WNBA playoff schedule: Every game in the first round, starting Sunday

3 days ago 10

ESPN

Sep 12, 2025, 10:47 AM ET

It's finally time -- the 2025 WNBA playoffs open Sunday!

All eight teams are in action, with the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx taking on the expansion franchise Golden State Valkyries; the red-hot Las Vegas Aces hosting the Seattle Storm; the Atlanta Dream taking on the Indiana Fever; and the defending champion New York Liberty playing the Phoenix Mercury.

The best-of-three first round is a 1-1-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3. The semifinals is a best-of-five 2-2-1 setup, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2 and 5.

For the first time, the WNBA Finals will expand to a best-of-seven series (2-2-1-1-1) in which the higher seed would host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.

Track the playoff race with our WNBA standings page. We'll update playoff matchups as they're decided.

Jump to round:
First Round, by date | First Round, by series | Semifinals | WNBA Finals

MORE: Strengths, flaws for every team | Top 25 players in the postseason

FIRST ROUND, BY DATE

Sunday, Sept. 14

Game 1: Golden State at Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 1: Indiana at Atlanta, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 1: New York at Phoenix, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 1: Seattle at Las Vegas, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, Sept. 16

Game 2: Atlanta at Indiana, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Las Vegas at Seattle, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Wednesday, Sept. 17

Game 2: Phoenix at New York, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Las Vegas at Seattle, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday, Sept. 18

Game 3*: Indiana at Atlanta, TBD
Game 3*: Seattle at Las Vegas, TBD

Friday, Sept. 19

Game 3*: Golden State at Minnesota, TBD
Game 3*: New York at Phoenix, TBD

* If necessary

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FIRST ROUND, BY SERIES

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (8) Golden State Valkyries

Game 1: Valkyries at Lynx, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Lynx at Valkyries, Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Valkyries at Lynx, Friday, TBD, ESPN2

(2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (7) Seattle Storm

Game 1: Storm at Aces, Sunday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Aces at Storm, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Storm at Aces, Thursday, TBD, ESPN2

(3) Atlanta Dream vs. (6) Indiana Fever

Game 1: Fever at Dream, Sunday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Dream at Fever, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Fever at Dream, Thursday, TBD, ESPN2

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

Game 1: Liberty at Mercury, Sunday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Mercury at Liberty, Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Liberty at Mercury, Friday, TBD, ESPN2

* If necessary