The longest regular season in WNBA history has set the table for a postseason with the potential to be epic.

After the league’s 13 teams played in a record 44 games during the regular season, a few teams have emerged as contenders. The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx have been a buzzsaw throughout the season, followed by the red-hot Las Vegas Aces, who have closed the year on a historic streak to surge to the top of the standings. Of course, the defending-champion New York Liberty deserve mention, as they’ll look to employ their championship DNA in the playoffs as they get healthy down the stretch.

In addition to the more established powers, the playoffs will feature the new-look Phoenix Mercury, the rejuvenated Atlanta Dream, the experienced Seattle Storm, the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever, and perhaps most impressively, the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who have redefined the idea of success in an inaugural season.

As teams will again be seeded regardless of conference, the best-of-three first-round series will come with plenty of intensity from the tip. Here is everything to know about the WNBA playoffs in 2025, including key dates and matchups.

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When do the WNBA playoffs start in 2025?First round: Sept. 14-19Semifinals: Sept. 21-30Finals: Oct. 3-17

The 2025 WNBA playoffs begin on Sunday, Sept. 14. Eight of the league’s 13 teams advance to the postseason, and seeding is done regardless of conference.

While the first round is a best-of-three as in years past,  a new format has been introduced in 2025: the higher seed hosts Game 1 and the lower seed hosts Game 2. If necessary, a decisive Game 3 is played on the home court of the higher seed. In the past, the higher seed hosted Games 1 and 2, and the series shifted for Game 3.

There are no changes to the semifinals, which will be a best-of-five series. However, for the first time, the WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven series. A potential Game 7 of the WNBA Finals is Friday, Oct. 17.

WNBA playoff bracket

If the WNBA season were to end today, the playoff pairings would be as follows:

1. Minnesota Lynx vs. 8. Seattle Storm2. Las Vegas Aces vs. 7. Golden State Valkyries3. Atlanta Dream vs. 6. Indiana Fever4. Phoenix Mercury vs. 5. New York LibertyWNBA playoff schedule 2025

The schedule for the 2025 WNBA playoffs has not yet been released. All four first-round series will begin on Sunday, Sept. 14.

How do the WNBA playoffs work?

The top eight regular-season teams qualify for the WNBA playoffs.

Teams are seeded one through eight based on their regular-season records, regardless of conference. In the first round, the No. 1 seed takes on the No. 8 seed, the No. 2 seed goes against the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed faces the No. 6 seed, and seeds Nos.4 and 5 go head-to-head.

The first round of the WNBA playoffs is a best-of-three series. The higher-seeded team hosts Game 1 and the lower-seeded team hosts Game 2. If necessary, the higher-seeded team hosts a decisive Game 3.

In the semifinals, the winner of the 1-8 matchup goes against the winner of the 4-5 matchup and the winner of the 2-7 series faces the winner of the 3-6 series. Teams are not reseeded. The semifinals are a best-of-five series, and the higher-seeded teams host Games 1 and 2 and Game 5, if necessary.

The WNBA Finals are now a best-of-seven series and the higher-seeded team has home-court advantage, hosting Games 1 and 2 as well as potential Games 5 and 7.

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WNBA playoff tiebreakers

The WNBA has five playoff seeding tiebreakers in place if two teams finish with the same record:

Better record in head-to-head gamesBetter winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the seasonBetter point differential in games net result of total points scored less total points allowed head-to-headBetter point differential net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents

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Current WNBA playoff picture

As the WNBA season winds down, the eight playoff teams are set, but the order has not been settled. Minnesota has clinched the No. 1 spot while Phoenix and New York are locked in to Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Elsewhere, teams are still jockeying for positioning.

RankTeamW-LWin Pct.GB1.x – Minnesota Lynx33-10.767–2.x– Las Vegas Aces29-14.6744.03.x– Atlanta Dream29-14.6744.04.x– Phoenix Mercury27-16.6286.05.x– New York Liberty26-17.6057.06.x – Indiana Fever24-20.5459.57.x – Golden State Valkyries23-20.53510.08.x – Seattle Storm23-21.52310.5

X: Clinched playoff berth

Eliminated from WNBA playoff contention: Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Connecticut Sun, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings