The WNBA season is winding down. Most teams have six or seven regular-season games remaining.
The 2026 season has been highlighted by the rise of Olivia Miles with the Minnesota Lynx, the resurgence of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, the young core of the Washington Mystics, breakout performances by Marina Mabrey and Jessica Shepard, and another year of dominance from four-time MVP A’ja Wilson.
Following games played on Aug. 30, the WNBA will take a break in action for the 2026 FIBA World Cup where many of the league’s top stars — including Clark, Wilson, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers — will play on the international stage. Games will resume on Sept. 17, but by then the playoff picture should be close to being solidified.
Ahead of the FIBA
break and still a month away from the postseason beginning, here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 WNBA playoffs:
Which teams have clinched berths in the WNBA playoffs?
As of Aug. 24, the top seven teams in the standings have clinched postseason berths. The Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics are all heading to the playoffs.
When do the 2026 WNBA playoffs begin?
The WNBA’s regular season concludes on Sept. 24 and opening-round games will begin three days later on Sept. 27.
How many teams make the WNBA playoffs?
The top eight teams in the standings by overall record, regardless of conference, will qualify for the WNBA’s postseason. Opening round matchups will be as follows:
- No. 1 seed vs. No. 8
- No. 2 seed vs. No. 7
- No. 3 seed vs. No. 6
- No. 4 seed vs. No. 5
What’s the series format for the WNBA playoffs?
The first round will be a best-of-three series with the higher seed hosting games 1 and 3, if necessary. Winners will advance to the semifinals without reseeding for a best-of-five series, with the higher seed hosting games 1, 2 and 5, if necessary.
The WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven series with the higher seed hosting games 1, 2, 5 and 7, if necessary. The Finals will air on NBC or USA Network, while also being available via streaming at Peacock. The full TV schedule for the playoffs will be announced at a later date.
Which teams have been eliminated from WNBA playoff contention?
As of Aug. 24, the bottom six teams in the standings won’t be in the playoffs. The Seattle Storm, Connecticut Sun, Toronto Tempo, Phoenix Mercury, Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky have all been eliminated.
Who is fighting for the final WNBA playoff berth?
The Dallas Wings are in the driver’s seat for the eighth and final postseason spot, but the Portland Fire are mathematically alive for the playoffs. However, if the Wings defeat the Fire on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas — an 8 p.m. ET tipoff on NBA TV — the Wings will secure the final playoff spot and the Fire will be eliminated.
Even if the Wings lost the head-to-head matchup on Tuesday, they would still be a comfortable 5.5 games ahead of the Fire in the standings.
Which team is the frontrunner for the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs?
The Lynx have the league’s best record at 31-7 and can secure the top spot in the playoffs — giving them homecourt advantage in Minneapolis throughout the postseason — with a win on Monday night over the second-place Valkyries.
Elsewhere in the bracket, with several regular-season contests remaining, 1.5 games separate the second-place Valkyries and fifth-place Fever. There’s still plenty of time for movement.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Everything you need to know about the WNBA playoffs: Who's in and who's out
