The Field Is Set: Eight Teams, One Title

The 2025 WNBA playoff picture is officially complete.

On Tuesday night, the Seattle Storm clinched the eighth and final postseason berth with a dramatic win over Golden State, a result that also eliminated the Los Angeles Sparks from contention. With that, the playoff field is locked, though final seeding won’t be determined until Thursday’s regular-season finales.

What we do know: the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, and Phoenix Mercury will host first-round series. Minnesota has already secured the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the postseason, which begins Sunday. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and Washington Mystics have all been eliminated.

Who’s In & How They Got Here

Seattle Storm

The last team in, Seattle sealed its spot thanks to Erica Wheeler’s clutch jumper with 18 seconds left against Golden State. Led by All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike (18.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG) and Skylar Diggins-Smith (15.6 PPG, 6.0 APG), plus defensive ace Gabby Williams, the Storm overcame late-season struggles to survive.
Key stat: Fourteen of their losses came by single digits, including 10 at home — a sign of just how close they’ve been all season.

Indiana Fever

Despite losing Caitlin Clark and four other key players to injury, Indiana returns to the playoffs for a second straight year. Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston carried the load, keeping the Fever steady through adversity.
Key stat: Indiana is .500 on the road (11-11) and will start the postseason away from home as, at minimum, the No. 7 seed.

Golden State Valkyries

The league’s newest franchise is also its biggest surprise. The Valkyries sold out every home game in their inaugural season and turned those crowds into momentum, clinching a playoff spot behind balanced scoring and the emergence of Veronica Burton.
Key stat: Nine active players average at least 7.0 points per game, even after losing All-Star Kayla Thornton to a season-ending injury.

New York Liberty (No. 5 Seed)

The defending champions looked unstoppable early, starting 15-6 and adding Emma Meesseman midseason. But injuries to Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Nyara Sabally derailed their momentum. They’ll face Phoenix in the first round.
Key stat: New York is just 3-7 in its last 10 games without consistent health from its core stars.

Atlanta Dream

Powered by a six-game winning streak in late summer, the Dream locked in one of their best seasons in franchise history. With Allisha Gray thriving (career-best 18.7 PPG) and Rhyne Howard continuing her rise, Atlanta boasts the league’s top rebounding unit.
Key stat: New coach Karl Smesko has successfully installed a pace-and-space attack, making Atlanta one of the league’s most versatile offenses.

Phoenix Mercury (No. 4 Seed)

A major offseason trade for Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally, paired with Kahleah Copper, gave Phoenix the firepower they needed. The Mercury enter the playoffs red-hot, winners of eight of their last 11.
Key stat: Thomas has redefined versatility — seven triple-doubles this year, the most in WNBA history for a single season.

Las Vegas Aces

After a rocky first half, Las Vegas flipped the switch. A humiliating 53-point loss to Minnesota became a turning point, sparking an 11-game win streak behind A’ja Wilson, who continues to dominate the MVP race.
Key stat: Wilson has posted five 30-point games during that streak, including the first 30-point, 20-rebound performance in league history.

Minnesota Lynx (No. 1 Seed)

With Napheesa Collier leading the way, Minnesota set the standard all year. The Lynx opened with nine straight wins and clinched the first playoff spot back in August.
Key stat: Until late in the season, Minnesota went three months without losing back-to-back games — a testament to their consistency.

Projected First-Round Matchups

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (8) Seattle Storm

• Minnesota: Led by MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier, the Lynx have been the league’s most consistent team, opening the year 9-0 and never dropping consecutive games until late August. Depth and defense make them the title favorite.

• Seattle: The Storm grabbed the last playoff spot thanks to Erica Wheeler’s clutch shot against Golden State. With Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith anchoring the offense and Gabby Williams wreaking havoc on defense, Seattle is a dangerous underdog.
  Key storyline: Can Seattle close the gap in late-game situations, or will Minnesota’s steady dominance carry through?

(2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (7) Indiana Fever

• Las Vegas: The defending powerhouse rebounded from a rocky start with an 11-game win streak fueled by A’ja Wilson, who is pushing Collier in the MVP race. The Aces look like the team no one wants to face.

• Indiana: Injuries to Caitlin Clark and multiple guards nearly derailed the season, but Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston refused to fold. Indiana is back-to-back playoff qualifiers for the first time in a decade.
  Key storyline: Can Boston and Mitchell keep Indiana afloat against Wilson’s relentless dominance inside?

(3) Atlanta Dream vs. (6) Golden State Valkyries

• Atlanta: A new era under coach Karl Smesko has transformed the Dream into an uptempo, rebounding machine. Allisha Gray is having a career year, while Rhyne Howard continues to grow into a two-way star.

• Golden State: The expansion Valkyries became the first WNBA team to make the playoffs in their debut season. With Veronica Burton stepping up after Kayla Thornton’s injury, balance has been their identity — nine players average at least seven points.
  Key storyline: Can the expansion darlings pull off a historic upset, or will Atlanta’s playoff experience prove too much?

(4) Phoenix Mercury vs. (5) New York Liberty

• Phoenix: The offseason blockbuster for Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally has paid off, pairing them with Kahleah Copper for one of the league’s strongest trios. Phoenix has won eight of its last 11.

• New York: The defending champs stumbled after injuries to Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Nyara Sabally. Adding Emma Meesseman was meant to solidify a title defense, but health has been the biggest hurdle.
  Key storyline: A clash of star-studded rosters — will Phoenix’s momentum carry them, or will the Liberty rediscover their championship form?

Key Themes Heading Into the Playoffs

• Collier vs. Wilson MVP Race: The league’s top two players will likely carry their teams deep into October.

• Health & Depth: Teams like New York and Indiana enter the postseason battered, while Phoenix and Minnesota look strong.

• Golden State’s Debut: The Valkyries have already made history — but can they shock the league one more time?