Let’s Go! 2025 WNBA Playoffs Preview
Alright, squad, the 2025 WNBA Playoffs are here, and it’s about to get real loud. This season has had wild moments—surprises, injuries, comebacks—and now everything builds up to the most intense games of the year. Let’s break it down, who to watch, who might win, and what’s (maybe) going to happen.
Seeding & Matchups
Here are the teams that made it, and how they stack up:
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Minnesota Lynx — Best record in the league. They were 🔥 almost all season. WNBA+2SI+2
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Las Vegas Aces — They had a 16-game win streak to lock up No. 2. A’ja Wilson is doing stuff that makes everyone else take notice. WNBA+2ESPN.com+2
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Atlanta Dream — Strong season, tough defense, and some big players stepping up. WNBA+2Indiana Fever+2
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Phoenix Mercury — They round out the top four. Solid, but they’ll have to battle to go deep. WNBA+2SI+2
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New York Liberty — Injuries slowed them sometimes, but when healthy they’re scary good. SI+2ESPN.com+2
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Indiana Fever — They’ve had adversity—injuries, missing players—but still made the dance. Indiana Fever+2SI+2
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Seattle Storm — Some ups and downs. If their stars hit, they could surprise. SI+1
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Golden State Valkyries — THE BIG SURPRISE! They’re an expansion team and they made playoffs in their very first season. That’s huge. SI+2Wikipedia+2
New Rules + What’s Different
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First round (best-of-three) got changed: now it’s 1-1-1 format. That means even the lower seed gets a home game. Big for fairness and home-crowd energy. CBSSports.com+2Indiana Fever+2
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And major: The Finals are now best-of-seven for the first time ever. So more games, more chances to battle, more drama. CBSSports.com+1
Who’s the Favorite & X-Factors
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Minnesota Lynx are the team to beat. They have the depth, defense, and stars who are peaking. Napheesa Collier has had an amazing season. WNBA+2ESPN.com+2
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Las Vegas Aces aren’t far behind. A’ja Wilson is doing MVP-level stuff. If the Aces stay hot, they can absolutely fight for the title. WNBA+1
Some players and things to watch:
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Jones (Jonquel Jones of Liberty) — she’s been clutch in past playoffs. If Liberty go deep, her performance will matter a lot. New York Post+1
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Injuries & Health — Indiana lost Caitlin Clark for the rest of the season; that hurts. Other teams have also faced setbacks. How they manage that will decide some series. The Times of India+1
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Momentum — Las Vegas’s win-streak, Golden State’s surprise rise, Minnesota’s consistency: momentum can carry you far. Once playoffs start, confidence kills nerves.
Predictions (Just For Fun)
Here’s what I think might happen, but hey, surprises are part of why we watch:
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Round 1: Lynx beat Valkyries, Aces beat Storm, Dream beat Fever, Liberty squeak past Mercury.
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Semifinals: I predict Lynx vs Aces in the Finals.
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Finals: Lynx might take it in 6 or 7. Collier gets Finals MVP.
Why This Year Feels Big
This season feels historic. An expansion team breaking into the playoffs, the Finals being longer, teams pushing through injuries. Also, EVERY playoff team has a winning record. That shows how competitive the league is. Wikipedia+1
The fans are watching more, too—TV ratings are up, people care more than ever. It’s not just about the WNBA being women’s basketball—it’s about being top-level basketball. So games will be cleaner, faster, tougher. Every possession, every defensive stop, every clutch shot counts.
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