Atlanta Dream face New York Liberty in WNBA playoff semifinals

The 2026 WNBA playoff semifinals feature a best-of-five series between the No. 4 Atlanta Dream and the No. 8 New York Liberty. The series begins Sunday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The New York Liberty enter the matchup following a first-round sweep of the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, making them the first No. 8 seed in league history to eliminate a No. 1 seed. Star player Breanna Stewart emphasized the importance of playoff experience and maintaining focus to reach the Finals.

The Atlanta Dream, making their first semifinal appearance since 2018, recently swept the Washington Mystics. The roster includes veteran DeWanna Bonner and standout Angel Reese. Atlanta holds a 2-1 advantage from the regular-season series against New York.

Other semifinal matchups include the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries against the defending champion No. 3 Las Vegas Aces. The semifinals follow a best-of-five format, while the WNBA Finals will utilize a best-of-seven format.