WNBA releases 2026 playoff schedule: Game dates, times and how to watch

The 2026 WNBA playoffs are nearly here, with the league releasing its schedule on Wednesday. The playoffs will begin on Sunday, Sept. 27, and run through Saturday, Oct. 31 if the Finals go the distance.

This will be the second season of the WNBA’s expanded, seven-game Finals schedule, though last year’s series only went four games as the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury. The series features a 2-2-1-1-1 structure, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, and the lower seed hosting Games 3, 4 and 6. The semifinals are five-game series, while the first round is a best-of-three.

While this year’s playoff seeding is still undetermined, the playoff teams are locked in: the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings.

The 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by @madebygoogle and WNBA Finals schedule is here 🗓️

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Round 1 is set to tip-off Sunday, September 27th!

All 8 teams have clinched. Stayed tuned for playoff seeding 🚨

*All dates and game times subject to change* pic.twitter.com/eWwwEIbXSe

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 9, 2026

First round

Sunday, Sept. 27

Game 1: 2 p.m. ET (ABC)

Game 1: 4 p.m. ET (ABC)

Game 1: TBD (Amazon Prime)

Game 1: 9 p.m. ET (USA)

Tuesday, Sept. 29

Game 2: TBD (USA)

Game 2: TBD (Amazon Prime)

Wednesday, Sept. 30

Game 2: TBD (ESPN)

Game 2: TBD (ESPN)

Thursday, Oct. 1

*Game 3: TBD (ESPN)

*Game 3: TBD (USA)

Friday, Oct. 2

*Game 3: TBD (ESPN2)

*Game 3: TBD (Amazon Prime)

Semifinals

Sunday, Oct. 4

Game 1: TBD (ABC)

Game 1: TBD (NBC/Peacock)

Wednesday, Oct. 7

Game 2: TBD (ESPN)

Game 2: TBD (Peacock/NBCSN)

Friday, Oct. 9

Game 3: TBD (ESPN2)

Game 3: TBD (Peacock/NBCSN)

Sunday, Oct. 11

*Game 4: TBD (ABC)

*Game 4: TBD (NBC/Peacock)

Wednesday, Oct. 14

*Game 5: TBD (ESPN)

*Game 5: TBD (Peacock/NBCSN)

Finals

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)

Game 2: Monday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. ET (USA/Peacock)

Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. ET (USA/Peacock)

Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)

*Game 5: Monday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. ET (USA/Peacock)

*Game 6: Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET (USA/Peacock)

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p style=”text-align:left”>*Game 7: Saturday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. ET (USA/Peacock)

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