WNBA Playoffs 2026: Schedule, Scores & What to Know

The WNBA playoffs 2026 are delivering drama at every turn. With search interest surging and the league’s popularity at record highs, the first round has already produced a historic upset and a winner-take-all showdown between the defending champions and the league’s biggest draw.

Here is your complete guide: the bracket, latest scores, full TV schedule, how to watch, and the players defining the postseason.

2026 WNBA Playoff Bracket

Eight teams qualified for the postseason. The first round is a best-of-three series (1-1-1 format), with the higher seed holding home-court advantage. The playoffs follow a fixed bracket — teams are not reseeded.

• No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
• No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics
• No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 Dallas Wings
• No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever

Winners advance to the semifinals — a best-of-five (2-2-1) series tipping off Sunday, Oct. 4. The WNBA Finals are a best-of-seven (2-2-1-1-1) beginning Saturday, Oct. 17.

Aces vs. Fever: The Series to Watch

The headline series of the WNBA playoffs 2026 is No. 3 Las Vegas vs. No. 6 Indiana, tied 1-1 and headed to a decisive Game 3.

Game 1 — Aces 102, Fever 85: Hours after winning her third straight AP WNBA Player of the Year award, A’ja Wilson posted a playoff career high of 38 points with 16 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals on 15-of-19 shooting. Jackie Young added 21 points and 10 assists, Chelsea Gray chipped in 14 and 8, and the Aces shot 59.4% while leading by as many as 27. Aliyah Boston led Indiana with 18 points; Caitlin Clark recorded her first career WNBA playoff double-double (15 points, 10 assists).

Game 2 — Fever 99, Aces 89: Facing elimination, Caitlin Clark delivered a historic 27 points, 15 assists, 7 rebounds and five threes — becoming the first player in WNBA history to record 14 points and 11 assists in a single playoff half. Kelsey Mitchell added 26 and Boston 22. Jackie Young scored 31 for Las Vegas, Wilson added 22 and 9 rebounds, and Gray had 10 and 7.

Game 3 — Thursday, Oct. 1, 9 p.m. ET on USA Network and CNBC, from Las Vegas. Winner advances; loser goes home. Clark (back) and Boston (leg) are probable for Indiana.

Latest Scores and Schedule

Results so far:

• Sept. 27: Liberty 91, Lynx 75; Aces 102, Fever 85; Dream 92, Mystics 77; Valkyries 104, Wings 80
• Sept. 29: Fever 99, Aces 89; Liberty 87, Lynx 71 (Liberty wins series 2-0)

Upcoming:

• Sept. 30: Dream at Mystics, Game 2 — 7 p.m. ET, ESPN (Atlanta leads 1-0)
• Sept. 30: Valkyries at Wings, Game 2 — 9 p.m. ET, ESPN (Golden State leads 1-0)
• Oct. 1: Fever at Aces, Game 3 — 9 p.m. ET, USA/CNBC (tied 1-1)
• Oct. 2: Game 3s if necessary — Wings at Valkyries (ESPN2); Mystics at Dream (TBD)

Liberty Make History

New York swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 2-0, becoming the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed since the format changed in 2016. Minnesota had earned the top seed with a 32-11 regular season.

How to Watch the WNBA Playoffs 2026

• ABC / ESPN / ESPN2: Stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app
• USA Network / CNBC: Stream on USANetwork.com and the USA Network app
• Prime Video: Select games, including Fever-Aces Game 2

The semifinals tip off Oct. 4. The Finals begin Oct. 17 on NBC, Peacock and USA Network — Game 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock, with a potential Game 7 on Oct. 31.

Players to Watch

• A’ja Wilson (Aces): Three-time reigning AP Player of the Year; 38 points and 16 rebounds in Game 1.
• Caitlin Clark (Fever): Set a WNBA playoff record with 14 points and 11 assists in one half of Game 2.
• Breanna Stewart (Liberty): Led New York’s historic upset while pacing the team in scoring, steals and blocks.
• Olivia Miles (Lynx): The rookie became the first in WNBA history to lead the league’s best team in points and assists.
• Jackie Young (Aces): 31 points in Game 2 — Las Vegas’ engine alongside Wilson.

FAQ — WNBA Playoffs 2026

When did the WNBA playoffs 2026 start?

The regular season ended Sept. 24, and the first round began Sunday, Sept. 27.

What is the 2026 playoff format?

First round: best-of-three (1-1-1). Semifinals: best-of-five (2-2-1). Finals: best-of-seven (2-2-1-1-1). No reseeding; the higher seed gets home-court advantage each round.

When is Game 3 of Aces vs. Fever?

Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. ET on USA Network and CNBC from Las Vegas.

When are the 2026 WNBA Finals?

Game 1 tips off Saturday, Oct. 17 on NBC and Peacock.