The regular season is over after four months and a record 40 games for each team, and the 2023 WNBA playoffs are now underway. The Las Vegas Aces, the defending champions, have clinched the top spot after all seeding issues were resolved on the final day. As they attempt to become the first repeat winners since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002, they will enjoy homecourt advantage throughout the postseason.
With two first-round games on Wednesday, everything will get started. The last month will be a sprint to the finish.
On September 24, the semifinals will begin, and on October 8—the ultimate date—the finals will begin.
There are no byes in the playoffs anymore due to the format change from the previous season. With No. 1 vs No. 8, No. 2 versus No. 7, No. 3 versus No. 6, and No. 4 versus No. 5, the eight teams are arranged in a regular bracket. While the semifinals and finals are also best-of-five matches, the first-round series is best-of-three. One thing to keep in mind is that the first round is played in a 2-1 format, which means that the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, while the lower seed hosts Game 3, if necessary, to decide the match.
The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, and 5, if necessary, in both the semifinals and finals, which are both 2-2-1.
First round (best-of-three)
Wednesday, Sept. 13 — Game 1s
- No. 6 Minnesota Lynx at No. 3 Connecticut Sun, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
- No. 8 Chicago Sky at No. 1 Las Vegas Aces, 10 p.m. ET — ESPN
Friday, Sept. 15 — Game 1s
- No. 7 Washington Mystics at No. 2 New York Liberty, 7:30 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
- No. 5 Atlanta Dream at No. 4 Dallas Wings, 9:30 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
Sunday, Sept. 17 — Game 2s
- No. 6 Minnesota Lynx at No. 3 Connecticut Sun, 1 p.m. ET — ESPN
- No. 8 Chicago Sky at No. 1 Las Vegas Aces, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
Tuesday, Sept. 19 — Game 2s
- No. 7 Washington Mystics at No. 2 New York Liberty, 7 p.m. ET — ESPN
- No. 5 Atlanta Dream at No. 4 Dallas Wings, 9 p.m. ET — ESPN
Wednesday, Sept. 20 — Game 3s (If necessary)
- No. 1 Las Vegas Aces at No. 8 Chicago Sky, TBD — ESPN
- No. 3 Connecticut Sun at No. 6 Minnesota Lynx, TBD — ESPN
Friday, Sept. 22 — Game 3s (If necessary)
- No. 2 New York Liberty at No. 7 Washington Mystics, TBD — ESPN
- No. 4 Dallas Wings at No. 5 Atlanta Dream, TBD — ESPN
Semifinals
Sunday, Sept. 24 — Game 1s
- TBD at TBD, 1 p.m. ET — ESPN
- TBD at TBD, 5 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
Tuesday, Sept. 26 — Game 2s
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
- TBD at TBD, 10 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
Friday, Sept. 29 — Game 3s
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
- TBD at TBD, 10 p.m. ET — ESPN 2
Sunday, Oct. 1 — Game 4s (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
- TBD at TBD, 9 p.m. ET — ESPN
- Tuesday, Oct. 3 — Game 5s (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN U
- TBD at TBD, 10 p.m. ET — ESPN U
Finals
Sunday, Oct. 8 — Game 1
- TBD at TBD, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
Wednesday, Oct. 11 — Game 2
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN
Sunday, Oct. 15 — Game 3
- TBD at TBD, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
Wednesday, Oct. 18 — Game 4 (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN
Friday, Oct. 20 — Game 5 (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN
