As the curtain closed on the 2025 WNBA regular season, attention shifted to the postseason, where eight teams will battle for a championship in a field loaded with intrigue, rivalries and star power.
The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx (34-10) face the surprising Golden State Valkyries (27-17), while the second-seeded Las Vegas Aces (30-14) — two-time champions — square off against a familiar rival in the Seattle Storm (23-21).
The third-seeded Atlanta Dream (30-14) take on the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever (24-20), and the defending champion New York Liberty (27-17) open their title defense on the road against the fourth-seeded Phoenix Mercury (27-17).
Minnesota enters as the heavy favorite in the postseason after leading the league in both offensive (109.5) and defensive (97.5) rating.
Behind MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, the Lynx swept all four meetings with Golden State and are aiming for their fifth championship and first since 2017.
But the expansion Valkyries made history by reaching the playoffs in their inaugural season, leaning on defense to fuel a 27-win campaign.
Las Vegas rides into the playoffs on a 16-game winning streak behind three-time MVP A’ja Wilson.
The Aces are chasing their first Finals berth since back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, but face a Storm squad making its 20th playoff appearance and seeking revenge after Las Vegas eliminated them in consecutive years.
Both teams split their four regular-season games.
Meanwhile, New York’s championship defense begins against Phoenix, which took three of four matchups during the regular season.
The series highlights superstar duos on both sides, with Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Finals MVP Jonquel Jones leading the Liberty against Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper of the Mercury.
Atlanta heads into the playoffs as one of the league’s hottest teams, winning its final six games to set a franchise record for victories.
Indiana counters with a record-setting season of its own, posting franchise-best totals in wins and road victories despite losing Caitlin Clark for most of the year.
[ALSO READ: Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark to miss remainder of 2025 WNBA season]
The teams split their four regular-season meetings.
—
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.
