The 2025 WNBA playoffs are upon us, and the stage is set for what promises to be one of the most compelling postseasons in league history. With the opening tip-off scheduled for Sunday, September 14, fans are buzzing with anticipation as storylines abound: New York Liberty’s quest to repeat, Minnesota Lynx’s hunger for redemption, Indiana Fever’s gritty comeback, and the surprising rise of the Golden State Valkyries.
Let’s start with the Minnesota Lynx, who have stormed into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, securing home court advantage throughout the postseason. The Lynx are on a mission—plain and simple. After last season’s heart-wrenching overtime loss in Game 5 of the Finals to the Liberty, Coach Cheryl Reeve’s squad is determined to rewrite the narrative. There’s real history on the line: if Minnesota captures the title, it will be their fifth, breaking a tie with the Seattle Storm and Washington Mystics for the most in WNBA history.
Coach Reeve, a giant in Minnesota sports, has already led the Lynx to four championships and boasts an impressive 364-190 career record—a .657 winning percentage that speaks for itself. Her leadership has seen four of her former players—Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, and Seimone Augustus—inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Reeve’s commitment to excellence and her influence on the league’s growth are undisputed. According to Star Tribune, "Reeve’s team is fun to watch on offense and hard to beat when they turn it up on defense." Her dedication to building a winning culture even led the Minnesota Twins to invite her as a guest speaker in 2017, a testament to her reach beyond basketball.
But the heart and soul of this Lynx team is forward Napheesa Collier. Despite missing seven games in August due to an ankle injury, Collier has been nothing short of sensational. She finished the regular season as the league’s second-leading scorer, 11th in rebounds, third in steals, fifth in blocks, and seventh in field-goal percentage. Most impressively, Collier became only the second player in WNBA history to shoot at least 50% from the field, 40% from behind the arc, and 90% from the free-throw line over a season. Talk about efficiency! This is, without question, her most effective offensive campaign, with career highs in both field-goal and free-throw percentages.
Opponents know they have their hands full. As the Star Tribune put it, "If the answer is no, how can they expect to win a series against the Lynx?" Collier’s impact goes beyond scoring—her defense and presence on the floor are felt in every facet of the game. She’s a leading candidate for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, and her postseason performance could tip the scales in the MVP debate.
Minnesota’s first-round opponent is the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who have already made history by becoming the first expansion team to reach the WNBA playoffs in their inaugural year. The Valkyries, led by breakout star Veronica Burton—a top contender for the league’s Most Improved Player Award—finished a respectable 23-21. This matchup promises intrigue: can the upstart Valkyries pull off a shocker against the battle-tested Lynx, or will Minnesota’s experience and depth prove too much?
Looking ahead, the Lynx might face the defending champion New York Liberty in the second round. The Liberty, aiming to become just the fourth team to repeat as WNBA champions, enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed and must start their campaign on the road at Phoenix. It’s been a roller coaster for New York: after a blistering 9-0 start, injuries hit hard, forcing the team into a fight for survival. Now, the Liberty must win at least one road game in every series to capture a second straight title. The prospect of a Lynx-Liberty rematch is tantalizing—last year’s Finals were marred by late-game controversy, and both teams have something to prove.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever have written a comeback story of their own. Back in the playoffs for the first time in a decade and finishing above .500 for the first time since 2015, the Fever have battled adversity all season. Five players went down with season-ending injuries over the past two months, including star guard Caitlin Clark, who’s been sidelined with a groin injury and will miss the postseason. Still, Indiana has shown grit, resilience, and teamwork, and they’ll open their playoff run against the third-seeded Atlanta Dream. Advancing out of the first round would be a major accomplishment for this battered but determined squad.
Las Vegas Aces, the back-to-back champions from 2022 and 2023, are another team to watch. Riding a jaw-dropping 16-game winning streak—the second-longest in league history—the Aces are the hottest team entering the postseason. History suggests that momentum like this can carry a team all the way: both Los Angeles (18 games) and Phoenix (16 games) won championships during their record streaks. The Aces will face Seattle in the opening round, and it would be unwise to bet against them extending their run.
There are format changes to note this year, too. The WNBA has revamped its playoff structure: the first round will now be a best-of-three series, with the first two games on each team’s home court and a decisive third game at the higher seed if necessary. The Finals have expanded to a best-of-seven series, up from the best-of-five format that’s been in place for two decades. This tweak could favor deeper, more experienced teams—like Minnesota and Las Vegas—who are built for long, grinding series.
Elsewhere, familiar faces have found new homes. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, longtime Connecticut standouts, have reunited in Phoenix. Thomas, who reclaimed the single-season assist record with 357 assists, and Bonner are hoping to guide the Mercury back to the championship round for the first time since 2021. Their postseason pedigree could be a difference-maker for Phoenix, who face the Liberty in what’s sure to be a high-octane opener.
As the playoffs tip off, every team carries its own compelling narrative. Will the Lynx finally claim the elusive fifth title? Can the Liberty repeat despite a treacherous path? Is this the year the Aces’ scorching form translates to another championship? And could the Valkyries or Fever spring a surprise and shake up the established order?
One thing’s for certain: the 2025 WNBA playoffs are loaded with storylines, star power, and the kind of drama that keeps fans glued to their screens. As the first round gets underway, all eyes are on the court, where history, heartbreak, and heroics are just waiting to unfold.
