entrance of one other sellout crowd. The Golden State Valkyries are the primary WNBA growth group to make the playoffs of their inaugural season.
In the meantime, the Golden State Valkyries secured a historic playoff berth as the primary growth group to ever attain the postseason in its debut season.
Rounding out the playoff discipline are the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm. The Fever captured this yr’s Commissioner’s Cup with out Caitlin Clark, and so they’ll be with out their celebrity guard within the postseason as nicely. Clark’s injury-ridden sophomore season ended after simply 13 video games as a consequence of a groin damage.
So, what are the first-round matchups? And when do the playoffs start? This is every thing you should know in regards to the WNBA postseason:
What number of groups make the WNBA playoffs?
The league’s prime eight groups, no matter convention, qualify for the playoffs.
What groups are going to the WNBA playoffs?
This is a full have a look at the eight squads in rivalry for this yr’s title (groups in daring are locked into seed):
Minnesota Lynx, 33-10
Atlanta Dream, 30-14
Las Vegas Aces, 29-14
Phoenix Mercury, 27-16
New York Liberty, 26-17
Indiana Fever, 24-20
Golden State Valkyries, 23-20
Seattle Storm, 23-21
Listed here are 5 issues to find out about Minnesota Lynx ahead Napheesa Collier.
When do the WNBA playoffs begin?
The WNBA playoffs tip off Sunday, Sept. 14.
How do the WNBA playoffs work?
The WNBA playoffs start with a primary spherical that includes best-of-three sequence the place the matchups are No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5. Within the first spherical, the upper seed has home-court benefit in Video games 1 and, if mandatory, 3.
The postseason strikes to best-of-five sequence within the semifinals, with the upper seed internet hosting Video games 1, 2 and, if mandatory, 5. And, for the primary time within the league historical past, the WNBA Finals can have a best-of-seven format. The upper seed will host Video games 1 and a pair of, together with Video games 5 and seven, if mandatory.
Do the WNBA playoffs reseed groups?
Groups aren’t reseeded following the opening spherical of the playoffs. Meaning the winner of the 1-8 matchup will meet the winner of the 4-5 matchup, with the opposite sequence that includes the 2-7 and 3-6 matchup winners.
WNBA playoff bracket: Spherical 1 matchups
Only one first-round matchup is about thus far, because the No. 5 Liberty will face the No. 4 Mercury. This is a have a look at the playoff bracket potentialities:
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 Storm/Valkyries
No. 4 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 5 New York Liberty
No. 2 Aces/Dream vs. No. 7 Fever/Storm
No. 3 Dream/Aces vs. No. 6 Fever/Valkyries
The Aces can overtake the Dream for the No. 2 seed by beating the Los Angeles Sparks of their regular-season finale on Thursday. If Las Vegas loses, the Dream would be the No. 2 seed and the Aces the No. 3 seed.
The Valkyries can earn the No. 6 seed and bump the Fever all the way down to No. 7 with a win in opposition to the Lynx on Thursday. However a Valkyries loss will drop Golden State to No. 8 and transfer Seattle as much as No. 7.
Listed here are 5 issues to find out about Las Vegas Aces middle A’ja Wilson.
What’s the Spherical 1 schedule within the WNBA playoffs?
All 4 sequence will start Sept. 14 and the opening spherical is slated to run till Sept. 19. This part shall be up to date as soon as series-specific schedule particulars for Spherical 1 are launched.
The place to observe, stream the WNBA playoffs
The WNBA playoffs will air throughout ESPN networks and ABC. The postseason motion will also be streamed on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
Who gained the WNBA Finals in 2024?
The Liberty outlasted the Lynx in a five-game WNBA Finals thriller final yr, securing the franchise’s first championship within the course of.
The New York Liberty secured their first WNBA title in franchise historical past, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in additional time of Sport 5.
