The final lineup for the WNBA postseason is now confirmed, following the resolution of the last seedings on Thursday.
The day’s events kicked off with the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, and Washington Mystics all vying for the eighth and concluding playoff position. The Dream simply needed to secure a victory against the New York Liberty to lock in that spot, and they achieved precisely that with a 78-67 victory on the road.
Concurrently, the Connecticut Sun and the Las Vegas Aces were both competing for the No. 3 seed. Connecticut’s requirement was a win over the visiting Sky, which they successfully accomplished with an 87-54 triumph at home.
With all the games concluded, the stage is now prepared for the eagerly awaited playoffs, commencing on Sunday. Here’s an overview of the bracket, the schedule (sourced from WNBA.com), concise previews of the initial round, and predictions for the quarterfinal matchups.
Please note that the first round operates on a best-of-three format, with a Game 3 scheduled if required. The semifinals and finals follow a best-of-five structure, with Games 4 and 5 proceeding if deemed necessary.
All times provided below are in Eastern Time.
Sunday, September 22 (Game 1)
1 p.m.: No. 8 Atlanta Dream versus No. 1 New York Liberty, ESPN
3 p.m.: No. 6 Indiana Fever against No. 3 Connecticut Sun, ABC
5 p.m.: No. 7 Phoenix Mercury versus No. 2 Minnesota Lynx, ESPN
10 p.m.: No. 5 Seattle Storm against No. 4 Las Vegas Aces, ESPN
Tuesday, September 24 (Game 2)
7:30 p.m.: No. 8 Atlanta Dream versus No. 1 New York Liberty, ESPN
9:30 p.m.: No. 5 Seattle Storm against No. 4 Las Vegas Aces, ESPN
Wednesday, September 25 (Game 2)
7:30 p.m.: No. 6 Indiana Fever versus No. 3 Connecticut Sun, ESPN
9:30 p.m.: No. 7 Phoenix Mercury versus No. 2 Minnesota Lynx, ESPN
Thursday, September 26 (Game 3, If Necessary)
Time TBD: No. 1 New York Liberty at No. 8 Atlanta Dream, ESPN2
Time TBD: No. 4 Las Vegas Aces at No. 5 Seattle Storm, ESPN2
Friday, September 27 (Game 3, If Necessary)
Time TBD: No. 3 Connecticut Sun at No. 6 Indiana Fever, ESPN2
Time TBD: No. 2 Minnesota Lynx at No. 7 Phoenix Mercury, ESPN2
Semifinals (Both Matchups Will Occur on Same Date, Times TBD)
Game 1: Sunday, September 29
Game 2: Tuesday, October 1
Game 3: Friday, October 4
Game 4: Sunday, October 6
Game 5: Tuesday, October 8
Game 1: Thursday, October 10
Game 2: Sunday, October 13
Game 3: Wednesday, October 16
Game 4: Friday, October 18
Game 5: Sunday, October 20
No. 1 New York Liberty vs. No. 8 Atlanta Dream
The New York Liberty have secured playoff berths on 18 occasions and reached the Finals five times, yet a championship has remained elusive since the WNBA’s foundational 1997 season.
Evidently, the elements are in place for a potential title quest. New York concluded the season boasting the league’s top offensive rating and the third-best defensive rating, according to Basketball Reference statistics.
The Liberty achieved the highest rank in three-pointers successfully made, with four players (Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney) averaging a minimum of 11 points per game.
Stewart continues to be a leading figure in the WNBA and a regular contender for the MVP award, having averaged over 20 points and eight rebounds per game for the third time in the past four seasons. Additionally, it marked a successful year for Jonquel Jones, who earned her third All-Star Game selection in four seasons.
It will pose a significant challenge for the Dream to overcome New York, although an upset is within the realm of possibility given their talent. Rhyne Howard possesses the capacity to score over 30 points on any given night, and Tina Charles remains a consistent threat for double-doubles in her 13th WNBA season.
Nevertheless, the Liberty appear formidable as they pursue their franchise’s inaugural title.
No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 7 Phoenix Mercury
This series could potentially mark the concluding appearances of veteran Diana Taurasi, who has played for 20 years, on the basketball court. She communicated to reporters that “the end is approaching” but clarified that she was uncertain of the exact timing.
The culmination of Taurasi’s second decade will include participation in the playoffs, but the Mercury encounter a daunting challenge against the WNBA’s most in-form team heading into the postseason.
Napheesa Collier excels as a two-way star, consistently contributing 20 points and 10 rebounds while frequently securing three or more steals/blocks. Four additional Lynx players average approximately 10 or more points per game, and the team collectively demonstrates exceptional shooting accuracy (38 percent from three-point range, 79 percent from free throws).
The Phoenix Mercury benefit from having talented players like Kahleah Copper, who previously delivered an outstanding performance with 34 points in an 81-80 victory over Minnesota earlier this season. It would not be surprising to observe her dominating this series, nor would it be unexpected if Brittney Griner, Taurasi, and Natasha Cloud prove excessively challenging for Minnesota in the best-of-three showdown.
No. 3 Connecticut Sun vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
All attention will be focused on Caitlin Clark, who is expected to be named Rookie of the Year, following her remarkable and record-breaking inaugural professional season. Justifiably so, as Indiana experienced a surge this year, achieving a 15-6 record after a 3-10 beginning.
The Fever did encounter some inconsistencies towards the end, going 2-4, but it would not come as a surprise if Indiana presents a tough challenge to Connecticut throughout the series.
The Sun prevailed over the Fever 3-1 in the regular-season series, but Indiana emerged victorious in the most recent game as all five starters achieved double-digit scores, culminating in an 84-80 victory.
However, the Sun’s defensive prowess may prove insurmountable. Connecticut holds the top position in scoring defense and ranks second in defensive efficiency. They are a comprehensive team with six players scoring 10 or more points per game.
Alyssa Thomas, a five-time All-Star, consistently threatens to achieve triple-double statistics, while DiJonai Carrington is recognized as one of the WNBA’s premier defensive guards. According to WNBA.com, five Sun players hold positions within the top 20 in defensive win shares.
They will face a formidable task against a Fever team that has been performing exceptionally well, with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston both taking control of games at various points this year. Ultimately, this series appears to be the most closely contested of the first round on paper.
No. 4 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm
The Las Vegas Aces are pursuing a three-peat championship, driven by the outstanding achievements of A’ja Wilson, who is expected to secure her third WNBA MVP award this year.
Wilson has elevated her performance during the playoffs in the previous two seasons, averaging 20.3 PPG and 10.4 RPG in 2022, followed by 23.8 PPG and 11.8 RPG in 2023. However, she has reached an unprecedented level in 2024, becoming the first player in league history to accumulate 1,000 points in a single season.
She is complemented by a wealth of exceptional talent, including Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray. Young, in particular, proved to be a difficult opponent for Seattle, scoring 32 points in a 94-83 victory and adding 27 more in an 84-79 win.
However, Seattle possesses a valuable asset in Gabby Williams, who was named the “Best Defensive Player” at this year’s Summer Olympics while representing France, the silver medalist. Williams joined Seattle midseason, making her debut in August 2024, and has performed admirably for the Storm. It is also plausible that Jewell Loyd, who averages 20 points per game, could dominate this series.
Las Vegas still appears to be the superior team on paper compared to Seattle, which has experienced a significant turnaround after recording an 11-29 record last year. Nevertheless, do not be surprised if Seattle pushes the series to its limits and presents Las Vegas with a substantial challenge in the first round.
