Full 2025 WNBA Finals Schedule: Dates, Times & TV Channels

It's the Aces vs. the Mercury—who will come out on top?
The Mercury advanced to the Finals on Sunday after defeating the Lynx 86-81.
The Mercury advanced to the Finals on Sunday after defeating the Lynx 86-81. / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In just a week or two, the WNBA will crown its next champion and officially cap a 2025 season filled with CBA negotiations, chaotic livestreams and plenty of TikToks. But who will hoist the WNBA crown when the time comes? Will it be the A'ja Wilson-led Aces, who are still standing after a thrilling five-game series vs. the Fever? Or will it be the Mercury, who toppled the No. 1 Lynx in four games to return to their second Finals in five years?

The best-of-seven championship series begins Friday and will run through Game 4 on Oct. 10 at the earliest, or Game 7 on Oct. 17 at the latest. But there will be plenty of action to catch between now and then—and all the info you need is below.

Full 2025 WNBA Finals Schedule

Friday, Oct. 3

  • Game 1: Mercury @ Aces, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Oct. 5

  • Game 2: Mercury @ Aces, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 8

  • Game 3: Aces @ Mercury, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 10

  • Game 4: Aces @ Mercury, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Oct. 12

  • Game 5 (if needed): Mercury @ Aces, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 15

  • Game 6 (if needed): Aces @ Mercury, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 17

  • Game 7 (if needed): Mercury @ Aces, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

How Are the WNBA Playoffs Structured?

The top eight teams in the league make the playoffs regardless of conference. After that, they are placed into an eight-team bracket. The first round of playoffs is a best-of-three series, while the semifinals are the best-of-five. As of this season, the finals are the best-of-seven.

Which Teams Made the Playoffs?

The Lynx, the Dream, the Aces, the Mercury, the Liberty, the Valkyries, the Fever and the Storm all made the playoffs. The Storm were the last to snag a berth, which they managed after defeating the Valkyries in a 74–73 win on Sept. 9.

What Was the Playoff Seeding?

No. 1 Seed: Lynx (34-10)
No. 2 Seed: Aces (30-14)
No. 3 Seed: Dream (30-14)
No. 4 Seed: Mercury (27-17)
No. 5 Seed: Liberty (27-17)
No. 6 Seed: Fever (24-20)
No. 7 Seed: Storm (23-21)
No. 8 Seed: Valkyries (23-21)

Full 2025 WNBA Playoff Recap

Here is a look at how the playoffs shook up through the semifinal round.

First Round (Best of Three)

  • No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 8 Valkyries (Lynx win 2-0)
  • No. 4 Mercury vs. No. 5 Liberty (Mercury win 2-1)
  • No. 2 Aces vs. No. 7 Storm (Aces win 2-1)
  • No. 3 Dream vs. No. 6 Fever (Fever win 2-1)

Semifinals (Best of Five)

  • No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 4 Mercury (Mercury win 3-1)
  • No. 2 Aces vs. No. 6 Fever (Aces win 3-2)

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Brigid Kennedy
BRIGID KENNEDY

Brigid Kennedy is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, she covered political news, sporting news and culture at TheWeek.com before moving to Livingetc, an interior design magazine. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, dual majoring in television, radio and film (from the Newhouse School of Public Communications) and marketing managment (from the Whitman School of Management). Offline, she enjoys going to the movies, reading and watching the Steelers.