The 2025 WNBA playoffs are set, culminating a regular season filled with dramatic wins, heartbreaking losses, and a fiercely contested MVP race. The postseason begins with a thrilling first-round quadruple-header, featuring eight teams vying for the championship title. The Minnesota Lynx, boasting an impressive regular season record and securing the number one seed, enter the playoffs as the favorites. They'll be aiming for their fifth championship, their first since 2017, and will enjoy home-court advantage throughout the competition.
Defending champions, the New York Liberty, face a tougher road to the finals. Injuries and inconsistencies have relegated them to the number five seed, setting up a challenging first-round clash against the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury, led by the stellar Alyssa Thomas, will be a formidable opponent, ensuring an exciting series.
The Las Vegas Aces, despite a slow start, surged to the number two seed with a remarkable 16-game winning streak. A'ja Wilson's MVP-caliber performance propelled her team, and they're now chasing their third championship in four years.
Other notable playoff teams include the Atlanta Dream, who exceeded expectations after savvy off-season signings, and the Indiana Fever, who return to the postseason after overcoming multiple injuries – including a significant setback for 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark.
This year's playoff format sees a significant change. The first round will be a best-of-three series (1-1-1 format: Games 1 and 3 at the higher seed, Game 2 at the lower seed). Semifinals remain best-of-five, while the Finals have been expanded to a best-of-seven series, guaranteeing even more intense basketball action.
The complete first-round matchups are as follows: [The specific matchups would be inserted here, ideally with hyperlinks to game details. This information was not provided in the original text and requires additional data to complete.]
Below is the tentative playoff schedule. Please note that specific dates and times may be subject to change:
[The full schedule would be inserted here in a user-friendly format, ideally with time zones explicitly stated and links to where to watch the games. This information was partially provided but needs restructuring and enhancement for clarity.]
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Originally published at: https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/2025-wnba-playoff-bracket-schedule-matchups-postseason-game-times-odds-tv-channel-with-first-round-set/
