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The WNBA sends the eight teams with the best regular-season records into a league-wide playoff bracket, then seeds them from No. 1 to No. 8. The first round is best-of-three, the semifinals are best-of-five and the Finals are best-of-seven. This format, including a new first-round home schedule and longer Finals, took effect in 2025.
How teams qualify and get seeded
The top eight teams across the WNBA qualify based on regular-season records. There is no separate conference qualification quota: teams are ranked across the league, regardless of conference, according to the WNBA’s 2026 postseason information. The league pages cited here do not explain how equal records are resolved, so no tie-break procedure is included.
How the playoff bracket works
The bracket pairs the seeds in a fixed order. First-round winners stay in their bracket half; teams are not reseeded after that round, as the WNBA explained in its 2021 format announcement.
| Bracket pairing | What happens next |
|---|---|
| No. 1 vs. No. 8 | The winner advances to face the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5. |
| No. 4 vs. No. 5 | The winner advances to face the winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8. |
| No. 2 vs. No. 7 | The winner advances to face the winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6. |
| No. 3 vs. No. 6 | The winner advances to face the winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7. |
The two semifinal winners meet in the WNBA Finals.
Series length and home-court schedule by round
Each series ends when one team reaches the required number of wins. The higher seed receives the home-court pattern shown below, according to the WNBA’s current 2026 playoff format.
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| Round | Series length | Wins needed | Home schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Best-of-three | 2 | 1-1-1: higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3; lower seed hosts Game 2. |
| Semifinals | Best-of-five | 3 | 2-2-1: higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and 5. |
| Finals | Best-of-seven | 4 | 2-2-1-1-1: higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7; the opponent hosts Games 3, 4 and 6. |
What changed in 2025
Two changes distinguish the current format from older descriptions. Beginning in 2025, first-round home games alternate in a 1-1-1 pattern, rather than giving the higher seed the first two games. The Finals also expanded from best-of-five to best-of-seven. The WNBA announced both changes on October 10, 2024, alongside an increase in the regular season to 44 games per team (league announcement).
Older articles describing a best-of-five Finals or the former 2-1 first-round home order describe the pre-2025 format, not the current one.
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- WNBA Official: Wilson is the official basketball of the WNBA. This ball features official WNBA branding coupled with the iconic Wilson script
- Pure Feel Cover: Indoor/Outdoor pro-level feel and durability is great for play or collecting autographs
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2026 postseason dates and live results
The WNBA’s 2026 FAQ says the postseason began September 27, 2026. For the live bracket and results, consult the league’s current playoff page; those season-specific details can change as games are played. The seeding and series rules above are the standing format, not a prediction of which teams advance.
Quick Recap
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- WNBA Official: Wilson is the official basketball of the WNBA. This ball features official WNBA branding coupled with the iconic Wilson script
- Pure Feel Cover: Indoor/Outdoor pro-level feel and durability is great for play or collecting autographs
- Caitlin Clark Signature Series Official: Her Signature Series, personally designed and endorsed by the icon herself
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