WNBA Playoffs 2026: Start day, key dates, format, and current playoff picture

The 2026 WNBA playoffs are almost here, with the regular season entering its final days and the eight-team postseason field already determined.

The Minnesota Lynx have secured the No. 1 seed, making them the first team to officially lock in a playoff position. It’s the second consecutive postseason in which Minnesota has finished atop the league, as Olivia Miles, Napheesa Collier and the rest of the Lynx look to bring another championship to Minnesota.

The Lynx will be joined in the postseason by the Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, Washington Mystics, Dallas Wings and New York Liberty. While all eight teams have qualified, their final positions in the standings haven’t been completely settled entering Sept. 23.

The Valkyries and defending champion Aces are competing for the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, while the Dream and Fever remain in contention for fourth. The middle of the bracket could also change, with the Fever, Mystics, Wings and Liberty all involved in a battle for their eventual postseason positions.

The regular season is scheduled to conclude on Sept. 24, meaning the final bracket will be determined just days before the playoffs begin. That leaves very little time for teams to prepare for their opening series.

How the 2026 WNBA playoff format works

The 2026 postseason begins Sunday, Sept. 27, with first-round action starting at 2 p.m. ET. Unlike some other major sports leagues, the WNBA doesn’t divide its playoff field by conference. Instead, the eight teams with the best regular-season records qualify and are seeded from No. 1 through No. 8.

The opening round features four best-of-three series: No. 1 plays No. 8, No. 2 faces No. 7, No. 3 meets No. 6 and No. 4 takes on No. 5. The higher seed has home-court advantage in Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3, while the lower seed hosts Game 2.

The bracket also remains fixed throughout the postseason. Teams won’t be reseeded after the opening round, which means the path to the Finals will be determined by the original bracket.

After the first round, the semifinals switch to a best-of-five format. Those series use a 2-2-1 setup, with the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 2 and a potential Game 5.

The WNBA Finals are then played as a best-of-seven series. The higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, as well as Games 5 and 7 if either is necessary.

The first-round series are scheduled to begin Sept. 27, with Game 2s following on Sept. 29 and 30. If deciding games are needed, Game 3s are scheduled for Oct. 1 and 2. The semifinals are set to begin Oct. 4, while the Finals are scheduled to tip off Oct. 17.

Minnesota is the only team with a confirmed seed at this time. The remaining positions will be settled during the final regular-season games, setting the stage for a postseason featuring eight teams chasing the 2026 WNBA championship.