From eight teams, only four remain as the 2025 WNBA playoffs enter the semifinals.
The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx will clash with the no. 5 Phoenix Mercury, while the second-seeded Las Vegas Aces battle the surging Indiana Fever in a pair of must-see best-of-five showdowns.
Minnesota was the lone team to advance in just two games.
The Lynx demolished Golden State 101-72 in Game 1, then pulled off the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history with a nail-biting 75-74 road win to close out the series.
Now standing in their path to a Finals return are the Mercury, who ousted the defending champion New York Liberty in Round 1.
Phoenix leaned on Alyssa Thomas’ triple-double in the deciding Game 3 to punch its ticket to the semifinals for the first time in four years.
The @PhoenixMercury defeat the Liberty, 79-73 to advance to the Semi-Finals 👏
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2025
??Satou Sabally – 23 PTS | 12 REB
??Alyssa Thomas – 20 PTS | 11 REB | 11 AST
??Alyssa Thomas became the first player in WNBA history to record a 20-point triple-double in the postseason
??With 8…
The Lynx, however, have the edge in head-to-head play, winning three of four regular-season meetings, including a 23-point rout in June.
On the other side of the bracket, a David-and-Goliath battle looms.
Las Vegas needed Jackie Young’s clutch performance in Game 3 to dispatch the Seattle Storm, while A’ja Wilson matched her playoff career high with 38 points.
[ALSO READ: Jackie Young heroics send no. 2 Aces to WNBA semis vs Fever after clutch Game 3 win]
The Aces are seeking a fourth Finals berth in six years, but Indiana looks ready to crash the party.
Despite being the underdog, the no. 6 Fever stunned no. 3 Atlanta in three games to secure their first semifinal appearance in a decade.
[ALSO READ: Aaliyah Boston game-winner sends Fever past Dream and into first WNBA semis since 2015]
Playing without injured stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, Indiana showed grit and resilience — and carries confidence after beating Las Vegas twice in the regular season, including a dominant 81-54 win in July.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.