Last updated: November 2, 2026 3:49 am
2026 WNBA PLAYOFFS
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Matchups | Schedule | Bracket | Odds | Stock Watch
Following a mid-season break for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the WNBA regular season concluded on September 24, pushing the 2026 WNBA Playoffs to a later-than-usual tip-off on Sunday, September 27. Top storylines are already taking shape: Can the Las Vegas Aces repeat? Are the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx and Olivia Miles for real? And how far can the expansion Golden State Valkyries go? Check the daily slate, track the live bracket, and grab your tickets below before the playoffs begin.
Series will end in exactly how many games?
4 Games +450 6 Games +200
5 Games +260 7 Games +225
2026 WNBA Playoffs Format & Schedule
As the league’s record 44-game regular season winds down, the postseason picture is taking shape. The top eight teams overall—regardless of conference alignment—will punch their tickets to the 2026 WNBA Playoffs, seeded 1 through 8 based on regular-season winning percentage.
- Round 1 (Sept 27 – Oct 2): Opening-round best-of-three series use a 1-1-1 format. The higher seed hosts Game 1 and a decisive Game 3 (if necessary), while the lower seed hosts Game 2.
- Semifinals (Oct 4 – Oct 14): The final four battle in a best-of-five, 2-2-1 series. The higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, along with a decisive Game 5 (if necessary), while the lower seed hosts Games 3 and 4.
- WNBA Finals (Oct 17 – Oct 31): An expanded best-of-seven championship clash utilizing a 2-2-1-1-1 structure. Expanding on the Semifinals format, the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. If the series goes to a decisive Game 7, the season will officially conclude on Halloween, October 31.
Once the regular-season finale concludes, the bracket below will update live with official matchups, game times, and series odds.
Where to Watch the 2026 WNBA Playoffs
Every postseason matchup will air nationally across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms as part of the WNBA’s expanded media partnerships.
- Television Broadcasts: Playoff action will be split across ABC, ESPN, USA Network, and NBC. In the first round, Disney networks (ABC/ESPN) will carry two series, while NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video will each carry one.
- Live Streaming: Peacock and Amazon Prime Video will act as the exclusive streaming homes for their respective network games. Meanwhile, every game broadcast on the Disney family of networks is available to stream live via the ESPN App and ESPN+.
- The WNBA Finals: The 2026 championship series will rotate to NBCUniversal, streaming entirely on Peacock with traditional telecasts on NBC or USA Network.
TBD
2026 WNBA Championship Futures Odds
Current consensus odds to win the 2026 WNBA Championship.
Odds current as of October 10, 2026. Odds are subject to change.
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Playoff Stock Watch
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many teams make the WNBA Playoffs?
A: Eight teams qualify for the postseason. The WNBA ignores Eastern and Western conference standings for the playoffs, simply taking the top eight teams with the best overall regular-season records and seeding them 1 through 8.
Q: Does the WNBA re-seed teams in the second round?
A: No, the WNBA uses a fixed bracket. After the First Round, teams are not re-seeded. The winner of the 1 vs. 8 matchup will always advance to play the winner of the 4 vs. 5 matchup in the Semifinals.
Q: Do lower seeds get a home game in the First Round?
A: Yes. The WNBA First Round now utilizes an odd-even, 1-1-1 home-court pattern. The higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3, while the lower seed is guaranteed to host Game 2. Prior to 2025, the higher seed hosted the first two games.
Q: How does the WNBA Draft Lottery work for non-playoff teams?
A: Teams that do not qualify for the postseason enter the WNBA Draft Lottery. Unlike the NBA, the WNBA calculates lottery odds based on each team’s combined regular-season record over the previous two seasons. The teams with the worst cumulative two-year records receive the highest odds of securing the No. 1 overall pick. Following recent league expansion, the lottery pool has increased to include seven non-playoff teams for 2026.
Q: Do WNBA players get a bonus for making the playoffs?
A: Yes, and the bonuses are significantly higher this year thanks to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement ratified for the 2026 season. Every player on the 2026 championship-winning team will receive a $60,000 bonus, which is a massive jump from the $22,908 payout in 2025. Players on the runner-up team will receive $20,000 each, and the Finals MVP will take home an additional $30,000 bonus.