As the Women’s National Basketball Association’s historic 30th season starts to come to a close, it is time to begin looking at the postseason and what is in store for each playoff team this September. Each team has roughly four to five games left in the regular season, with the WNBA pausing briefly for the FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basket-ball, or International Basketball Federation) Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. 

The FIBA break runs August 31–September 16 (World Cup: September 4–13). WNBA play resumes September 17, regular season ends September 24, and the postseason begins September 27.

All eight spots in the playoffs have been decided as of August 25th, with the Dallas Wings clinching the final spot in a win over the Portland Fire. Ranking depends strictly on overall win-loss percentage, rather than conference record. To determine playoff spots, all fifteen teams compete in one large group. 

WNBA Playoffs begin with a best-of-three series. The higher seed hosts game 1, the lower seed hosts game 2, and a game 3 (if needed) would return to the higher seed’s home court. Matchups for the first round are No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The semi finals are a best-of-five series with no reseeding. The higher seed hosts games 1, 2, and, if necessary, game 5. The finals are a best-of-seven format where the higher seed hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary).

This WNBA season has been highlighted with the rise of rookie Olivia Miles, the resurgence of the Dallas Wings under new coaching leadership, and breakout performances by Marina Mabrey and Jessica Shepard. Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has had a record-breaking season, recently shattering several league records: most consecutive games with 20+ points (previously held by A’ja Wilson’s 20 games, Mitchell has 21 consecutive games), second player to score more than 1,000 points in a single season and first guard to do so, joining A’ja Wilson. With teams making the final push to the end of the W season, expect standout players to collect more accolades down the home stretch. 

Moving past the FIBA World Cup where stars like Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson star for Team USA, we turn our attention to each WNBA playoff team's season and expectations. 

In order of current WNBA standings:

The Minnesota Lynx, currently 31-8, have had undoubtedly one of the best seasons of all WNBA teams, having spent most of the summer at the top of the standings. Rookie point guard Olivia Miles, averaging 19.7 points per game (leading all rookies in both points and assists), was the No. 2 draft pick back in April and adjusted well to the league. Along with an impressive season, she was also the only rookie to be named an All Star this year. She is absolutely a contender for the Rookie of the Year award. Napheesa Collier returned to the court at the end of July after offseason surgery on both ankles, and Natasha Howard held down the frontcourt in Collier’s absence. Other players to watch include Kayla McBride, who had a career-high 43 points on August 9, securing the WNBA single-game record of 10 3-pointers, and guard Courtney Williams, who is averaging 14.6 points per gam and has started every game this season. 

A year ago, the Golden State Valkyries became the first WNBA expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in the first season, following a historic and record-shattering inaugural year. Going for their second straight year in the playoffs, Golden State (28-11) is led by a number of standout players. Forward Gabby Williams leads the team in points per game (14.3), having joined the team during the offseason. Guard Veronica Burton and forward Janelle Salaun are the other two double-digit scorers on the team, averaging 12.4 and 12.9 points per game, consecutively. Other players to pay attention to include forward Kayla Thornton and guard Tiffany Hayes. 

The Las Vegas Aces, defending champions, rank fourth in points per game. This comes as no surprise, seeing as their roster includes powerhouses such as A’ja Wilson, Jewel Lloyd, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. Wilson remains the backbone of the team, averaging a league-best 26.0 points. Last season, she became the first player in WNBA history to win four regular-season MVP awards. The Aces are not new to playoff basketball, and will likely display an impressive performance all around. The team is currently third in the standings and has a record of 27-13.

Head Coach Stephanie White’s Indiana Fever ranks first in points per game, with center-forward Aliyah Boston and guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark rounding out the team’s double-digit scorers. Mitchell tallied her third career game with 35+ points and five assists on 50% shooting from the field, and with that tied A’ja Wilson, Diana Taurasi, and Kelsey Plum for the most in WNBA history. The Fever has been the center of the high-tension drama surrounding the league’s recent situation regarding transgender athletes, with much of the team’s coverage focused on Sophie Cunningham’s commentary on the matter. However, despite the media’s focus on everything non-Fever-basketball related, the team has put together an excellent season, sitting at 26-14 at the start of the FIBA break. 

The Atlanta Dream, currently 25-14 and ranking second in rebounds per game, are led by guard Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, who lead the team in points per game (18.4 and 19.2). Angel Reese leads the pack in rebounds per game, sitting at 12.5 and has tallied 10 games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds. These three players, all voted All Stars in July, pushed the Dream into the playoffs. They broke the franchise record this season for most points in a game not once but twice. They recently signed DeWanna Bonner, two-time WNBA champion and six-time All star, right before the FIBA break. 

Commissioner’s Cup Champions, the New York Liberty (24-16) clinched the playoffs in Head Coach Chris DeMarco’s first year, though the team had a troubling start to the season. Breanna Stewart remains one of the league’s best players, alongside Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. They combine for a total of an average of 50.1 points per game. Leonie Fiebich’s return is coming at a perfect time, as she was out with a foot injury and returned on August 22 scoring 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. This season is the Liberty’s first season after the departure of previous Head Coach Sandy Brondello to the Toronto Tempo, who did not make the playoffs this year. Brondello led the Liberty to the championship in the 2024 season. 

The Washington Mystics are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2023, and are the youngest team in the league. The average age of their roster is about 24 years old. This season marks the return of fan-favorite Georgia Amoore, who missed her entire rookie season due to an ACL tear. Since her return, Amoore has averaged 6.6 points per game. Standout players for the Mystics include center Shakira Austin and guard Sonia Citron, both averaging 16.8 points per game. The Mystics are seventh in current standings and have a record of 24-16. 

The Dallas Wings also return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023, clinching the final spot as all five starters scored in double figures in a win over the Portland Fire on August 25. The Wings were led this season by the last two years’ No. 1 draft picks, Paige Bueckers (2025) and Azzi Fudd (2026). Fudd, however, was marked out for the season earlier this month due to a knee injury. The team has had the most wins in any season since 2007, under the leadership of new head coach Jose Fernandez. Bueckers will appear in her first WNBA playoffs this year, averaging 20.6 points per game. She leads the team alongside Jessica Shepard (14.4 points per game, one of two WNBA players averaging a double-double. The other is Angel Reese), and Arike Ogunbowale (15.2 points per game). The Wings are sure to display an impressive performance this year in the playoffs, currently sitting at 23-16. 

The WNBA has had a historic 30th season. Two new expansion teams (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo), an impressive rookie class, new viewership records, and more. The league announced over the summer that they will be moving to a 50-game regular season starting in 2027, as well as adding three more expansion teams joining the league in the coming years. The Cleveland Sirens will be joining in the 2028 season, along with a team in Detroit and Philadelphia the following two years. Ever-growing, the league continues to write the narrative of women’s basketball. But for now, the playoff stage is set, the stakes have never been higher, and 30 years of basketball history culminate here and now. Who will come out on top?

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