Jordan Ramsay
September 18, 2025

WNBA Playoffs: Three Game 3s to close out the first round

For the first time since 2015, there will be three deciding Game 3s in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

First up is a Thursday night double-header with Atlanta hosting Indiana, followed by Seattle travelling to Las Vegas. The sole Friday game sees the Mercury and Liberty square off in Phoenix.

Last year all four opening round series’ were sweeps. The parity this season could be because the WNBA changed up the playoff format, with each team now getting at least one home game. In previous years, the higher seed would host the first two games.

The home team won each game in both the Fever-Dream and Storm-Aces series’, while the road team came out on top twice for the Mercury-Liberty series. No. 1 seed Minnesota swept Golden State in the other series.

Having a series go the distance was more come when the playoffs had East and West matchups, instead of the current 1 vs. 8 format. In 2003 and 2004 three of four series’ went three games, while all four opening round series’ went the distance in 2008.

The WNBA switched to a single-elimination format from 2016-2021 before going back to best-of-three.

And it will be a quick turnaround for the winner of Friday’s Mercury vs. Storm matchup as Game 1 of the semifinals in Minnesota is scheduled for Sunday.

Make sure to check out our complete list of WNBA game odds and WNBA futures.