WNBA playoffs 2025: All eight teams vying for a championship - ESPN

After a record 44-game regular season, it's finally time for the 2025 WNBA playoffs. Starting with a four-game slate Sunday, eight teams will vie for the title. The field includes the defending champion New York Liberty, the current No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx and the red-hot Las Vegas Aces, who are riding a 16-game winning streak.

New York beat Minnesota in a five-game WNBA Finals last year, but the championship series has expanded to best-of-seven this season. The first-round format also has changed to 1-1-1, allowing every team in the playoffs to get at least one home game.

That means the Indiana Fever, who ended a seven-year playoff drought last year, will host their first playoff game since 2016 next week. Fever sensation Caitlin Clark, sidelined by injury since July 15, is out for the playoffs, but Indiana has shown the resilience to still be a dangerous foe.

We break down all eight teams in the playoff field, from their best assets to their biggest flaws.

(Note: BPI reflects data through Wednesday's games.)

Jump to: ATL | GS | IND | LV | MIN | NY | PHO | SEA

First-round opponent: Golden State Valkyries (89.1% chance of advancing)

Title chances (per ESPN's BPI): 49.7%

What's on the line: After losing in the 2024 WNBA Finals, Minnesota (34-10) has been atop the league standings all season and looks to win its fifth championship in franchise history and first since 2017.

Projected starters: G Courtney Williams (13.9 points per game, 6.2 assists per game, 4.9 rebounds per game), G Kayla McBride (14.9 PPG, 3.5 APG, 40.9% 3-point percentage), F Napheesa Collier (23.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.6 blocks per game), F Alanna Smith (9.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG), F Bridget Carleton (6.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG)

Why they could win: Despite being the league's