WNBA Playoffs Begin Across Multiple Cities with Liberty, Mercury Opening Series

The 2025 WNBA playoffs feature a competitive first-round matchup between the New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury, with New York defending its 2024 championship and Phoenix seeking its first playoff win since 2021. Despite the Mercury's 3-1 regular-season advantage, the Liberty enter the postseason with momentum from a three-game winning streak and a healthier, more complete roster including key player Emma Meesseman, which could provide a strategic advantage. Both teams boast star players such as Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones for the Liberty, and Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and Alyssa Thomas for the Mercury, setting the stage for a high-profile series. Betting analyses suggest a closely contested series, with the Liberty favored on the moneyline but the Mercury having a strong underdog record, and the games expected to be moderately high-scoring affairs. The series is a best-of-three, broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2, with streaming available on Fubo and SiriusXM for audio coverage. Other first-round matchups include the Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries, with computer predictions favoring the Dream and Lynx.