Following the 2021 season, the WNBA altered its playoff format to get rid of single-elimination games and byes to the semifinals for the top two seeds. In the new format, the top eight teams from the regular season, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason with all eight taking part in a best-of-three series for the first round. The first two games of the series will be held on the homecourt of the higher seed, with the lower seed then hosting a Game 3, if necessary. No lower seed has ever upset the higher seed in the new series format.
The winners of the respective first-round series will advance in the bracket to the semifinals, where the remaining four teams will participate in a best-of-five series. The semifinals will begin on Sept. 29.
The respective winners of those series will then advance to the WNBA Finals, which will also be a best-of-five series. The WNBA Finals will begin on Oct. 10, with a potential Game 5 set for Oct. 20.
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WNBA playoff matchups set as Atlanta Dream claim final spot: How does postseason format work?
