Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Final Playoff Spot is Locked! Seattle Storm Advance to 2025 WNBA Playoffs With Dramatic Win Over Valkyries

The Storm will face the top seed Minnesota Lynx in the first round.

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The final spot for the 2025 WNBA playoffs is locked as the Seattle Storm clinched the playoff berth after defeating the Golden State Valkyries 74-73 on Tuesday night. The Storm will be the No. 8 seed and face the top seed Minnesota Lynx in the first round.

Before arriving to the playoff showdown, the Storm required a win or a Los Angeles Sparks defeat to clinch a playoff berth. The Sparks spoiled the first scenario as they beat the Mercury on road. However, Storm didn’t miss the second chances and they overcame the Valkyries in a close encounter to reach the playoffs.

WE’RE IN ⛈️ pic.twitter.com/dflLJIF7tr
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 10, 2025

Also Read: Seattle Storm Playoffs History- How Has Seattle Fared in WNBA Playoffs Over Years?

Seattle Storm Head to the WNBA playoffs for Second Straight Year after Defeating Golden State Valkyries

Seattle Storm had a hard-fought victory to reach the WNBA playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Storm had a struggling start to the game as Valkyries outscored them 18-12 in opening quarter. Golden State maintained the grip on the match in first three quarter with a 61-53 lead.

Seattle went on a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter and opened up the lead over Golden State. Erica Wheeler came off the bench to drop a comeback for the Storm. She hit two huge 3-pointers in the beginning of the final period.

Wheeler also hit the game-winning shot with just 20 seconds to play. Janelle Salaun had a chance to win it for the Valkyries but she missed a three point step back jumpshot before the buzzer. Wheeler tied her season-high with five 3-pointers and scored a team-high 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Erica Wheeler was absolutely CLUTCH to propel the Seattle Storm into the WNBA playoffs 🥶 pic.twitter.com/w7IYY3QwBA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 10, 2025

“We knew what was at stake. We wanted to get in the playoffs,” Wheeler said. “Coach said ’empty the tank,’ and that’s what we did. We emptied the tank and played until the last minute. It’s not about my last shot, it’s a team effort and we just did what we needed to do to get this win.”

Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 points, and eight rebounds for the Storm. Brittney Sykes chipped in 14 points, while Skylar Diggins added 10 points and six assists. Dominique Malonga had 0 points, seven rebounds off the bench. For the Valkyries, Janelle Salan scored a game-high 22 points and three more players recorded in double figures.

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Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

2025 WNBA Playoffs

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Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.