Eleven games separated the first and eighth seeds in the 2025 WNBA playoffs. This season, the gap is much smaller.
The league’s parity has arguably never been greater. The chance for an upset or three is there, and the title is up for grabs.
Will the league’s best team for the entire season win it all? Or will a franchise capture its first title?
Maybe a sleeper team makes a run.
It all starts Sunday.
Here’s a look at the matchups for the best-of-three first round:
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
Game 1: at Minnesota, Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 2: at New York, Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, USA/CNBC
Game 3*: at Minnesota, Thursday, TBD
Matchup to watch: The Liberty had success slowing Olivia Miles in their last meeting by throwing the kitchen sink at the rookie. But did New York show its hand too soon?
Prediction: Lynx in 3.
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 Dallas Wings
Game 1: at Golden State, Sunday, 9 p.m. ET, USA/CNBC
Game 2: at Dallas, Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: at Golden State, Friday, TBD
Matchup to watch: The Valkyries have the league’s best defense, which is designed to stifle the league’s biggest stars, including Paige Bueckers. The injury-plagued Wings might not have the juice to survive this series.
Prediction: Valkyries in 2.
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
Game 1: at Las Vegas, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 2: at Indiana, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
Game 3*: at Las Vegas, Thursday, TBD
Matchup to watch: The Fever’s historically potent offense is going up against the Aces’ top-five defense. Another fun storyline: A’ja Wilson versus Aliyah Boston, two South Carolina alums contending to be Dawn Staley’s favorite.
Prediction: Fever in 3.
No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics
Game 1: at Atlanta, Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
Game 2: at Washington, Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: at Atlanta, Friday, TBD
Matchup to watch: This series will be the battle of the bigs: the Mystics’ Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen versus the Dream’s Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon. Win the war inside to advance.
Prediction: Dream in 3.
