WNBA Playoffs 2025: Full Schedule, Dates, Times & How to Watch

The WNBA will formally declare its next champion and wrap off a 2025 season that was full of chaotic livestreams, CBA negotiations, and plenty of TikToks in a few short weeks. When the time comes, though, who will lift the WNBA Championship Trophy? Will it be the top-seeded Lynx, whose MVP candidate is Napheesa Collier, a talented forward? Will the No. 5 seed and defending champion Liberty make a run in back-to-back games? Or will another squad aim for the top spot?

Although the race technically starts on Sunday, September 14, see below for a complete schedule of postseason events:

When Will the WNBA Playoffs in 2025 Start?

On Sunday, September 14, the 2025 WNBA playoffs’ opening round will get underway. If the championship series goes to a Game 7, the finals might last until October 17. They begin on Friday, October 3.

What is the structure of the WNBA Playoffs?

Regardless of conference, the league’s best eight clubs advance to the playoffs. They are then put into a bracket with eight teams. While the semifinals are best-of-five, the first round of the playoffs is a best-of-three series. The finals are best-of-seven as of this season.

Which Teams Advanced to the Finals?

The teams who advanced to the postseason were the Lynx, Dream, Aces, Mercury, Liberty, Valkyries, Fever, and Storm. The Storm defeated the Valkyries 74–73 on Tuesday night, and they were the last to secure a place.

What is the Playoff Seeding?

No. 1 Seed: Lynx (34-10)
No. 2 Seed: Aces (30-14)
No. 3 Seed: Dream (30-14)
No. 4 Seed: Mercury (27-17)
No. 5 Seed: Liberty (27-17
No. 6 Seed: Valkyries or Fever (24-20)
No. 7 Seed: Storm (23-21)
No. 8 Seed: Valkyries or Storm (23-21)

Full 2025 WNBA Playoff Schedule

First Round

Sunday, Sept. 14

• Game 1: Valkyries @ Lynx, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 1: Fever @ Dream, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 1: Liberty @ Mercury, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 1: Storm @ Aces, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, Sept. 16

• Game 2: Dream @ Fever, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 2: Aces @ Storm, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Wednesday, Sept. 17

• Game 2: Mercury @ Liberty, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 2: Lynx @ Valkyries 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday, Sept. 18

• Game 3 (if needed): Storm @ Aces, time TBD (ESPN2)
• Game 3 (if needed): Fever @ Dream, time TBD (ESPN2)

Friday, Sept. 19

• Game 3 (if needed): Valkyries @ Lynx, time TBD (ESPN2)
• Game 3 (if needed): Liberty @ Mercury, time TBD (ESPN2)

Semifinals (field TBD)

Sunday, Sept. 21

• Game 1: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 1: 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, Sept. 23

• Game 2: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 2: 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Sept. 26

• Game 3: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
• Game 3: 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Sunday, Sept. 28

• Game 4 (if needed): 1 or 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 4 (if needed): 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Tuesday, Sept.30

• Game 5 (if needed): TBD (TBD)
• Game 5 (if needed): TBD (TBD)

Finals (field TBD)

Friday, Oct. 3

• Game 1: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Oct. 5

• Game 2: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 8

• Game 3: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 10

• Game 4: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, Oct. 12

• Game 5 (if needed): 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 15

• Game 6 (if needed): 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 17

• Game 7 (if needed): 8 p.m. (ESPN)