The 2025 WNBA postseason picture is complete, with the Seattle Storm securing the final playoff berth in a dramatic victory. A last-second jumper by Erica Wheeler sealed the win against the Golden State Valkyries, sending the Storm to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. This year marks a significant milestone: every WNBA playoff team boasts a winning record.
The Storm's journey to the playoffs was anything but smooth. Despite a roster featuring three All-Stars (Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Gabby Williams) and the trade deadline acquisition of Brittney Sykes, Seattle endured a six-game losing streak in August. Their playoff hopes hinged on winning their final game or a loss by the Los Angeles Sparks. With the Sparks narrowly defeating Phoenix, the pressure was on the Storm. They responded with a remarkable eight-point comeback in the fourth quarter, securing their hard-fought victory.
The Storm's playoff seeding remains uncertain, potentially climbing to the No. 7 seed depending on the outcomes of subsequent games. They'll join Minnesota, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Phoenix, New York, Golden State, and Indiana in the postseason. The Las Vegas Aces extend their impressive playoff streak to seven consecutive seasons. The battle for the higher seeds is intense, with Las Vegas and Atlanta vying for the Nos. 2 and 3 positions, while the lower bracket sees a close competition between Golden State, Indiana, and Seattle.
Meanwhile, the race for the 2026 WNBA Draft lottery is heating up. Five teams—Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, and Connecticut—will compete for the top pick. The Dallas Wings hold the most favorable odds (40 percent), which would mark the fourth time in a decade a franchise has secured consecutive top picks. The draft lottery outcome is further complicated by the fact that Chicago, Los Angeles, and Connecticut do not own their first-round picks in 2026; these will be routed to Minnesota, Seattle, and Chicago respectively. The Sky have the second best odds (25 percent), followed by the Sparks (17 percent), Mystics (11 percent), and Sun (7 percent). The final regular season game for the Sparks could influence the final standings, but it seems unlikely that they will upset the 15-game winning streak of the Aces.
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Originally published at: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6614919/2025/09/10/wnba-2025-playoff-field-storm/
