WNBA playoffs

The WNBA Playoffs is an elimination tournament between 8 teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.

WNBA Playoffs logo

Current format

Following the WNBA regular season, eight teams in the entire league qualify for the playoffs and are seeded one to eight.

Regular season records determine the seedings of the teams. The team with the best record receives seed one, the team with the next best record receives seed two, and so on. These seedings are used to create a bracket that determines the matchups throughout the playoffs. The 2022 season will see the playoffs return to a standard eight-team bracket for the first time since 2015, though in a slightly different format.

The first round will consist of best-of-three series, with one side of the bracket featuring 1–8 and 4–5 pairings and the other featuring 2–7 and 3–6 pairings. Differences between the 2022 first-round format and the one abandoned after 2015 are:[1]

  • The 2015 format featured separate brackets for each conference. The 2022 format will maintain the league's recent practice of ignoring conference affiliation for playoff qualifying purposes.
  • Series in the 2015 format featured a 1–1–1 home-court pattern, with the higher seed hosting game 1 and (if necessary) game 3, and the lower seed hosting game 2. The home-court pattern in the 2022 format will be 2–1, with the higher seed hosting the first two games. This in turn means that the higher seed can win the series without having to visit the lower seed.

In the newly adopted format, the playoff bracket is not reseeded after the first round.[1]

The semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series played in a 2-2-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage (better record) hosts games 1, 2, and 5 while their opponent hosts games 3 and 4.

The 2022 format replaced a format used from 2016–2021 in which all playoff games before the semifinals were single-elimination and played on the home court of the higher seed. The first round consisted of two matchups based on the seedings (5-8 and 6-7). The two winners advanced to the second round with a matchup between the number 3 seed and the lower of the advancing seeds and another matchup between the number 4 seed and the other first-round winner. The winners of the first two rounds advanced to the semifinals, where the lower-ranked seed of the winners faced the number 1 seed, while the other remaining team faced the number 2 seed.

Tiebreak procedures

1) Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams. 2) Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season. 3) Better point differential in games involving tied teams. 4) Better point differential in all games. 5) Coin toss (or draw of lots, if at least 3 teams are still tied after the first 4 tiebreakers fail).

Playoff series history
See also: List of WNBA playoff series

2021 season
 
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 23)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 26)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 28 – Oct. 8)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Oct. 10 – Oct. 17)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2
Las Vegas Aces 		2
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		3
 
 
 
 
 
4
Seattle Storm 		80
 
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		85OT
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		83
 
 
 
8
New York Liberty 		82
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		1
 
 
 
6
Chicago Sky 		3
 
6
Chicago Sky 		81
 
 
 
7
Dallas Wings 		64
 
3
Minnesota Lynx 		76
 
 
6
Chicago Sky 		89
 
 
 
 
 
1
Connecticut Sun 		1
 
 
6
Chicago Sky 		3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Semifinals
Team1234
1
Connecticut Sun		95798369
6
Chicago Sky		101 2OT688679
Team12345
2
Las Vegas Aces		9691609384
5
Phoenix Mercury		90117877687
WNBA Finals
Team1234
5
Phoenix Mercury		7791 OT5074
6
Chicago Sky		91868680

2020 season
 
First round:
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round:
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(September 20–29)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(October 2–11)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Las Vegas Aces		 3
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun		 2
 
 
 
 
 
4
Minnesota Lynx		 80
 
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury		79
 
5
Phoenix Mercury		 85
 
 
 
8
Washington Mystics		 84
 
1
Las Vegas Aces		 0
 
 
 
2
Seattle Storm		 3
 
6
Chicago Sky		 81
 
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun		 94
 
3
Los Angeles Sparks		 59
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun		 73
 
 
 
 
 
2
Seattle Storm		 3
 
 
4
Minnesota Lynx		 0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Semifinals
Team12345
1
Las Vegas Aces		6283688466
7
Connecticut Sun		8775777563
Team123
2
Seattle Storm		888992
4
Minnesota Lynx		867971
WNBA Finals
Team123
1
Las Vegas Aces		809159
2
Seattle Storm		9310492

2019 season
 
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 11)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 15)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 17 – Sept. 24)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 29 – Oct. 10)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Washington Mystics		 3
 
 
4
Las Vegas Aces 		1
 
 
 
 
 
4
Las Vegas Aces		 93
 
 
 
5
Chicago Sky		 92
 
5
Chicago Sky		 105
 
 
 
8
Phoenix Mercury		 76
 
1
Washington Mystics 		3
 
 
 
2
Connecticut Sun 		2
 
6
Seattle Storm		 84
 
 
 
7
Minnesota Lynx		 74
 
3
Los Angeles Sparks		 92
 
 
6
Seattle Storm		 69
 
 
 
 
 
2
Connecticut Sun		 3
 
 
3
Los Angeles Sparks		 0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Semifinals
Team1234
1
Washington Mystics		971037594
4
Las Vegas Aces		95919290
Team123
2
Connecticut Sun		849478
3
Los Angeles Sparks		756856
WNBA Finals
Team12345
1
Washington Mystics		9587948689
2
Connecticut Sun		8699819078

2018 season
 
First round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 23)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Aug. 26 – Sept. 4)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 7 – Sept. 12)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Seattle Storm 		3
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		2
 
 
 
 
 
4
Connecticut Sun		86
 
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury 		96
 
5
Phoenix Mercury		101
 
 
 
8
Dallas Wings		83
 
1
Seattle Storm 		3
 
 
 
3
Washington Mystics		 0
 
6
Los Angeles Sparks		75
 
 
 
7
Minnesota Lynx		 68
 
3
Washington Mystics		96
 
 
6
Los Angeles Sparks 		64
 
 
 
 
 
2
Atlanta Dream		 2
 
 
3
Washington Mystics		 3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Semifinals
Team12345
1
Seattle Storm		9191668494
5
Phoenix Mercury		8787868684
Team12345
2
Atlanta Dream		8478817681
3
Washington Mystics		8775769786
WNBA Finals
Team123
1
Seattle Storm		897598
3
Washington Mystics		767382

2017 season
 
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 6)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 10)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 12 – Sept. 17)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 24 – Oct. 4)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2
Los Angeles Sparks		3
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury		0
 
 
 
 
 
4
Connecticut Sun		83
 
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury		88
 
5
Phoenix Mercury		79
 
 
 
8
Seattle Storm		69
 
1
Minnesota Lynx		3
 
 
 
2
Los Angeles Sparks		2
 
6
Washington Mystics		86
 
 
 
7
Dallas Wings		76
 
3
New York Liberty		68
 
 
6
Washington Mystics		82
 
 
 
 
 
1
Minnesota Lynx		3
 
 
6
Washington Mystics		0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Semifinals
Team123
1
Minnesota Lynx		1019381
6
Washington Mystics		818370
Team123
2
Los Angeles Sparks		798689
5
Phoenix Mercury		667287
WNBA Finals
Team12345
1
Minnesota Lynx		8470648085
2
Los Angeles Sparks		8568756976

2016 season
 
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 24 and 25)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 28 – Oct. 6)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Oct. 9 – 20)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Minnesota Lynx		3
 
 
8
Phoenix Mercury		0
 
 
 
 
 
3
New York Liberty		94
 
 
 
8
Phoenix Mercury		101
 
5
Indiana Fever		78
 
 
 
8
Phoenix Mercury		89
 
1
Minnesota Lynx		2
 
 
 
2
Los Angeles Sparks		3
 
6
Atlanta Dream		94
 
 
 
7
Seattle Storm		85
 
4
Chicago Sky		108
 
 
6
Atlanta Dream		98
 
 
 
 
 
2
Los Angeles Sparks		3
 
 
4
Chicago Sky		1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Semifinals
Team123
1
Minnesota Lynx		1139682
8
Phoenix Mercury		958667
Team1234
2
Los Angeles Sparks		95996695
4
Chicago Sky		75847075
WNBA Finals
Team12345
1
Minnesota Lynx		7679758576
2
Los Angeles Sparks		7860927977

2015 season
Main article: 2015 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2015 WNBA season and 2015 WNBA Finals
Conference Semi-Finals:
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals:
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-5
         
E1 New York 2
E4 Washington 1
E1 New York 1
Eastern Conference
E3 Indiana 2
E2 Chicago 1
E3 Indiana 2
E3 Indiana 2
W1 Minnesota 3
W1 Minnesota 2
W4 Los Angeles 1
W1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
W2 Phoenix 0
W2 Phoenix 2
W3 Tulsa 0

Bold Series winner
italics Team with home-court advantage

2014 season
Main article: 2014 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2014 WNBA season and 2014 WNBA Finals

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals:
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals:
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-5
         
E1 Atlanta 1
E4 Chicago 2
E4 Chicago 2
Eastern Conference
E2 Indiana 1
E2 Indiana 2
E3 Washington 0
E4 Chicago 0
W1 Phoenix 3
W1 Phoenix 2
W4 Los Angeles 0
W1 Phoenix 2
Western Conference
W2 Minnesota 1
W2 Minnesota 2
W3 San Antonio 0

2013 season
Main article: 2013 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2013 WNBA season and 2013 WNBA Finals

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Chicago 0
E4 Indiana 2
E4 Indiana 0
Eastern Conference
E2 Atlanta 2
E2 Atlanta 2
E3 Washington 1
E2 Atlanta 0
W1 Minnesota 3
W1 Minnesota 2
W4 Seattle 0
W1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
W3 Phoenix 0
W2 Los Angeles 1
W3 Phoenix 2

2012 season
Main article: 2012 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2012 WNBA season and 2012 WNBA Finals

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Connecticut 2
E4 New York 0
E1 Connecticut 1
Eastern Conference
E2 Indiana 2
E2 Indiana 2
E3 Atlanta 1
E2 Indiana 3
W1 Minnesota 1
W1 Minnesota 2
W4 Seattle 1
W1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
W2 Los Angeles 0
W2 Los Angeles 2
W3 San Antonio 0

2011 season
Main article: 2011 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2011 WNBA season and 2011 WNBA Finals

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Indiana 2
E4 New York 1
E1 Indiana 1
Eastern Conference
E3 Atlanta 2
E2 Connecticut 0
E3 Atlanta 2
E3 Atlanta 0
W1 Minnesota 3
W1 Minnesota 2
W4 San Antonio 1
W1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
W3 Phoenix 0
W2 Seattle 1
W3 Phoenix 2

2010 season
Main article: 2010 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2010 WNBA season and 2010 WNBA Finals

There are 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference are seeded one to four. Starting in 2010, the first two rounds changed to a 1-1-1 format, with the higher-seeded team hosting games 1 & 3.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Washington 0
E4 Atlanta 2
E4 Atlanta 2
Eastern Conference
E2 New York 0
E2 New York 2
E3 Indiana 1
E4 Atlanta 0
W1 Seattle 3
W1 Seattle 2
W4 Los Angeles 0
W1 Seattle 2
Western Conference
W2 Phoenix 0
W2 Phoenix 2
W3 San Antonio 0

2009 season
Main article: 2009 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2009 WNBA season and 2009 WNBA Finals

There are 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference are seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Indiana 2
E4 Washington 0
E1 Indiana 2
Eastern Conference
E3 Detroit 1
E2 Atlanta 0
E3 Detroit 2
E1 Indiana 2
W1 Phoenix 3
W1 Phoenix 2
W4 San Antonio 1
W1 Phoenix 2
Western Conference
W3 Los Angeles 1
W2 Seattle 1
W3 Los Angeles 2

2008 season
Main article: 2008 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2008 WNBA season and 2008 WNBA Finals

There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Detroit 2
E4 Indiana 1
E1 Detroit 2
E3 New York 1
E2 Connecticut 1
E3 New York 2
E1 Detroit 3
W1 San Antonio 0
W1 San Antonio 2
W4 Sacramento 1
W1 San Antonio 2
W3 Los Angeles 1
W2 Seattle 1
W3 Los Angeles 2

2007 season
Main article: 2007 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2007 WNBA season and 2007 WNBA Finals

There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Detroit 2
E4 New York 1
E1 Detroit 2
E2 Indiana 1
E2 Indiana 2
E3 Connecticut 1
E1 Detroit 2
W1 Phoenix 3
W1 Phoenix 2
W4 Seattle 0
W1 Phoenix 2
W2 San Antonio 0
W2 San Antonio 2
W3 Sacramento 1

2006 season
Main article: 2006 WNBA Playoffs
Further information: 2006 WNBA season

There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Connecticut 2
E4 Washington 0
E1 Connecticut 1
E2 Detroit 2
E2 Detroit 2
E3 Indiana 0
E2 Detroit 3
W2 Sacramento 2
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Seattle 1
W1 Los Angeles 0
W2 Sacramento 2
W2 Sacramento 2
W3 Houston 0

2005 season
Further information: 2005 WNBA season

There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Connecticut 2
E4 Detroit 0
E1 Connecticut 2
E2 Indiana 0
E2 Indiana 2
E3 New York 0
E1 Connecticut 1
W1 Sacramento 3
W1 Sacramento 2
W4 Los Angeles 0
W1 Sacramento 2
W3 Houston 0
W2 Seattle 1
W3 Houston 2

2004 season
Further information: 2004 WNBA season

There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
         
E1 Connecticut 2
E4 Washington 1
E1 Connecticut 2
E2 New York 0
E2 New York 2
E3 Detroit 1
E1 Connecticut 1
W2 Seattle 2
W1 Los Angeles 1
W4 Sacramento 2
W4 Sacramento 1
W2 Seattle 2
W2 Seattle 2
W3 Minnesota 0

2003 season
Further information: 2003 WNBA season

There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
         
E1 Detroit 2
E4 Cleveland 1
E1 Detroit 2
E3 Connecticut 0
E2 Charlotte 0
E3 Connecticut 2
E1 Detroit 2
W1 Los Angeles 1
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Minnesota 1
W1 Los Angeles 2
W3 Sacramento 1
W2 Houston 1
W3 Sacramento 2

2002 season
Further information: 2002 WNBA season

There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
         
E1 New York 2
E4 Indiana 1
E1 New York 2
E3 Washington 0
E2 Charlotte 0
E3 Washington 2
E1 New York 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Seattle 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
W3 Utah 0
W2 Houston 1
W3 Utah 2

2001 season
Further information: 2001 WNBA season

There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
         
E1 Cleveland 1
E4 Charlotte 2
E4 Charlotte 2
E2 New York 1
E2 New York 2
E3 Miami 1
E4 Charlotte 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Houston 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
W2 Sacramento 1
W2 Sacramento 2
W3 Utah 0

2000 season
Further information: 2000 WNBA season

There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
         
E1 New York 2
E4 Washington 0
E1 New York 2
E2 Cleveland 1
E2 Cleveland 2
E3 Orlando 1
E1 New York 0
W2 Houston 2
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Phoenix 0
W1 Los Angeles 0
W2 Houston 2
W2 Houston 2
W3 Sacramento 0

1999 season
Further information: 1999 WNBA season

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the three teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to three. The top seeded team in each conference got a bye for the first round.

Conference Semi-Finals
Single Game 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
         
E1 New York 2
E3 Charlotte 1
E2 Detroit 54
E3 Charlotte 60
E1 New York 1
W1 Houston 2
W1 Houston 2
W2 Los Angeles 1
W2 Los Angeles 71
W3 Sacramento 58

1998 season
Further information: 1998 WNBA season

There were 10 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was switched to the Western Conference in 1998 so two Western Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Finals.

Playoff Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
      
W1 Houston 2
E2 Charlotte 0
W1 Houston 2
W2 Phoenix 1
W2 Phoenix 2
E1 Cleveland 1

1997 season
Further information: 1997 WNBA season

This was the first year of existence for the WNBA. There were only 8 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was in the Eastern Conference in 1997 so two Eastern Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Championship.

Playoff Semi-Finals
Single Game 		WNBA Championship
Single Game
      
E1 Houston 70
E4 Charlotte 54
E1 Houston 65
E2 New York 51
W3 Phoenix 41
E2 New York 59

See also

References
  1. "WNBA Approves New Playoff Format" (Press release). WNBA. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
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