How does WNBA playoffs work? Format, schedule, bracket

The 2026 WNBA playoffs are upon us after a record-breaking regular season.

>Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles broke the WNBA rookie scoring record. Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell set a WNBA single-season scoring and made 3-point record. Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson made WNBA history with her second career 1,000-point season.Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese recorded the most double-doubles in a single season and became the first player to secure 500+ rebounds in a season. The list goes on.

>These superstars will now lead their teams in the postseason as they compete for a championship. Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 WNBA postseason, from the schedule, to the format and matchups:

class="related-link">2026 WNBA playoff preview: Breaking down every first-round matchup

When do the 2026 WNBA playoffs begin?The 2026 WNBA regular season concluded on Thursday, Sept. 24, and the first round of the playoffs begins three days later on Sunday, Sept. 27, with all four matchups getting underway.

How does the WNBA playoffs work? Postseason formatThe top eight teams in the league will compete in the 2026 WNBA postseason, which is made up of three rounds:

First round (Sept. 27-Oct. 2): The 2026 WNBA playoffs tip off with a best-of-three, first-round series. The higher seed will host Game 1 and the lower seed will host Game 2. The higher seed will host Game 3, if necessary. • >Semifinals (Oct. 4-Oct. 14): The best-of-five semifinals feature a 2-2-1 format, with the higher seed hosting the Game 1 and Game 2, followed by the lower seed hosting Game 3 and Game 4. The higher seed will host a winner-take-all Game 5, if necessary. • >WNBA Finals (Oct.17-Oct. 31): The best-of-seven WNBA Finals features a 2-2-1-1-1 format for the second time in league history. The higher seed hosts Game 1 and Game 2 before the series shifts to the home of the lower seed for Game 3 and 4. The remaining games will alternated between the higher and lower seed until a team wins four games and is crowed champion.

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style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 14px; width: 144px;">WNBA first-round matchups bracket, scheduleNo. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York LibertyGame 1: 2 p.m. ET Sunday, ABC • >Game 2: 8:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, USA/CNBC • >Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, TBD • >No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 Dallas WingsGame 1: 9 p.m. ET Sunday, USA/CNBC • >Game 2: 9 p.m. ET, Wednesday, ESPN • >Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, TBD • >No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana FeverGame 1: 4 p.m. ET Sunday, ABC • >Game 2: 6:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Prime Video • >Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, TBD • >No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington MysticsGame 1: 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Prime Video • >Game 2: 7 p.m. ET, Wednesday, ESPN • >Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, TBD2026 WNBA Finals scheduleSaturday, Oct. 17: Game 1 | 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock) • >Monday, Oct. 19: Game 2 | 8:00 p.m. ET (USA, Peacock) • >Thursday, Oct. 22: Game 3 | 8:00 p.m. ET (USA, Peacock) • >Saturday, Oct. 24: Game 4 | 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock) • >Monday, Oct. 26: Game 5 | 8:00 p.m. ET (USA, Peacock) • >Thursday, Oct. 29: Game 6 | 8:00 p.m. ET (USA, Peacock) • >Saturday, Oct. 31: Game 7 | 8:00 p.m. ET (USA, Peacock)Who won the 2025 WNBA championship?The Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury 4-0 in 2025 WNBA Finals, the first best-of-seven championship series in WNBA history. Aces center A'ja Wilson was named Finals MVP for the second time of her career after averaging a double-double in the title series, averaging 28.5 points and 12.25 rebounds across four games.

WNBA champions, by year 2025: Las Vegas Aces (def. Phoenix Mercury 4-0)A'ja Wilson named Finals MVP • >2024: New York Liberty (def. Minnesota Lynx 3-2)Jonquel Jones named Finals MVP • >2023: Las Vegas Aces (def. New York Liberty 3-1)A'ja Wilson named Finals MVP • >2022: Las Vegas Aces (def. Connecticut Sun 3-1)Chelsea Gray named Finals MVP • >2021: Chicago Sky (def. Phoenix Mercury 3-1)Kahleah Copper named Finals MVP • >2020: Seattle Storm (def. Las Vegas Aces 3-0)Breanna Stewart named Finals MVP • >2019: Washington Mystics (def. Connecticut Sun 3-2)Emma Meesseman named Finals MVP • >2018: Seattle Storm (def. Washington Mystics 3-0)Breanna Stewart named Finals MVP • >2017: Minnesota Lynx (def. Los Angeles Sparks 3-2)Sylvia Fowles named Finals MVP • >2016: Los Angeles Sparks (def. Minnesota Lynx 3-2)Candace Parker named Finals MVP • >2015: Minnesota Lynx (def. Indiana Fever 3-2)Sylvia Fowles named Finals MVP • >2014: Phoenix Mercury (def. Chicago Sky 3-0) Diana Taurasi named Finals MVP • >2013: Minnesota Lynx (def. Atlanta Dream 3-0)Maya Moore named Finals MVP • >2012: Indiana Fever (def. Minnesota Lynx 3-1)Tamika Catchings named Finals MVP • >2011: Minnesota Lynx (def. Atlanta Dream 3-0)Seimone Augustus named Finals MVP • >2010: Seattle Storm (def. Atlanta Dream 3-0)Lauren Jackson named Finals MVP • >2009: Phoenix Mercury (def. Indiana Fever 3-2)Diana Taurasi named Finals MVP • >2008: Detroit Shock (def. San Antonio Silver Stars 3-0) Katie Smith named Finals MVP • >2007: Phoenix Mercury (def. Detroit Shock 3-2)Cappie Poindexter named Finals MVP • >2006: Detroit Shock (def. Sacramento Monarchs 3-2)Deanna Nolan named Finals MVP • >2005: Sacramento Monarchs (def. Connecticut Sun 3-1)Yolanda Griffith named Finals MVP • >2004: Seattle Storm (def. Connecticut Sun 2-1)Betty Lennox named Finals MVP • >2003: Detroit Shock (def. Los Angeles Sparks 2-1)Ruth Riley named Finals MVP • >2002: Los Angeles Sparks (def. New York Liberty 2-0)Lisa Leslie named Finals MVP • >2001: Los Angeles Sparks (def. Charlotte Sting 2-0)Lisa Leslie named Finals MVP • >2000: Houston Comets (def. New York Liberty 2-0)Cynthia Cooper named Finals MVP • >1999: Houston Comets (def. New York Liberty 2-1)Cynthia Cooper named Finals MVP • >1998: Houston Comets (def. Phoenix Mercury 2-1)Cynthia Cooper named Finals MVPThe USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news —  Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How does WNBA playoffs work? Format, schedule, bracket