WNBA playoffs begin with 2026 postseason format

The 2026 WNBA playoffs have commenced following a 44-game regular season. The postseason features the eight teams with the best regular-season records, regardless of conference. The Minnesota Lynx entered as the top seed with a 33–11 record, followed by the Golden State Valkyries and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

The playoff structure utilizes three different series formats. The first round is a best-of-three series, the semifinals are a best-of-five, and the Finals are a best-of-seven. In the opening round, the No. 8 seed New York Liberty secured a significant victory against the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx. Other initial results included victories for the Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, and Golden State Valkyries.

Tournament seeding pairings for the first round include Minnesota versus New York, Golden State versus Dallas, Las Vegas versus Indiana, and Atlanta versus Washington. The semifinals are scheduled to begin on October 4, with the Finals starting on October 17.