Here’s everything to know about the 2024 WNBA playoffs and how it works.
One of the most highly anticipated postseasons in WNBA history is underway.
Caitlin Clark made her postseason debut, but the Indiana Fever fell to the Connecticut Sun 2-0 in the opening round despite the No. 1 overall pick's individual brilliance.
Elsewhere, A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces were denied the second three-peat in league history after falling to the New York Liberty in the semifinals. Now Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu will look to give the top-seeded Liberty their first championship in franchise history.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 WNBA postseason.
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When do the WNBA playoffs start?
The WNBA playoffs began on Sunday, Sept. 22.
How many teams make the WNBA playoffs?
The top eight teams in the WNBA -- regardless of conference -- make the playoffs.
What are the WNBA playoff matchups?
Here were the matchups for the first round of the WNBA playoffs (boldened teams advanced):
- No. 1 New York Liberty vs. No. 8 Atlanta Dream
- No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 7 Phoenix Mercury
- No. 3 Connecticut Sun vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
- No. 4 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm
The semifinals will see the Liberty play the Aces and the Lynx meet the Sun.
How many games are in a WNBA playoff series?
The first round of the WNBA playoffs features a best-of-three format where the higher seed hosts the first two games of the series and, if necessary, the lower seed hosts the decisive Game 3.
The semifinals and WNBA Finals both have a best-of-five format where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and 5.
What channel are the WNBA playoffs on?
The WNBA playoffs will air on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. All games will stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
What is the WNBA playoff schedule?
Here is the full schedule for the 2024 WNBA playoffs. All times ET. (* if necessary):
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 New York Liberty vs. No. 8 Atlanta Dream
- Game 1 - New York 83, Atlanta 69
- Game 2 - New York 91, Atlanta 82
No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 7 Phoenix Mercury
- Game 1 - Minnesota 102, Phoenix 95
- Game 2 - Minnesota 101, Phoenix 88
No. 3 Connecticut Sun vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
- Game 1 - Connecticut 93, Indiana 69
- Game 2 - Connecticut 87, Indiana 81
No. 4 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm
- Game 1 - Las Vegas 78, Seattle 67
- Game 2 - Las Vegas 83, Storm 76
SEMIFINALS
The two semifinals will feature the Liberty and the Aces in a 2023 WNBA Finals rematch, while the second is the Sun and Lynx. Here are the dates:
No. 1 New York Liberty vs. No. 4. Las Vegas Aces
- Game 1 - New York 87, Las Vegas 77
- Game 2 - New York 88, Las Vegas 84
- Game 3, Las Vegas 95, New York 81
- Game 4, New York 76, Las Vegas 62
No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 3. Connecticut Sun
- Game 1 - Connecticut 73, Minnesota 70
- Game 2 - Minnesota 77, Connecticut 70
- Game 3, Minnesota 90, Connecticut 81
- Game 4, Connecticut 92, Minnesota 82
- Game 5, Connecticut at Minnesota - Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m., ESPN2
WNBA FINALS
- Thursday, Oct. 10 - Game 1, Minnesota/Connecticut at New York
- Sunday, Oct. 13 - Game 2, Minnesota/Connecticut at New York
- Wednesday, Oct. 16 - Game 3, New York at Minnesota/Connecticut
- *-Friday, Oct. 18 - Game 4, Game 3, New York at Minnesota/Connecticut
- *-Sunday, Oct. 20 - Game 5, Minnesota/Connecticut at New York
