The Indiana Fever are shifting on within the 2025 WNBA playoffs. The shorthanded and sixth-seeded Fever — who’re lacking a number of gamers as a result of season-ending accidents, together with Caitlin Clark — upset and eradicated the third-seeded Atlanta Dream on Thursday evening in a decisive first-round Recreation 3. The Fever be a part of the Lynx within the semifinals, and two extra Recreation 3s will determine the ultimate two spots: Aces vs. Storm on Thursday evening and Mercury vs. Liberty on Friday.
One of the best-of-three first spherical will wrap up Friday or and the best-of-five semifinals will start Sunday (Sept. 21).
The Lynx, who knocked out the eighth-seeded Golden State Valkyries within the first spherical, entered the playoffs because the No. 1 seed after being the WNBA’s most dominant workforce all through the 44-game common season. The Lynx, in search of the fifth championship in workforce historical past and their first since 2017, could have home-court benefit all through the playoffs.
Beneath is a take a look at the first-round matchups and the complete schedule for the 2025 playoffs.
WNBA playoff bracket
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports activities
Listed here are the 4 first-round matchups and seeding:
- No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 8 Valkyries (Minnesota wins, 2-0)
- No. 2 Aces vs. No. 7 Storm (Sequence tied, 1-1)
- No. 3 Dream vs. No. 6 Fever (Indiana wins, 2-1)
- No. 4 Mercury vs. No. 5 Liberty (Sequence tied, 1-1)
Groups will play a best-of-three sequence within the first spherical, a best-of-five sequence within the semifinals, and — in a brand new change this 12 months — a best-of-seven affair within the Finals.
In 2024, the primary spherical had a 2-1 format, which meant the upper seed bought the primary two video games at residence, whereas the decrease seed solely bought to host in the event that they made it to Recreation 3. This 12 months will probably be a 1-1-1 format, with Video games 1 and three hosted by the upper seed whereas the decrease seed hosts Recreation 2.
All video games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 are streaming on fubo (Strive at no cost).
First-round schedule, scores (best-of-three)
All instances Jap
Sunday, Sept. 14
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Thursday, Sept. 18
- Recreation 3: Fever 87, Dream 85 (Indiana wins, 2-1)
- Recreation 3: No. 7 Storm at No. 2 Aces, 9:30 p.m. — ESPN2/fubo
Friday, Sept. 19
- Recreation 3: No. 5 Liberty at No. 4 Mercury, 9 p.m. — ESPN2/fubo
Semifinals schedule (best-of-five)
Sunday, Sept. 21
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Friday, Sept. 26
Sunday, Sept. 28
Tuesday, Sept. 30
- *Recreation 5: TBD vs. TBD, TBD
- *Recreation 5: TBD vs. TBD, TBD
Finals schedule (best-of-seven)
Friday, Oct. 3
- Recreation 1, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Sunday, Oct. 5
- Recreation 2, 3 p.m. — ABC/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 8
- Recreation 3, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Friday, Oct. 10
- Recreation 4, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Sunday, Oct. 12
- *Recreation 5, 3 p.m. — ABC/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 15
- *Recreation 6, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Friday, Oct. 17
- *Recreation 7, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
* If needed
