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 October. Each team has roughly one or two games left in the regular season, with the WNBA returning from the FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basket-ball, or International Basketball Federation) Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. 

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

The Dallas Wings clinched the eighth and final playoff spot on Aug. 25 with 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. 

How the Playoffs Work

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) returns 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 Lynx rookie guard 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 Jackie Young starred 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 32-10, have had undoubtedly one of the best seasons of all WNBA teams, having spent most of the summer at the top of the standings. Miles, averaging 19.7 points per game (leading all rookies in both points and assists), was the No. 2 draft pick 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, and recently passed Caitlin Clark for most points in a single season by a first-year player. 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 game 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 their first season, following a historic and record-shattering inaugural year. Going for their second straight year in the playoffs, Golden State (31-11) 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 (who did not participate in the FIBA World Cup to prioritize her health and prepare for the WNBA Finals), Jewel Lloyd, 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, and she is now the only WNBA player to have multiple seasons with more than 1,000 points. 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 29-13.

The Atlanta Dream, currently 28-14 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. Additionally, Reese became the first player in WNBA history to reach 500 rebounds in a season. 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. 

Head Coach Stephanie White’s Indiana Fever ranks first in points per game, with center-forward Boston and guards Mitchell and 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. She also is now the WNBA’s single-season scoring record holder. The Fever has been the recent center of drama surrounding 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 27-15 at the start of the FIBA break. 

Commissioner’s Cup Champions, the New York Liberty (26-16) 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 Aug. 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 26-16. 

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 with a win over the Portland Fire on Aug. 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 has also recently broken the record for the most points scored (1,515) by any player through their first two seasons in the WNBA. She leads the team alongside Jessica Shepard (14.4 points per game, one of two WNBA players averaging a double-double. The other is 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 26-16. 

San Diego WNBA fans can watch the playoffs with other locals at North Park’s new women’s sports bar One Of Us. One Of Us management shared that there is likely to be a drink special related to the teams playing in the finals. They expect an energized crowd. Weekly viewing schedules are posted every Monday on their Instagram. Their end-of-regular-season slate for this week includes two games on Wednesday, five on Thursday, and three playoff games on Sunday starting at 11:00 a.m.

The WNBA has had a historic 30th season that included two new expansion teams (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo), an impressive rookie class, new viewership records, and more. The league recently announced that they will move to a 50-game regular season starting in 2027, while adding three more expansion teams 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. For now, the playoff stage is set, the stakes have never been higher, and 30 years of basketball history culminates here and now. Who will come out on top?

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