WNBA Playoffs Set for New Best-of-Seven Finals Format

The 2025 WNBA playoffs are officially underway, and this season brings significant changes to the playoff structure that are generating excitement among fans and players alike. Starting with the opening games on Sunday, this year’s postseason will see the Finals contested as a best-of-seven series—a shift aimed at amplifying the stakes and drama of the championship round. Previously, the Finals were held in a best-of-five format.

As reported by CBS Sports, the alterations don’t stop at the Finals. The first-round matchups will now adopt a 1-1-1 format instead of the traditional 2-1 setup. This means that teams will alternate hosting games, adding an extra layer of competitiveness and unpredictability to the early rounds of the playoffs. Fans can expect a thrilling month of basketball culminating in the crowning of a new champion, with the last possible date for the Finals set for October 17.

This season has witnessed a continuation of the league’s format that allows the top eight teams, regardless of their conference affiliations, to vie for the title—an approach that has been in place since 2016. Leading the pack this year is the Minnesota Lynx, who secured the top seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since 2017, finishing the regular season with a remarkable record of 34 wins and 10 losses. The Lynx will now look to capitalize on their strong position as they aim for championship glory.

The playoff field also includes formidable contenders such as the Las Vegas Aces and the Atlanta Dream, both of whom finished the regular season with identical records of 30-14. Other teams making the playoffs include the Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, and the Golden State Valkyries, who all demonstrated resilience and skill throughout the season to earn their spots.

The playoffs will follow a traditional bracket format, pitting the top seed against the eighth seed, second seed against the seventh, and so forth. This structure leads to a series of best-of-three matchups in the first round, followed by best-of-five semifinals, before culminating in the extensive best-of-seven Finals.

This year’s playoff matchups feature some intriguing storylines. The Lynx will face off against the eighth-seed Golden State Valkyries, while the Aces are set to battle the Fever. The Dream will go head-to-head with the Storm, and the Mercury will take on the Liberty. Each of these matchups promises excitement and could deliver unexpected outcomes, especially with the new playoff format in play.

As the WNBA continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness, these adjustments to the playoff format are seen as a positive evolution in the league. Fans are undoubtedly eager to see how these changes will impact the games and the overall championship race this season.