2025 WNBA Playoffs Begin
After a record-breaking regular season of 44 games, the WNBA 2025 playoffs are here. Eight teams will compete for the title starting Sunday, beginning with a four-game series. Among the featured teams are the current champions, the New York Liberty, the Minnesota Lynx, who are first in the standings, and the Las Vegas Aces, who are on a 16-game winning streak. Last year, New York defeated Minnesota in the WNBA Finals, in a five-game series, but this season the championship series has been expanded to a best-of-seven format. In addition, the first-round format has changed to 1-1-1, allowing all playoff teams to have at least one home game. This means that the Indiana Fever, who ended a seven-year playoff drought last year, will host their first playoff game since 2016 next week. Caitlin Clark, the Fever’s sensation, who has been out with an injury since July 15, will not play in the playoffs, but Indiana has proven to be a dangerous opponent. We analyze the eight teams competing in the playoffs, from their best assets to their biggest flaws.Competing teams:- Atlanta Dream
- Golden State Valkyries
- Indiana Fever
- Las Vegas Aces
- Minnesota Lynx
- New York Liberty
- Phoenix Mercury
- Seattle Storm
Why they could win: The Aces (30-14) enter the playoffs on a 16-game winning streak, a run that began after a 53-point thrashing by Minnesota on August 2. That loss left Las Vegas with a 14-14 record, but it was a great motivator. Wilson played well all season, but found an even higher gear in the second half, one that could have propelled her to a fourth MVP award. Guard Jewell Loyd, in her first season with the Aces after 10 in Seattle, moved to a bench role in late July that seemed to ignite both her and the team. She is scoring 11.2 PPG, the lowest average since her rookie season. But she is playing with purpose and energy, setting good screens, making hustle plays, fully committing to defense, which have helped fuel Las Vegas’ dramatic turnaround.
It took the Aces almost half the season to fully adapt to the absence of guard Kelsey Plum, a starter on their two championship teams who was traded to Los Angeles. But once all the pieces fell into place, they began to look more like a championship team. And with this winning streak, the Aces’ confidence is soaring. Fatal flaw: During the Aces’ low moments early in the season, coach Becky Hammon questioned their effort and defense. Both have been addressed, and disappointment in effort is unlikely at this point. But can opponents find some cracks in the defense? Not with Wilson, who could be Defensive Player of the Year again. But she’ll need everyone around her to play as well as they have in the last month. – Michael Voepel3. Atlanta DreamFirst-round opponent: Indiana Fever (66.9% chance of advancing) Title possibilities (according to Alofoke Deportes’ BPI): 13.8% What’s at stake: The Dream (30-14), who won twice as many games this year as in the 2024 regular season, are seeking their first title after losing in sweeps in three previous WNBA Finals appearances (2010, 2011, 2013). Projected starting lineup: G Allisha Gray (18.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.5 APG), G Rhyne Howard (17.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.6 APG), G Jordin Canada (11.2 PPG, 5.7 APG), F Brionna Jones (12.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG), F Naz Hillmon (8.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG) Why they could win: While much attention has been paid to Las Vegas’ winning streak, the Dream won 15 of their last 18 games, including the last six in a row. Two of the losses in that streak were to the Aces, the only team Atlanta didn’t beat at least once this season (0-3). The Dream’s 30 wins were by far the most in franchise history, surpassing a 23-win season in 2018. Under the direction of first-year coach Karl Smesko, the Dream adopted a different identity this season, averaging 84.4 PPG with an offensive rating of 110.5 (compared to 77.0 and 99.0 in 2024). Meanwhile, Atlanta continued the defensive prowess for which it was already known, finishing with a defensive rating of 100.5, the best in the league. Depth is also key: The Dream earned their spot in the top four even though starters Howard and Canada missed a combined 27 games. Hillmon, the favorite for Sixth Player of the Year, has actually been starting since August, and center Brittney Griner has adapted to coming off the bench. Guard Maya Caldwell, a hidden gem in the generally unimpressive 2021 draft class, has filled any role the Dream have needed, even starting 16 games. Fatal flaw: The Dream’s main strength is their guard play, led by All-Stars Gray and Howard. Atlanta was one of the league’s best 3-point shooting teams, averaging 9.6 per game compared to 6.0 last season. Jones, Hillmon, and Griner are good post players, but can they match up against the league’s best over the course of a series? That could be a concern, especially if they reach the semifinals and face the Aces, the team they struggled against in the regular season. – Voepel4. Phoenix MercuryFirst-round rival: New York Liberty (26.5% chance of advancing) Title possibilities (according to Alofoke Deportes’ BPI): 1.1% What’s at stake: Phoenix (27-17), which hasn’t won a playoff game since firing Sandy Brondello after a loss in the 2021 WNBA Finals, aims to return, but first must overcome Brondello’s defending champion Liberty. Projected starting lineup: G Monique Akoa Makani (7.7 PPG, 2.7 APG), G Kahleah Copper (15.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG), F Satou Sabally (16.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.4 APG), F Alyssa Thomas (15.7 PPG, 9.3 APG, 9.0 RPG), C Natasha Mack (4.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 BPG) Why they could win: In her first year with the Mercury, Thomas, a six-time WNBA All-Star, has been surrounded by the kind of shooting she never enjoyed in Connecticut. Seven Phoenix players have averaged at least one three-pointer per game, a total that only Golden State can match. The result has been arguably the best season of Thomas’s Hall of Fame career. She is shooting 53.5%, a career high, and has recorded eight triple-doubles, a WNBA record. The Mercury don’t sacrifice size for shooting, with four starters plus sixth woman DeWanna Bonner all 6-foot-1 or taller, which could make them a difficult matchup for smaller opponents. Fatal flaw: Phoenix got here largely by taking care of business against the lower-ranked opponents. The Mercury won the season series against all teams below them except Seattle (split 2-2). That’s good news against New York with home-court advantage in the first round, but less promising when it comes to a prolonged playoff run: Phoenix went a combined 2-9 against the top three seeds. – Kevin Pelton5. New York LibertyFirst-round opponent: Phoenix Mercury (73.5% chance of advancing) Title possibilities (according to Alofoke Deportes’ BPI): 19.9% What’s at stake: As the current WNBA champions, the Liberty are looking to defend their title and enter the dynastic conversation. Projected starting lineup: G Natasha Cloud (10.3 PPG, 5.3 APG); G Sabrina Ionescu (18.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.5 APG); F Leonie Fiebich (8.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG); F Breanna Stewart (18.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG); C Jonquel Jones (13.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG) Why they could win: The Liberty arguably have more accumulated talent on their roster than any other team in the league. Two former MVPs in Stewart and Jones, one of the best guards in the league in Ionescu, and a staunch defender in Cloud. The icing on the cake was the addition of Emma Meesseman, 2019 WNBA Finals MVP and three-time EuroLeague MVP, in July after the All-Star break. Superteam seems outdated when looking at the talent on this roster. Fatal flaw: Two things have plagued the Liberty’s season: injuries and inconsistency. New York started the season with a 9-0 record, looking as dominant as expected, but down the stretch to end the season, the Liberty have a 5-5 record. Four of those losses were against other playoff teams. Injuries this season have caused fluctuations in the lineup, sometimes hindering chemistry. New York was just getting a glimpse of what looks like its full team with the addition of Meesseman in the final days of the regular season. If the Liberty can put it all together, they are a formidable force capable of repeating as champions. But “if” is the operative word. – Katie Barnes6. Indiana FeverFirst-round opponent: Atlanta Dream (33.1% chance of advancing) Title possibilities (according to Alofoke Deportes’ BPI): 2.9% What’s at stake: After missing the postseason from 2017 to 2023, Indiana has secured consecutive playoff berths and is now looking to win its first playoff game, and series, since 2015. Even after season-ending injuries to Caitlin Clark and five other players, the Fever have maintained that they want to make some noise in the postseason. Projected starting lineup: G Odyssey Sims (10.3 PPG, 4.0 APG), G Kelsey Mitchell (20.2 PPG, 39.4 3P%, 3.4 APG), G Lexie Hull (7.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG), F Natasha Howard (11.4, 6.6 RPG), F Aliyah Boston (15.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.7 APG) Why they could win: Indiana has two of the league’s best players in Boston and Mitchell, the latter could appear on MVP ballots for her feats in keeping the Fever afloat. Despite so many injuries, Indiana has a strong core with that duo plus Howard and Hull. After incorporating so many newcomers late in the season, the Fever found some momentum to close out the regular season, winning their last three games. Even without Clark, the offense is capable of scoring a lot of points. No opponent in the playoffs will be as challenging as the adversity the Fever have overcome in the regular season, as they lost five players to season-ending injuries and needed to adapt to DeWanna Bonner’s mid-season departure. But Indiana credits a very close locker room for preventing the team from fracturing, and perhaps that camaraderie will keep the Fever playing until September. Fatal flaw: The Fever’s ceiling simply isn’t as high as it was before losing Clark, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Chloe Bibby to injury. Newcomers with hardship contracts, Sims, Shey Peddy, and Aerial Powers, have integrated well into coach Stephanie White’s system, but Indiana has a 7-6 record since losing McDonald and Colson in early August for the season. Only two of those wins were against playoff teams (August 26 against Seattle and Minnesota without Collier on Tuesday). The Fever have been defensively inconsistent this season, often struggling to defend without fouling, and without Clark as their maestro they have a more limited offense that can’t compensate. They’ve been forced to rely on Mitchell scoring every night, and their depleted guard/forward depth due to injuries could finally backfire on them. – Alexa Philippou7. Seattle StormFirst-round rival: Las Vegas Aces (38.7% chance of advancing) Title possibilities (according to Alofoke Deportes’ BPI): 2.9% Projected starting lineup: G Skylar Diggins (15.5 PPG, 6.0 APG), G Brittney Sykes (14.1 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.2 RPG), F Gabby Williams (11.6 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.3 SPG), F Nneka Ogwumike (18.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.3 APG), C Ezi Magbegor (8.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.2 BPG) What’s at stake: When the Storm signed Diggins and Ogwumike in the 2024 offseason, it ushered in an era of championship hopes, one that has yet to produce a playoff win. And after Seattle stumbled in the second half of 2025, a competitive playoff series could be the bare minimum to avoid offseason changes. Why they could win: The Storm, who boast four All-Stars leading the league after adding Sykes mid-season, look stronger on paper than their 23-21 record. Until the last week of the season, Seattle actually had a better differential than Las Vegas, and only the Lynx can match the Storm’s three wins this season by more than 30 points. Seattle has also often played down to its competition. The Storm had a record of only 10-7 against lottery teams, losing the season series against Los Angeles and Washington. At the same time, Seattle only lost one series to a playoff rival, the Fever, a team they couldn’t face until the WNBA Finals. Fatal flaw: Largely due to their league-leading turnover rate, the Storm scored the second-most points per possession in transition (1.29), according to GeniusIQ tracking. But when opponents can force Seattle into the halfcourt, the team’s lack of shot creation after the Jewell Loyd trade is a problem. The Storm’s 1.01 points per possession in non-transition situations ranked ninth, last among playoff teams. That has shown up in late-game situations when the action slows down. Seattle ranks ninth with an offensive rating of 97.2 in clutch moments, according to WNBA Advanced Stats, which defines that as the final five minutes when the score is within five points. And Seattle lost nine games by five points or fewer, tied with Dallas for the most in the league. – Pelton8. Golden State ValkyriesFirst-round opponent: Minnesota Lynx (8.4% chance of advancing) Title possibilities (according to Alofoke Deportes’ BPI): 0.1% What’s at stake: Golden State (23-21), the league’s first expansion team since 2008, has already become the first franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season. Now it will try to become the first to win a series, or even a title. Projected starting lineup: G Veronica Burton (12.0 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.4 RPG), F Cecilia Zandalasini (10.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.8 APG), F Janelle Salaun (11.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 APG), F Iliana Rupert (9.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG), C Temi Fagbenle (7.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG) Why they could win: The Valkyries built their identity around defense during training camp, and that has paid off: They have the fourth-best defensive rating in the league (99.9) and hold their opponents to the fewest points per game (76.4). Players like Burton, Carla Leite, and Rupert have been revelations for Golden State in their first season, and the team’s depth with veterans Tiffany Hayes, Monique Billings, and Zandalasini gives the Valkyries the experience to find success in the postseason. Golden State has a certain level of grit that should make opponents facing the Valkyries nervous. No, this franchise has never been in the playoffs, but after making history so many times this season, they could do it again now. Fatal flaw: The Valkyries have a bottom-five offense, scoring just 78.3 points per game, the fourth-fewest in the league, and shooting 41.0% from the field, the worst in the league. Their active leading scorer, Burton, has hit big shots and sparked the team on multiple occasions, but only averages 12.0 points per game, 38th in the WNBA. Despite how strong their defense is, it’s possible the Valkyries may not be able to produce enough offense and scoring to remain competitive and make a deep postseason run. – Andrews
