The 2026 WNBA playoffs tip off the week of September 27 with an eight-team bracket. The first round is best-of-three, the semifinals best-of-five, and the WNBA Finals a best-of-seven that opens Saturday, October 17. Here is the full bracket, the seeded field, and a free printable to fill in as the series play out.
2026 WNBA Playoff Bracket
Seeds and First-Round Matchups
All eight seeds are locked and the first round is underway. The top four seeds hold home-court advantage in the best-of-three first round. This tracker updates as each game goes final.
| Matchup | Higher Seed | Lower Seed | Series (best-of-3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 vs 8 | Minnesota Lynx | New York Liberty | New York wins 2-0 |
| 2 vs 7 | Golden State Valkyries | Dallas Wings | Golden State wins 2-1 |
| 3 vs 6 | Las Vegas Aces | Indiana Fever | Las Vegas wins 2-1 |
| 4 vs 5 | Atlanta Dream | Washington Mystics | Atlanta wins 2-0 |
2026 WNBA Semifinals
| Matchup | Higher Seed | Lower Seed | Series (best-of-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 vs 8 | Atlanta Dream | New York Liberty | Atlanta wins 3-0 |
| 2 vs 3 | Golden State Valkyries | Las Vegas Aces | Golden State wins 3-0 |
2026 WNBA Finals
| Matchup | Higher Seed | Lower Seed | Series (best-of-7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 vs 4 | Golden State Valkyries | Atlanta Dream | Finals begin October 17 |
Playoff Format: Bo3, Bo5, Bo7
The first round is a best-of-three (higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3). The semifinals expand to a best-of-five, and the WNBA Finals are a best-of-seven for the second year, with Game 1 on Saturday, October 17. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 of the Finals.
More WNBA Resources
When do the 2026 WNBA playoffs start?
The week of September 27, 2026, right after the regular season ends September 24. The Finals begin Saturday, October 17.
How does the WNBA playoff format work?
Eight teams, single-elimination by series: best-of-three first round, best-of-five semifinals, and a best-of-seven Finals. Seeding is by regular-season record, and the higher seed always has home-court advantage.
