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The 2025 WNBA playoffs are set, with this season’s eight best teams duking it out for the national title. This year’s playoffs feature a significant change, following an increase in WNBA viewership, where the WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven series for the first time. Napheesa Collier’s Minnesota Lynx are this year’s favorite to reach that seven-game series after racking up 34 wins in the regular season — the most in WNBA history.
At a Glance: How to Watch WNBA Playoffs
Looking to watch the 2025 WNBA playoffs? Read on. Ahead is a quick guide on the best ways to livestream the WNBA playoffs online without cable, plus key details about the tournament.
How to Watch the WNBA Playoffs Online
WNBA playoff broadcasts will be spread out across the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU) and ABC. If you don’t have cable, you’ll want to get a live TV streaming service that carries all of those channels to stream the WNBA playoffs online. Here are some of the best options, including streamers with free trials:
DirecTV
➤ $69.99/month
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 185+ channels
DirecTV carries every channel you’ll need to watch the WNBA playoffs. The most affordable package with every channel is the MySports Genre Pack, which costs $69.99 a month. Right now, however, new subscribers can get a five-day free trial to start and $10 off each of their first two months.
Fubo
➤ $55.99/month
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 300+ channels
Another one of the best live TV streaming services for watching the WNBA playoffs is Fubo. This one starts at $55.99 a month for the Sports + News package, but Fubo is currently offering $10 off your first month and a five-day free trial to check it out first.
Sling
➤ $60.99/month
➤ Short-term passes available
➤ Up to 50+ channels
Sling is another good live TV streamer for WNBA fans without cable. Packages start at $45.99 a month, but you’ll need the upgraded Orange + Blue package to get access to the ESPN networks and ABC. This plan starts at $60.99 a month, but right now you can get half off your first month. Sling does not offer a free trial.
Hulu + Live TV
➤ $81.99/month
➤ Three-day free trial
➤ 95+ channels
Hulu + Live TV also carries the ESPN networks and ABC for WNBA playoff livestreams. After a three-day free trial, the service starts at $81.99 a month.
2025 WNBA Playoffs Schedule
The 2025 WNBA playoffs start on Sunday, Sept. 14. The Finals start on Oct. 3 and run through Oct. 17, if a Game Seven is necessary.
First Round Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 14
Lynx vs. Valkyries Game 1 — 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Fever vs. Dream Game 1 — 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Liberty vs. Mercury Game 1 — 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Storm vs. Aces Game 1 — 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Dream vs. Fever Game 2 — 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Aces vs. Storm Game 2 — 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Mercury vs. Liberty Game 2 — 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Valkyries vs. Lynx Game 2 — 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Thursday, Sept. 18
*Fever vs. Dream Game 3 — 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
*Storm vs. Aces Game 3 — 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Friday, Sept. 19
*Lynx vs. Valkyries Game 3 — 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
*Mercury vs. Liberty Game 3 — 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
*If necessary
2025 WNBA Playoffs Teams
Just eight teams make the WNBA playoffs. Here’s who made the cut:
Minnesota Lynx (34-10)
Las Vegas Aces (30-14)
Atlanta Dream (30-14)
Phoenix Mercury (27-17)
New York Liberty (27-17)
Indiana Fever (24-20)
Seattle Storm (23-21)
Golden State Valkyries (23-21)
