The WNBA regular season has made history by concluding its longest season yet on Thursday, with teams playing a total of 44 games. As the regular season wraps up, the playoff matchups are officially confirmed. The highly anticipated WNBA playoffs kick off this Sunday, featuring four Game 1s in the best-of-three quarterfinal round.
This season marks a significant change in the WNBA playoff format, introducing a 1-1-1 series structure for the first round. This means that the series will alternate between the respective home cities for each game. The semifinals will follow a best-of-five format, while the finals will be a thrilling seven-game series for the first time in league history.
Here's a detailed look at each first-round matchup, including game times (all times Eastern) and series history:
Season series: Minnesota 4-0
Game 1: 1 p.m. Sunday at Minnesota, ESPN
Game 2: 10 p.m. Tuesday at Golden State, ESPN
Game 3: TBD Friday at Minnesota, ESPN2 *
The Minnesota Lynx, who secured the No. 1 overall seed in August, have been strategically resting their starters in recent games. However, they fielded their full roster in the regular-season finale against Golden State, a choice that allowed them to select their first-round playoff opponent. Had they lost that game, they would have faced Seattle, a team that defeated them twice earlier this season. Now, the Lynx are on a quest for their fifth WNBA championship, having swept the Valkyries with an average winning margin of 11 points across four games. Notably, reserve Natisha Hiedeman has excelled in this matchup, averaging 14.5 points while shooting 55% from beyond the arc against Golden State.
Season series: Tied 2-2
Game 1: 10 p.m. Sunday at Las Vegas, ESPN
Game 2: 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Seattle, ESPN
Game 3: TBD Thursday at Las Vegas, ESPN2 *
Prepare for a captivating series as Jewell Loyd faces her former team, the Seattle Storm, after her offseason trade to the Las Vegas Aces. Loyd has been a standout player for the Aces, averaging 11.6 points per game off the bench while shooting 40.5% from three-point range. Las Vegas enters the playoffs on a remarkable 16-game winning streak, the second-longest in WNBA history. Historically, teams that achieve 15 or more consecutive wins during the regular season have gone on to capture the championship.
Season series: Tied 2-2
Game 1: 3 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, ABC
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Indiana, ESPN
Game 3: TBD Thursday at Atlanta, ESPN2 *
The Atlanta Dream has emerged as the second-best team in the WNBA based on point differential, boasting a net rating of plus-9.3. Notably, Atlanta has shown great form since the All-Star break. However, they faced challenges against Indiana, losing twice to a Fever team that featured standout players like Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner. The matchup to watch will be between Aliyah Boston and Bri Jones, as Boston previously dominated Jones in last year’s playoffs, averaging 16.5 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Season series: Phoenix 3-1
Game 1: 5 p.m. Sunday at Phoenix, ESPN
Game 2: 8 p.m. Wednesday at New York, ESPN
Game 3: TBD Friday at Phoenix, ESPN2 *
Despite winning three of their regular-season encounters, the Phoenix Mercury will face a formidable opponent in the New York Liberty, who won the only game where both teams had their star players on the court. The Mercury have built a strong defensive identity, particularly through the pairing of Alyssa Thomas and Natasha Mack. However, the Liberty's frontcourt, featuring Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, could exploit potential weaknesses in Phoenix's defense, making this series a fascinating battle of strategies.
As the WNBA playoffs approach, fans are eagerly anticipating the matchups that promise excitement and intense competition. Whether it's the Lynx's pursuit of a fifth championship or Loyd's revenge against her former team, this postseason is set to deliver thrilling basketball action.
