The 2025 WNBA Finals began on Friday night, with the Las Vegas Aces winning a tense Game 1, 89-86, over the Phoenix Mercury. Game 2 is set for Sunday in Las Vegas, as the Mercury will attempt to even up the series.
To reach the Finals, the Aces won a thrilling Game 5 in overtime against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night. The loss ended an underdog run for the sixth-seeded and injury-plagued Fever. Las Vegas, the No. 2 seed, will have home-court advantage in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
The Mercury ousted the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals in four games. They are searching for their first WNBA title since 2014. The Aces, meanwhile, are looking for their third title in the past four seasons.
The first round saw multiple thrilling games, and three of the four series went to a decisive Game 3. The shorthanded Fever ousted the third-seeded Atlanta Dream in a significant upset, knocking the Dream out on their home floor. The Aces won a tight Game 3 over the Seattle Storm after seeing their 17-game winning streak get snapped in a Game 2 loss in the first round. The Mercury knocked out the reigning champion New York Liberty, taking them down despite dropping the opening game of their series in overtime.
Below is a look at the matchups and the full schedule for the 2025 playoffs.
WNBA playoff bracket
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports
Teams played a best-of-three series in the first round, a best-of-five series in the semifinals, and — in a new change this year — will play a best-of-seven affair in the Finals.
In 2024, the first round had a 2-1 format, which meant the higher seed got the first two games at home, while the lower seed only got to host if they made it to Game 3. This year it is a 1-1-1 format, with Games 1 and 3 hosted by the higher seed while the lower seed hosts Game 2.
All games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 are streaming on fubo (Try for free).
WNBA Finals schedule (best-of-seven)
Friday, Oct. 3
Sunday, Oct. 5
- Game 2: Aces vs. Mercury, 3 p.m. — ABC/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 8
- Game 3: Mercury vs. Aces, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Friday, Oct. 10
- Game 4: Mercury vs. Aces, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Sunday, Oct. 12
- *Game 5: Aces vs. Mercury 3 p.m. — ABC/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 15
- *Game 6: Mercury vs. Aces, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Friday, Oct. 17
- *Game 7: Aces vs. Mercury, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
* If necessary
Semifinals scores (best-of-five)
Sunday, Sept. 21
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Friday, Sept. 26
Sunday, Sept. 28
Tuesday, Sept. 30
- Game 5: Aces 107, Fever 98 — OT (Las Vegas wins, 3-2)
First-round scores (best-of-three)
All times Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 14
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Thursday, Sept. 18
Friday, Sept. 19
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