The 2025 WNBA playoffs have exploded with drama, resilience, and a few jaw-dropping upsets as the field narrows to the final four. With three semifinalists set and one spot remaining, fans are buzzing about the remarkable stories unfolding on the hardwood. From the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx's wild comeback to the Indiana Fever's improbable run without their superstar rookie, this postseason is shaping up to be one for the history books.
Let’s start with the Minnesota Lynx, who have lived up to their billing as the No. 1 seed and most dominant regular-season team. On September 17, the Lynx found themselves in deep trouble against the Golden State Valkyries at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Down by 17 early in the third quarter and trailing 63-49 at the start of the fourth, Minnesota looked all but finished. But this team has championship DNA. Napheesa Collier, who’s been a force all year, put the Lynx on her back, pouring in a game-high 24 points and grabbing seven rebounds. She scored the go-ahead basket with just 1:24 to play, sealing a 75-74 victory and a 2-0 series sweep. Kayla McBride chipped in 18 points, while Bridget Carleton was lethal from deep, hitting four of six triples for 12 points. The Valkyries had a shot to steal the win, but Cecelia Zandalasini’s jumper in the closing seconds rimmed out, sending Minnesota to the semifinals for the second straight year.
"We just never gave up," Collier said after the game, her words echoing the team’s relentless spirit. The Lynx now await the winner of the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty series, who are set to battle in a decisive Game 3 on Friday night. With home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, Minnesota is looking to capture their fifth WNBA title and first since 2017.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever have become the Cinderella story of the postseason. Missing five players to season-ending injuries, including the electrifying rookie Caitlin Clark, the sixth-seeded Fever had every excuse to bow out early. Instead, they stunned the third-seeded Atlanta Dream in a three-game slugfest. After dropping Game 1, Indiana bounced back with a 77-60 win at home, marking their first playoff victory since 2016. Game 3, played at Atlanta’s Gateway Center Arena on September 18, was nothing short of thrilling. The Fever edged the Dream 87-85, clinching their first playoff series in a decade.
Kelsey Mitchell was the hero for Indiana, leading the charge with 24 points in Game 3. The Fever’s balanced attack—three players scored in double figures in their Game 2 win—proved too much for Atlanta, who struggled offensively. Rhyne Howard, the Dream’s star, managed just 10 points in the pivotal second game and couldn’t spark a turnaround at home. "This team just keeps fighting," said Indiana’s interim coach, referencing their injury-plagued roster and underdog status. The Fever’s victory sets up a high-stakes semifinal showdown with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Speaking of the Aces, their path to the semifinals was anything but smooth. Matched up against the seventh-seeded Seattle Storm, Las Vegas looked dominant in a 102-77 Game 1 win but faltered in Game 2, falling 86-83. The decisive Game 3, played on September 18, was a nail-biter. Jackie Young delivered the dagger, hitting the game-winning shot with just 12 seconds left, lifting the Aces to a 74-73 triumph and a 2-1 series win. The Aces now host the Fever in Game 1 of the semifinals on Sunday, September 21, at 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on ABC.
The last semifinal ticket will be punched on Friday night, as the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty face off in a winner-take-all Game 3. The Liberty took Game 1 in overtime, 76-69, but the Mercury roared back with an 86-60 rout in Game 2, powered by five players in double figures. Game 3 tips off at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and fans can stream all the action on Fubo. The winner will move on to face the Minnesota Lynx, with Game 1 set for Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
This year’s playoffs have featured a new twist in the format. The first round used a 1-1-1 home game setup, giving the higher seed Games 1 and 3 at home and the lower seed Game 2. The semifinals will be a best-of-five series in a 2-2-1 format, with the higher seed hosting the first two and, if necessary, the fifth game. And for the first time in league history, the WNBA Finals will expand to a best-of-seven series, with the higher seed holding home-court advantage in Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The Finals tip off on October 3, promising even more high-stakes drama.
The 2025 bracket has delivered on every front: upsets, comebacks, and superstars rising to the moment. The Lynx’s rally from 17 points down, the Fever’s gutsy run without Caitlin Clark, and the Aces’ late-game heroics have all added layers to this year’s narrative. As for the Mercury and Liberty, both teams have shown flashes of brilliance and vulnerability—Friday night’s clash could come down to a single possession.
For fans looking to catch every moment, all playoff games are being broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, with streaming available on Fubo. The league’s decision to expand the Finals underscores the growing appetite for women’s basketball and the WNBA’s commitment to delivering more marquee matchups on the biggest stage.
So, what’s next? The semifinals promise to be fiercely contested, with the Lynx and Aces both aiming to add to their championship legacies, while the Fever look to keep their magical run alive. Will the Mercury or Liberty step up and crash the party? With the way this postseason has gone, anything seems possible.
As the playoff field narrows and the stakes get higher, one thing is certain—the 2025 WNBA postseason is delivering unforgettable moments and setting the stage for a historic finish. Stay tuned as the league’s best battle for a place in the record books.
