The field is set for the 2026 WNBA Playoffs. On Thursday night, the final regular season games of the year took place and now the seeds are locked in for the postseason and the bracket is set.
Napheesa Collier, WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles, and the Minnesota Lynx enter the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and will host the 2024 WNBA champion New York Liberty, who are the No. 8 seed.
The Golden State Valkyries are the No. 2 seed in their second year in the league, and will face Paige Bueckers and the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings.
MORE: 2026 WNBA Championship odds entering playoffs feature heavy favorite
The final two matchups are juicy.
Aug 18, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates hitting a three point basket against the Atlanta Dream in the first quarter at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
To round out the opening series matchups for the postseason, WNBA front-runner A’ja Wilson and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces are the No. 3 seed and face Caitlin Clark and the No. 6 Indiana Fever, while Angel Reese and the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream, who are the hottest team in the league, take on the No. 5 Washington Mystics.
When and where can you tune into the postseason action? A full look at the bracket and TV schedule for the 2026 WNBA Playoffs can be seen below (all times Eastern).
2026 WNBA Playoffs Bracket & TV Schedule
Jul 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; WNBA logo is seen on the court before a basketball game between the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
First round
Sunday, Sept. 27
Game 1: No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 8 Liberty, TBD
Game 1: No. 2 Valkyries vs. No. 7 Wings, TBD
Game 1: No. 3 Aces vs. No. 6 Fever, TBD
Game 1: No. 4 Dream vs. No. 5 Mystics, TBD
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, USA
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, Prime
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, ESPN
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, ESPN
Thursday, Oct. 1
Game 3*: TBD vs. TBD, ESPN
Game 3*: TBD vs. TBD, USA
Friday, Oct. 2
Game 3*: TBD vs. TBD, ESPN2
Game 3*: TBD vs. TBD, Prime
Semifinals
Jul 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the Wilson logo and WNBA logo and basketballs before the game between the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Sunday, Oct. 4
Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, NBC
Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, ABC
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, ESPN
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, NBCSN
Friday, Oct. 9
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, NBCSN
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, ESPN2
Sunday, Oct. 11
Game 4*: TBD vs. TBD, NBC
Game 4*: TBD vs. TBD, ABC
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Game 5*: TBD vs. TBD, ESPN
Game 5*: TBD vs. TBD, NBCSN
WNBA Finals
Jul 30, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; General view of the WNBA logo on the court before a game between the Minnesota Lynx and Toronto Tempo at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Saturday, Oct. 17
Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 3:30 p.m. ET | NBC
Monday, Oct. 19
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 3:30 p.m. ET | USA
Thursday, Oct. 22
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. ET | USA
Saturday, Oct. 24
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD, 3:30 p.m. ET | NBC
Monday, Oct. 26
Game 5*: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. ET | USA
Thursday, Oct. 29
Game 6*: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. ET | USA
Saturday, Oct. 31
Game 7*: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. ET | USA
* – denotes if necessary
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