It’s a sprint to the finish line.
The WNBA returned from the FIBA World Cup break Thursday with just a week remaining in the 2026 regular season.
While the playoff field is already set, no team is locked into a seed . That means postseason-bound squads will be battling for playoff positioning over the final games of the regular season.
So, which teams are headed to this year’s playoffs, and when does the postseason tip off? Here’s what to know:
How many teams make the WNBA playoffs?
The top eight teams in the league standings, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason.
How do the WNBA playoffs work?
The postseason begins with best-of-three series in the first round where the matchups are No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The higher seed has home-court advantage in Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3.
The playoffs follow a bracket format, so teams are not reseeded after Round 1. The semifinal series have a best-of-five format where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 5.
The last two teams standing then meet in a best-of-seven WNBA Finals, with the higher seed having home-court advantage in Games 1 and 2, along with Games 5 and 7 if necessary.
When do the 2026 WNBA playoffs start?
The postseason tips off Sunday, Sept. 27.
Which teams are going to the 2026 WNBA playoffs?
One of these eight teams will be crowned 2026 champions: the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics or Dallas Wings.
Which teams have been eliminated from 2026 WNBA playoff contention?
That means the Portland Fire, Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Toronto Tempo, Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm have missed out on the postseason.
2026 WNBA playoff picture, bracket
No team is locked into a seed yet. The battle for the No. 1 seed is down to the Lynx and Valkyries.
Here’s a look at the seeding possibilities entering play on Sept. 19, according to The Athletic (this section will be updated as the playoff picture becomes clearer):
- Lynx/Valkyries
- Valkyries/Lynx/Aces
- Aces/Valkyries/Fever/Dream/Wings/Liberty/Mystics
- Fever/Aces/Valkyries/Dream/Wings/Liberty/Mystics
- Dream/Fever/Aces/Wings/Liberty/Mystics
- Wings/Liberty/Mystics/Dream/Fever/Aces
- Liberty/Mystics/Wings/Dream/Fever/Aces
- Mystics/Liberty/Wings/Dream/Fever
What is the 2026 WNBA playoff schedule?
All four series will begin on the opening day of the postseason. Here’s what we know about the Round 1 schedule so far (this section will be updated as more details are finalized):
Sept. 27
- TBD at TBD, Game 1 — time TBD, Prime Video
- TBD at TBD, Game 1 — 2 p.m. ET, ABC
- TBD at TBD, Game 1 — 4 p.m. ET, ABC
- TBD at TBD, Game 1 — 9 p.m. ET, USA Network
Sept. 29
- TBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, USA Network
- TBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, Prime Video
Sept. 30
- TBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, ESPN
- TBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, ESPN
Oct. 1
- TBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, ESPN
- TBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, USA Network
Oct. 2
- TBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, ESPN 2
- TBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, Prime Video
When are the 2026 WNBA Finals?
This year’s WNBA Finals tip off Saturday, Oct. 17. Games will air across NBC, Peacock and USA Network.
Here’s a look at the full schedule:
- Game 1: Oct. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
- Game 2: Oct. 19, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
- Game 3: Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
- Game 4: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
- Game 5 (if necessary): Oct. 26, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
- Game 6 (if necessary): Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
- Game 7 (if necessary): Oct. 31, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
Who won the 2025 WNBA Finals?
The Aces swept the Mercury in four games in last year’s WNBA Finals. It marked the third title in four years for A’ja Wilson and Co.
