WNBA playoff standing update: Rankings, schedule as Minnesota Lynx secure leading position, Phoenix Mercury pull off substantial victory against New York Liberty
The race for the WNBA playoffs is reaching its climax, with just over a week left until the regular season concludes on September 11. The top eight teams in the league will secure a spot in the postseason, regardless of conference.
Currently, the Minnesota Lynx are holding onto the No. 1 seed, having won a franchise-record 31 games in the 2025 season. The Lynx have already secured their place in the playoffs, and their last game of the regular season will be a battle against the Phoenix Mercury, who are fighting for a higher seed.
The Lynx's main competition for the top spot is the Las Vegas Aces, who have been on a 12-game winning streak and are currently in second place. The Aces and Lynx will clash on September 9, in what promises to be an exciting matchup.
The Phoenix Mercury have also solidified their hold on fourth place with a win over the New York Liberty, but the race for the remaining playoff spots is heating up. The New York Liberty are now 1 ½ games behind the Mercury and Dream, and two back of the Aces.
The Los Angeles Sparks, who have lost three of their last four games, find themselves outside the playoff picture, 2 ½ games behind the eighth-place Valkyries. The Sparks will need to win their remaining games and hope for some help from other teams to secure a spot in the postseason.
The Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever, and Golden State Valkyries are all battling for the final two playoff positions. The Storm, who are currently the highest-ranked WNBA playoff team without a secured spot, will face the Valkyries on Sunday, a game that will be televised on NBA TV.
The Indiana Fever are on a mini two-game winning streak, as are the Valkyries, making this matchup a crucial one for both teams. The Fever will also be hoping to secure a win to boost their chances of overtaking the Sparks, who are also on a two-game winning streak.
The regular season will conclude on September 11, with the playoffs beginning on September 14. The last possible Finals date is October 19. The first round of the playoffs will be a best-of-three series, the semifinals a best-of-five, and the Finals a best-of-seven.
The draft picks for the teams not making the playoffs are also worth noting. The Dallas Wings control their own first-round pick in the 2026 draft, while the Chicago Sky owe their first-round pick to the Minnesota Lynx. The Connecticut Sun owe the Sky swap rights to their first-rounder, and the Sky also own the Phoenix Mercury's first-round pick. The Sky will get the more favorable of the Sun/Mercury picks, while the Sun will get the least favorable of those selections.
The WNBA playoffs are shaping up to be an exciting finish to the 2025 season, with several teams still in contention for a spot in the postseason. Stay tuned for updates as the race heats up!
