WNBA playoff preview: Stars, matchups and X factors that could decide the champion

After a grounds 44-game regular season, it's yet clip for the 2025 WNBA playoffs. Starting with a four-game slate Sunday, 8 teams volition vie for the title. The tract includes the defending champion New York Liberty, the existent No. 1 effect Minnesota Lynx and the red-hot Las Vegas Aces, who are riding a 16-game winning streak.

New York bushed Minnesota successful a five-game WNBA Finals past year, but the title bid has expanded to best-of-seven this season. The first-round format besides has changed to 1-1-1, allowing each squad successful the playoffs to get astatine slightest 1 location game.

That means the Indiana Fever, who ended a seven-year playoff drought past year, volition big their archetypal playoff crippled since 2016 adjacent week. Fever sensation Caitlin Clark, sidelined by wounded since July 15, is retired for the playoffs, but Indiana has shown the resilience to inactive beryllium a unsafe foe.

We interruption down each 8 teams successful the playoff field, from their champion assets to their biggest flaws.

(Note: BPI reflects information done Wednesday's games.)

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

No. 1 Minnesota Lynx

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

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

What's connected the line: After losing successful the 2024 WNBA Finals, Minnesota (34-10) has been atop the league standings each play and looks to triumph its 5th title successful franchise past and archetypal 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 champion squad each year, the Lynx are playing with a spot connected their shoulder. Losing successful past year's Finals was painful, particularly however the bid ended -- successful a winner-take-all Game 5 aft which the Lynx questioned the officiating. Last yea...