2025 WNBA Playoffs Begin with Expanded Finals Format

The 2025 WNBA postseason begins Sunday, September 14, with eight teams advancing based on their regular-season records, regardless of conference alignment. This year’s playoffs mark a historic change, as the Finals expand to a best-of-seven series for the first time in league history.

The playoff structure features three rounds: the First Round, Semifinals, and Finals. The First Round will be played as a best-of-three using a 1-1-1 format, giving both higher and lower seeds at least one home game. Semifinals follow a best-of-five structure with a 2-2-1 format, while the Finals adopt the new seven-game format, laid out in a 2-2-1-1-1 pattern. The playoff bracket is fixed, with no reseeding after the opening round.

The eight qualifying teams and their seedings are:

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)

First Round matchups pair the Lynx against the Valkyries, the Aces against the Storm, the Dream against the Fever, and the Mercury against the Liberty. All Game 1s will be played on September 14, followed by Game 2s on September 16–17. If necessary, decisive Game 3s will take place by September 19.

Games throughout the postseason will be televised on ESPN platforms and ABC, with the Finals expected to draw significant national attention.

Sources: WNBA, ESPN, CBS Sports, NBC New York, Economic Times