WNBA playoffs 2026 schedule today, Full Matchups, Scores, Bracket, Game Times, TV, How to watch WNBA Finals
The WNBA playoffs 2026 schedule is taking shape as the regular season heads toward its finish, with the league’s top eight teams currently holding playoff positions.
The Minnesota Lynx (33-11) sit atop as the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoff standings, followed by the Golden State Valkyries (32-11) ahead of Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream. The Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and the Last but Not Least Dallas Wings are heading to the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2023, complete the round of the current playoff field.
The WNBA Playoffs have officially been confirmed, with eight teams securing their places in the postseason..
Check This page PlayoffsSchedules.Com that covers the latest WNBA playoffs schedule, dates, times, matchups and results as the race for the WNBA championship heats up.
Which teams have clinched the WNBA playoffs berths?
The Indiana Fever join the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, and Las Vegas Aces as teams that have officially secured WNBA playoffs 2026 berths.
As of SEP. 25, the top eight teams in the standings have clinched postseason berths. The Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings are all heading to the WNBA playoffs 2026 Bracket.
When do the 2026 WNBA playoffs start? date
The WNBA’s regular season concludes on Sept. 24 and WNBA playoffs 2026 opening-round games will begin three days later on Sept. 27 and the WNBA playoffs 2026 schedule dates run through the mid-October.
How many teams make the WNBA playoffs?
The top eight WNBA teams in the WNBA Playoffs 2026 standings by overall record, regardless of conference, will qualify for the WNBA’s postseason.
The top eight teams in the WNBA — regardless of conference — make the playoffs.
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx (33-11)
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries (32-12)
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces (31-13) vs.
No. 4 Atlanta Dream (30-14) vs.
No. 5 Washington Mystics (28-16)
No. 6 Indiana Fever (28-16)
No. 7 Dallas Wings (27-17)
No. 8 New York Liberty (26-18),
Latest 2026 WNBA Playoffs Standings, Updated
All Data correct As of SEPT. 29, 2026.
Seed. Team/Record
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx (33-11)
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries (32-12)
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces (31-13) vs.
No. 4 Atlanta Dream (30-14) vs.
No. 5 Washington Mystics (28-16)
No. 6 Indiana Fever (28-16)
No. 7 Dallas Wings (27-17)
No. 8 New York Liberty (26-18),
How does the WNBA Playoffs 2026 Schedule work?
The eight teams with the best records at the end of the WNBA regular season qualify for the playoffs. Since there are only eight playoff teams, there are no first-round byes. Instead, teams are seeded from No. 1 to No. 8 based on their regular-season records.
The WNBA playoffs 2026 first round schedule follows a traditional bracket: the No. 1 seed plays No. 8, No. 2 plays No. 7, No. 3 plays No. 6, and No. 4 plays No. 5. Each matchup is a best-of-three series, with the winners advancing to the semifinals.
In the WNBA playoffs 2026 semifinals, the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 8 series faces the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5, while the winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 plays the winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6. The semifinals are best-of-five series.
The two semifinal winners then meet in the WNBA Finals, another best-of-five series, with the winner crowned WNBA champion, The WNBA Finals best-of-seven series with the higher seed hosting games 1, 2, 5 and 7, if necessary.
2026 WNBA Playoffs Bracket, matchups.
WNBA playoffs 2026 Opening round matchups will be follows as this format:
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx (33-11) vs. No. 8 New York Liberty (26-18)
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries (32-12) vs. No. 7 Dallas Wings (27-17)
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces (31-13) vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever (28-16)
No. 4 Atlanta Dream (30-14) vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics (28-16)
WNBA playoffs 2026 schedule, results, First round matchups date, times, TV channel
All Times, ET. Best-of-three series
Sunday, Sept. 27
Game 1: No. 8 Liberty def. No. 1 Lynx, 91-75
Game 1: No. 3 Aces def. No. 6 Fever, 102-85
Game 1: No. 4 Dream def. No. 5 Mystics, 92-77
Game 1: No. 2 Valkyries def. No. 7 Wings, 104-80
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Game 2: No. 6 Fever 99, No. 3 Aces 89
Game 2: No. 8 Liberty 87, No. 1 Lynx 71 (New York wins 2-0)
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: No. 4 Dream 93, No. 5 Mystics 75 (Atlanta wins 2-0)
Game 2: No. 7 Wings 108, No. 2 Valkyries 100 (OT)
Thursday, Oct. 1
Game 3: No. 3 Aces 94, No. 6 Fever 83 (Las Vegas wins 2-1).
Friday, Oct. 2
Game 3*: No. 2 Valkyries vs. No. 7 Wings, 9:00 pm ET, ESPN2/Fubo (Series ties)
WNBA playoffs 2026 schedule: Semifinals scores, dates, times, tv channel, streaming
Best-of-five series
Sunday, Oct. 4
Game 1: No. 4 Dream 92, No. 8 Liberty 82
Game 1: No. 2 Valkyries 71, No. 3 Aces 60
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Game 2: No. 4 Dream 101, No. 8 Liberty 98 (OT)
Game 2: No. 2 Valkyries 83, No. 3 Aces 81
Friday, Oct. 9
Game 3: Dream 85, Liberty 83 (Atlanta wins series 3-0)
Game 3: Valkyries 87, Aces 77. (Golden State win series 3-0)
WNBA playoffs 2026: WNBA Finals Schedule, Scores, Times, TV Channel, Streaming
The 2026 WNBA Finals feature the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries, running from October 17 through November 1, 2026 in a best-of-seven format.
Saturday, Oct. 17: Game 1: Valkyries 68, Dream 64
Monday, Oct. 19: Game 2: Dream 79, Valkyries 65
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Game 3: Dream 97, Valkyries 71
Saturday, Oct. 24: Game 4: Valkyries 67, Dream 62
Monday, Oct. 26: Game 5: Valkyries 64, Dream 55
Thursday, Oct. 29: Game 6*: Atlanta Dream vs Golden State Valkyries — State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA), 12:30 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock
Saturday, Oct. 31: Game 7*: Golden State Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream — (San Fran. Californ), 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock
* If necessary…
How to watch the WNBA Playoffs 2026 Schedule Matchups
With weeks remaining in the regular season, the bracket for the WNBA Playoffs 2026 dates has not yet been announced, which means the TV schedule has also not been announced.
BUT
You can watch the 2026 WNBA playoffs across multiple national television and streaming networks, including NBC, Peacock, USA Network, ESPN, and Prime Video.
NBC, Peacock, and USA Network: Co-host the WNBA Finals. NBC and USA air select games, while Peacock streams all WNBA Finals games and select playoff matchups.
ESPN Networks: Cover a reduced playoff slate featuring two first-round series and one semifinal series, with no finals coverage.
Prime Video: Broadcasts one first-round playoff series.
WNBA Playoffs 2026: Suggested FAQ Questions
When do the 2026 WNBA playoffs start?
The 2026 WNBA playoffs begin on Sept. 27.
How many teams make the WNBA playoffs?
Eight teams qualify for the WNBA playoffs based on their regular-season records.
How does the WNBA playoff bracket work?
The No. 1 seed plays No. 8, No. 2 plays No. 7, No. 3 plays No. 6 and No. 4 plays No. 5 in the first round.
Are WNBA playoff series best-of-three or best-of-five?
The first round is played as best-of-three series, while the semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series.
When are the 2026 WNBA Finals?
The WNBA Finals take place after the semifinal round, with the championship decided in a best-of-five series.
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