WNBA Playoff Bracket 2026, Full Schedule and Matchups For Entire Postseason

The WNBA playoff bracket is set after the regular season's conclusion on Thursday.

Although the eight playoff teams have been known since Aug. 25, when the Dallas Wings clinched the final postseason spot, the final seedings weren't finalized until the final buzzer on Thursday evening, when the Golden State Valkyries overcame a 10-point deficit with two-and-a-half minutes left to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 and secure the No. 2 spot.

With that, here's a look at the playoff bracket and the currently known playoff schedule, via ESPN.

We'll also review a handful of key storylines entering the postseason.

Matchups

No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 Dallas Wings

No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 New York Liberty

No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever

No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics

First Round: Best-of-3 (1-1-1 Format)

Sunday, Sept. 27

Game 1: 2 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 1: 4 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 1: TBD, Prime

Game 1: 9 p.m. ET, USA

Tuesday, Sept. 29

Game 2: TBD, USA

Game 2: TBD, Prime

Wednesday, Sept. 30

Game 2: TBD, ESPN

Game 2: TBD, ESPN

Thursday, Oct. 1

Game 3*: TBD, ESPN

Game 3*: TBD, USA

Friday, Oct. 2

Game 3*: TBD, ESPN2

Game 3*: TBD, Prime

Semifinals (Best of 5, 2-2-1 Format)

Sunday, Oct. 4

Game 1: TBD, ABC

Game 1: TBD, NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Oct. 7

Game 2: TBD, ESPN

Game 2: TBD, Peacock/NBCSN

Friday, Oct. 9

Game 3: TBD, ESPN2

Game 3: TBD, Peacock/NBCSN

Sunday, Oct. 11

Game 4*: TBD, ABC

Game 4*: TBD, NBC, Peacock

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Game 5*: TBD, ESPN

Game 5*: TBD, Peacock/NBCSN

WNBA Finals (Best-of-7, 2-2-1-1-1 Format)

Saturday, Oct. 17

Game 1: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock

Monday, Oct. 19

Game 2: 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock

Thursday, Oct. 22

Game 3: 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock

Saturday, Oct. 24

Game 4: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock

Monday, Oct. 26

Game 5*: 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock

Thursday, Oct. 29

Game 6*: 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock

Saturday, Oct. 31

Game 7*: 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock

Can the Lynx Finally Break Through?

Minnesota has finished first in three straight regular seasons. In 2024, the Lynx came as close as a team can get without winning it all, falling to the New York Liberty in overtime in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals.

In 2025, the Lynx fell to the Phoenix Mercury in the semifinals. Superstar (and MVP runner-up) Napheesa Collier missed the series-deciding Game 4 after suffering a left ankle injury in the closing minute of Game 3.

Now there's great hope in 2026, especially with Collier back healthy and Rookie of the Year (and breakout superstar) Olivia Miles running the point.

Collier played very well after returning from ankle surgeries, averaging 17.5 points on 51.0 percent shooting and 6.9 rebounds. She continued to produce defensively as always (e.g. 1.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG).

Miles is just phenomenal and arguably the most fun player in the league to watch. She should be a serious problem in the playoffs, although Dallas Wings superstar Paige Bueckers will help provide a phenomenal one-on-one matchup to start. For the year, Miles averaged a team-high 19.8 PPG and 6.0 APG.

All five Lynx starters (the others being Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Natasha Howard) averaged at least 13 PPG, and that creates a serious problem in the playoffs. That depth is too tough for teams and could very well vault Minnesota to a title.

Las Vegas Looks To Continue Dynasty

The Las Vegas Aces have won three of the last four championships (2022, 2023, 2025) and could easily take a fourth, with likely five-time MVP and WNBA leading scorer A'ja Wilson leading the way.

Wilson and the Aces are rolling into the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak that vaulted the team into the second seed. A similar story occurred the year before, as the Aces won their final 16 games en route to the playoffs (and the No. 2 seed).

Las Vegas certainly hopes this season brings championship glory, too.

Last year's squad lived on the playoff edge, going to the brink in the deciding matchups of the first round (vs. the Seattle Storm) and semifinals (vs. Indiana) before ultimately prevailing in a four-game sweep over the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals.

This year, the Aces look strong yet again in part because Jackie Young is having a career-best season (19.3 PPG on 49.1 percent shooting, 6.7 APG). Chelsea Gray (12.0 PPG, 6.6 APG) remains as reliable as ever in the clutch, too, as this trio looks for title No. 4.

Golden State Valkyries' Storybook Run Continues

There's so much to like about the Valkyries.

Natalie Nakase is one of the best coaches in professional sports, taking a 2025 expansion team into the playoffs last year and leading them to 31 wins (and legitimate championship contention) this year.

The depth is tremendous, with nine players averaging at least 15 minutes per game and eight players posting six or more points an outing.

And then there's the league-best defense, which Golden State used to vault itself into the No. 2 seed.

The big question, of course, is whether Golden State will have the offense to survive in the playoffs. The Valkyries are seventh in efficiency out of 15 teams, and only one player (Gabby Williams, 14.4 PPG) averages 13 or more PPG.

Golden State also struggled against other league powers, going 1-3 vs. Minnesota and 0-3 vs. Las Vegas.

The first round won't be easy, as a star-studded and battle-tested New York Liberty team led by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu awaits.

That being said, Golden State can certainly be up to the task of making a deep playoff run if the depth and defense come through.

Clark Back in Playoffs, Indiana Searching for First Title in 14 Years

Last year, Indiana was one win away from the WNBA Finals despite missing Caitlin Clark for 31 regular-season games and all of the playoffs due to injuries. Clark is back now after a great regular season where she finished third in the WNBA in scoring.

The table seems set for Indiana to make a run with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston also starring. Mitchell in particular has enjoyed a phenomenal breakout season, averaging 25.0 PPG (second in the league).

Boston, a four-time All-Star in her four seasons, posted 16.0 points and 8.0 boards. She was taken out of her team's final game Thursday against Minnesota, but thankfully, it appears to be a precautionary measure.

Indiana has a tough matchup against the defending champion Aces in a 2025 semfinals rematch, making for a potential first-round classic. We'll see how it goes soon enough, beginning Sunday.