The 2024 WNBA playoffs are underway, and a busy Sunday that featured Game 1 of all four first-round series is in the books. Early on, the No. 1 overall seed New York Liberty made easy work of the Atlanta Dream thanks to big nights from Breanna Stewart and rookie forward Leonie Fiebich. Likewise, the Connecticut Sun cruised past the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark, who had a rough shooting night in her playoff debut.
Later in the evening, it seemed as though we were in for another blowout when the Minnesota Lynx built a 23-point lead on the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury came storming back in the second half, however, and even briefly took the lead before the Lynx pulled away in the final minutes.
In the finale, the Las Vegas Aces got their quest for a three-peat off on the right foot with a hard-fought win over the Seattle Storm. A’ja Wilson and Co. got off to a slow start, but eventually did enough to get past a Storm team that did not make a field goal in the fourth quarter.
With the playoff bracket now set, here’s a look at the first-round matchups and the full schedule for the playoffs:
Bracket
In the current playoff format, teams will play a best-of-three series in the first round and best-of-five series in the semifinals and finals. Notably, the first round is a 2-1 format, which means the higher seed gets the first two games at home, while the lower seed gets the deciding Game 3 at home should the series go that far. In the semifinals and finals, it is a standard 2-2-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2 and 5, if necessary.
First round (best-of-three)
All times Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 22 (Game 1s)
- Liberty 83, Dream 69 (Liberty, 1-0)
- Sun 93, Fever 69 (Sun, 1-0)
- Lynx 102, Mercury 95 (Lynx 1-0)
- Aces 78, Storm 67 (Aces 1-0)
Tuesday, Sept. 24 (Game 2s)
- No. 8 Atlanta Dream at No. 1 New York Liberty, 7:30 p.m. — ESPN
- No. 5 Seattle Storm at No. 4 Las Vegas Aces, 9:30 p.m. — ESPN
Wednesday, Sept. 25 (Game 2s)
- No. 6 Indiana Fever at No. 3 Connecticut Sun, 7:30 p.m. — ESPN
- No. 7 Phoenix Mercury at No. 2 Minnesota Lynx, 9:30 p.m. — ESPN
Thursday, Sept. 26 (Game 3s*)
- No. 1 New York Liberty at No. 8 Atlanta Dream, TBD — ESPN2
- No. 4 Las Vegas Aces at No. 5 Seattle Storm, TBD — ESPN2
*If necessary
Friday, Sept. 27 (Game 3s*)
- No. 3 Connecticut Sun at No. 6 Indiana Fever, TBD — ESPN2
- No. 2 Minnesota Lynx at No. 7 Phoenix Mercury, TBD — ESPN2
*If necessary
Semifinals (best-of-five)
All information to be announced
Finals (best-of-five)
All information to be announced
