The 2026 WNBA playoffs started Sept. 27, and the best-of-seven WNBA Finals begin Saturday, Oct. 17. This page covers the playoff schedule, bracket, where to watch, and 2026 award winners, then what's ahead in 2027: a 50-game season, the expansion timeline, and the new collective bargaining agreement.
The Top performances board updates daily and follows the season stage automatically, showing playoff stat lines now and regular-season leaders once the 2027 season tips off.
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Key dates
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Playoffs begin | Sept. 27, 2026 | First round, best-of-three |
| Semifinals | Oct. 4–14, 2026 | Best-of-five; Games 4–5 if necessary (Oct. 11, 14) |
| WNBA Finals Game 1 | Oct. 17, 2026 | 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock |
| WNBA Finals (best-of-seven) | Oct. 17–31, 2026 | Games 5–7 if necessary: Oct. 26, 29, 31 |
| 2027 season | TBA | 50 games per team; schedule and key dates not yet announced |
| Next expansion team | 2028 | Cleveland; Detroit 2029, Philadelphia 2030 |
Top WNBA playoff performances: last 14 days
Updated daily · as of 2026-10-06
- A'ja Wilson (LV vs IND, 2026-09-27): 38 PTS · 16 REB · 2 AST · 4 BLK — game score 40.3
- Arike Ogunbowale (DAL vs GS, 2026-09-30): 45 PTS · 7 REB · 4 AST · 3 STL · 5 3PM — game score 35.2
- Gabby Williams (GS vs DAL, 2026-09-30): 36 PTS · 6 REB · 7 AST · 3 STL · 5 3PM — game score 33.2
- Breanna Stewart (NY vs MIN, 2026-09-27): 34 PTS · 12 REB · 6 AST — game score 32.4
- A'ja Wilson (LV vs IND, 2026-10-01): 36 PTS · 10 REB · 1 AST — game score 30.7
- Caitlin Clark (IND vs LV, 2026-09-29): 27 PTS · 7 REB · 15 AST · 5 3PM — game score 24.6
- Jackie Young (LV vs IND, 2026-09-29): 31 PTS · 4 REB · 5 AST · 4 3PM — game score 24.2
- Jordin Canada (ATL vs NY, 2026-10-04): 25 PTS · 1 REB · 4 AST · 5 STL · 4 3PM — game score 23.8
- Tiffany Hayes (GS vs DAL, 2026-09-27): 21 PTS · 1 REB · 4 AST · 3 3PM — game score 22.1
- DeWanna Bonner (ATL vs NY, 2026-10-04): 23 PTS · 9 REB · 2 AST · 3 3PM — game score 21.9
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2026 WNBA Finals?
The 2026 WNBA Finals are a best-of-seven series. Game 1 is Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock. Game 2 is Monday, Oct. 19 (8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock), Game 3 is Thursday, Oct. 22 (8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock), and Game 4 is Saturday, Oct. 24 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). If needed, Games 5–7 are Oct. 26, 29, and 31 at 8 p.m. ET on USA/Peacock.
What is the 2026 WNBA playoffs schedule and format?
The playoffs began Sunday, Sept. 27, with a best-of-three first round. The best-of-five semifinals started Oct. 4, with Game 2 on Oct. 7, Game 3 on Oct. 9, and Games 4–5 if necessary on Oct. 11 and 14. The best-of-seven Finals start Oct. 17, and the last possible date is Oct. 31.
What does the 2026 WNBA playoff bracket look like?
As of Oct. 6, 2026, two semifinals remain: No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 8 New York Liberty, and No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 3 Las Vegas Aces. In the first round, the Liberty eliminated the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, the Valkyries beat the Dallas Wings in Game 3, and the Aces knocked out the Indiana Fever.
Sources: cbssports.com, nbcsports.com, cbssports.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
How can I watch the 2026 WNBA playoffs?
Playoff games air on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, NBC, Peacock and NBCSN, USA, and Prime Video. The Finals air on NBC/Peacock and USA/Peacock.
Sources: wnba.com, cbssports.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
Are Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever still in the 2026 playoffs?
No. The Las Vegas Aces eliminated the Fever 2–1 in the first round, winning Game 3 94–83 on Oct. 1, 2026.
Sources: espn.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
Who won the 2026 WNBA awards?
Announced so far: Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles (Lynx, unanimous), Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve (Lynx, a record fifth time), Most Improved Player Jessica Shepard (Wings), Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese (Dream), and Sixth Player of the Year Janelle Salaün (Valkyries, unanimous). As of Oct. 6, 2026, MVP and the All-WNBA teams had not been announced.
Sources: cbssports.com, pr.nba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
How many teams are in the WNBA?
The WNBA had 15 teams in 2026, including expansion teams the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, which built rosters in the April 3, 2026, expansion draft. Toronto debuted May 8 and Portland on May 9.
Sources: wnba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
Will there be new WNBA teams in 2027?
No new team starts in 2027. Cleveland begins play in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030, which will bring the league to 18 teams.
Sources: wnba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
How many games are in the 2027 WNBA season?
Each team plays 50 regular-season games in 2027, up from 44 in 2026.
Sources: pr.nba.com, nba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
When does the 2027 WNBA season start?
The WNBA hasn't announced the 2027 schedule yet. The league said the footprint and key dates will come later. For reference, the 2026 season tipped off May 8.
Sources: pr.nba.com, wnba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
What is in the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement?
On March 20, 2026, the WNBA and WNBPA announced a tentative seven-year CBA covering 2026 through 2032. It includes the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women's pro sports, a $7.0 million salary cap for 2026, a $1.4 million max salary in 2026, and a projected average salary of about $583,000 in 2026.
Sources: nba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
When is the 2027 WNBA Draft?
As of Oct. 6, 2026, the WNBA hasn't announced the date or location of the 2027 Draft. Its 2027 key dates are still to come.
Sources: pr.nba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
Where can I find WNBA games and scores today?
ClutchNBA's WNBA pages show today's games and live scores, and the Top performances board on this page ranks the best playoff stat lines every day.
Sources: clutchnba.com · Last verified 2026-10-06
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