Most recent season or competition: 2023 WNBA Playoffs | |
Sport | Basketball |
---|---|
Founded | 1997 |
No. of teams | 8 |
Most recent champion(s) | Las Vegas Aces (2023) |
Most titles | Houston Comets Minnesota Lynx Seattle Storm (4 titles each) |
The WNBA playoffs is an elimination tournament between 8 teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.
In the current format of the WNBA playoffs, the top eight teams in the regular season – regardless of conference – participate in a single-elimination tournament system. The eight teams are seeded by their regular season records, with the higher seeded team (or the team with the better record) in each series given homecourt advantage.
Round One is a best-of-three series, played with a homecourt pattern of 2–1 (the higher seed hosts games 1 and 2, while the lower seed hosts game 3, if necessary). The Semifinals and Finals are both best-of-five, played with a homecourt pattern of 2–2–1 (the higher seed hosts games 1, 2, and 5, while the lower seed hosts games 3 and 4). [1]
In case of ties, the following procedures are followed:
The playoff format has changed throughout the years ever since the league's establishment.
In the league's first two seasons, 1997 and 1998, only the top four teams overall advanced to the playoffs, which comprised only two rounds. In 1997, only a single game was played in all matches. In 1998, each match became a best-of-three series. The homecourt pattern for best-of-three was 1–1–1.
As expansion began, the playoff format accommodated more teams. 1999 featured six teams, with the top three teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs, and the top seed of each conference getting a bye into the Conference Finals. The following season, it was expanded to eight teams with the top four teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs. In 2005, the WNBA Finals became a best-of-five series. Despite the departure of some teams later on, this format continued until 2015.
From 2016-2021, a new format was introduced, featuring a stepladder-like system. In this format, the first- and second-seeded teams entered the tournament at the Semifinals, third and fourth places started at the Second Round, and the remaining four began at the First Round. The format also eliminated conference seeding, instead having the top eight teams overall advance. The First and Second Rounds were only a single game, with the winning team immediately advancing to the next round. The Semifinals and Finals were both best-of-five series. After each round, the lower surviving seed faced the higher seed in the next round, while the higher surviving seed faced the lower seed. [1]
The current format was adopted in 2022 and features the top 8 teams in the league (regardless of conference) playing a three-round series for the championship. The first round is a best-of-three series with the higher seed hosting both of the first two games, while the Semifinals and Finals remain a best-of-five series. The higher seed hosts the first, second, and (if necessary) fifth games.
Round One: Best-of-3 | Semifinals: Best-of-5 | Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
1 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
8 | Chicago Sky | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
4 | Dallas Wings | 0 | ||||||||||||
4 | Dallas Wings | 2 | ||||||||||||
5 | Atlanta Dream | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
2 | New York Liberty | 1 | ||||||||||||
2 | New York Liberty | 2 | ||||||||||||
7 | Washington Mystics | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
3 | Connecticut Sun | 1 | ||||||||||||
3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
6 | Minnesota Lynx | 1 |
Bold Series winner
Round One: Best-of-3 | Semifinals: Best-of-5 | Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
1 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
8 | Phoenix Mercury | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
4 | Seattle Storm | 1 | ||||||||||||
4 | Seattle Storm | 2 | ||||||||||||
5 | Washington Mystics | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
3 | Connecticut Sun | 1 | ||||||||||||
2 | Chicago Sky | 2 | ||||||||||||
7 | New York Liberty | 1 | ||||||||||||
2 | Chicago Sky | 2 | ||||||||||||
3 | Connecticut Sun | 3 | ||||||||||||
3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
6 | Dallas Wings | 1 |
Bold Series winner
First round Sept. 23 | Second round Sept. 26 | Semifinals Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | WNBA Finals Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Las Vegas Aces | 96 | 91 | 60 | 93 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Seattle Storm | 80 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 90 | 117 | 87 | 76 | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Phoenix Mercury | 83 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 85OT | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 77 | 91OT | 50 | 74 | – | ||||||||||||||
8 | New York Liberty | 82 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 91 | 86 | 86 | 80 | – | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut Sun | 95 | 79 | 83 | 69 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 1012OT | 68 | 86 | 79 | – | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Chicago Sky | 81 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 89 | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Dallas Wings | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
First round: Single elimination (September 15) | Second round: Single elimination (September 17) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (September 20–29) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (October 2–11) | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Las Vegas Aces | 62 | 83 | 68 | 84 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | Minnesota Lynx | 80 | 7 | Connecticut Sun | 87 | 75 | 77 | 75 | 63 | |||||||||||||||
5 | Phoenix Mercury | 85 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 79 | 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 80 | 91 | 59 | ||||||||||||||
8 | Washington Mystics | 84 | 2 | Seattle Storm | 93 | 104 | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Seattle Storm | 88 | 89 | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Los Angeles Sparks | 59 | 4 | Minnesota Lynx | 86 | 79 | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Chicago Sky | 81 | 7 | Connecticut Sun | 73 | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Connecticut Sun | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
First round: Single elimination (Sept. 11) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 15) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 17 – Sept. 24) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Sept. 29 – Oct. 10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Washington Mystics | 97 | 103 | 75 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Las Vegas Aces | 93 | 4 | Las Vegas Aces | 95 | 91 | 92 | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Chicago Sky | 105 | 5 | Chicago Sky | 92 | 1 | Washington Mystics | 95 | 87 | 94 | 86 | 89 | |||||||||||||
8 | Phoenix Mercury | 76 | 2 | Connecticut Sun | 86 | 99 | 81 | 90 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||
2 | Connecticut Sun | 84 | 94 | 78 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Los Angeles Sparks | 92 | 3 | Los Angeles Sparks | 75 | 68 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||
6 | Seattle Storm | 84 | 6 | Seattle Storm | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Minnesota Lynx | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
First round: Single elimination (Aug. 21) | Second round: Single elimination (Aug. 23) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Aug. 26 – Sept. 4) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Sept. 7 – Sept. 12) | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Seattle Storm | 91 | 91 | 66 | 84 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | Connecticut Sun | 86 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 87 | 87 | 86 | 86 | 84 | |||||||||||||||
5 | Phoenix Mercury | 101 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 96 | 1 | Seattle Storm | 89 | 75 | 98 | ||||||||||||||
8 | Dallas Wings | 83 | 3 | Washington Mystics | 76 | 73 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Atlanta Dream | 84 | 78 | 81 | 76 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | Washington Mystics | 96 | 3 | Washington Mystics | 87 | 75 | 76 | 97 | 86 | |||||||||||||||
6 | Los Angeles Sparks | 75 | 6 | Los Angeles Sparks | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Minnesota Lynx | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
First round: Single elimination (Sept. 6) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 10) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 12 – Sept. 17) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Sept. 24 – Oct. 4) | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 79 | 86 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Connecticut Sun | 83 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 66 | 72 | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Phoenix Mercury | 79 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 88 | 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 84 | 70 | 64 | 80 | 85 | ||||||||||||
8 | Seattle Storm | 69 | 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 85 | 68 | 75 | 69 | 76 | |||||||||||||||
1 | Minnesota Lynx | 101 | 93 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | New York Liberty | 68 | 6 | Washington Mystics | 81 | 83 | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Washington Mystics | 86 | 6 | Washington Mystics | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Dallas Wings | 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
First round: Single elimination (Sept. 21) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 24 and 25) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Minnesota Lynx | 113 | 96 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | New York Liberty | 94 | 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 95 | 86 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||
5 | Indiana Fever | 78 | 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 101 | 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 79 | 75 | 85 | 76 | |||||||||||||
8 | Phoenix Mercury | 89 | 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 78 | 60 | 92 | 79 | 77 | ||||||||||||||||
2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 95 | 99 | 66 | 95 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Chicago Sky | 108 | 4 | Chicago Sky | 75 | 84 | 70 | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Atlanta Dream | 94 | 6 | Atlanta Dream | 98 | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Seattle Storm | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
Conference Semi-Finals: Best-of-3 | Conference Finals: Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
E3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Chicago | 1 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
W2 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Tulsa | 0 |
There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference semi-finals: best-of-3 | Conference finals: best-of-3 | WNBA finals: best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Atlanta | 1 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Chicago | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Chicago | 2 | ||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Chicago | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
W2 | Minnesota | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | San Antonio | 0 |
There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Chicago | 0 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Indiana | 0 | ||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
E2 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Seattle | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 2 |
There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Atlanta | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
W2 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | San Antonio | 0 |
There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
E3 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Connecticut | 0 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | San Antonio | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 2 |
There are 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference are seeded one to four. Starting in 2010, the first two rounds changed to a 1-1-1 format, with the higher-seeded team hosting games 1 & 3.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
E2 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
E2 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Seattle | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
W2 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | San Antonio | 0 |
There are 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference are seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
E3 | Detroit | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | San Antonio | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
W3 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Los Angeles | 2 |
There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
E3 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | San Antonio | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | San Antonio | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | San Antonio | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Los Angeles | 2 |
There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Seattle | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
W2 | San Antonio | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | San Antonio | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Sacramento | 1 |
There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Indiana | 0 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Detroit | 3 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Houston | 0 |
There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four, this was also the first season where the WNBA finals was expanded to a best-of-5 game series.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Detroit | 0 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 0 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Sacramento | 3 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Houston | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Houston | 2 |
There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
E2 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Detroit | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Minnesota | 0 |
There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Cleveland | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Connecticut | 0 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Minnesota | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Houston | 1 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Sacramento | 2 |
There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Washington | 2 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Seattle | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Utah | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Houston | 1 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Utah | 2 |
There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
E1 | Cleveland | 1 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Charlotte | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Charlotte | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Miami | 1 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Houston | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Utah | 0 |
There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E4 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Cleveland | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Cleveland | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando | 1 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
W4 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Sacramento | 0 |
There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the three teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to three. The top seeded team in each conference got a bye for the first round.
Conference Semi-Finals Single Game | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Charlotte | 1 | ||||||||||||
E2 | Detroit | 54 | ||||||||||||
E3 | Charlotte | 60 | ||||||||||||
E1 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
W1 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
W2 | Los Angeles | 71 | ||||||||||||
W3 | Sacramento | 58 |
There were 10 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was switched to the Western Conference in 1998 so two Western Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Finals.
Playoff Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||
W1 | Houston | 2 | |||||||
E2 | Charlotte | 0 | |||||||
W1 | Houston | 2 | |||||||
W2 | Phoenix | 1 | |||||||
W2 | Phoenix | 2 | |||||||
E1 | Cleveland | 1 |
This was the first year of existence for the WNBA. There were only 8 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was in the Eastern Conference in 1997 so two Eastern Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Championship.
Playoff Semi-Finals Single Game | WNBA Championship Single Game | ||||||||
E1 | Houston | 70 | |||||||
E4 | Charlotte | 54 | |||||||
E1 | Houston | 65 | |||||||
E2 | New York | 51 | |||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 41 | |||||||
E2 | New York | 59 |
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be either a single game, a series of games, or a tournament, and may use a single-elimination system or one of several other different playoff formats. Playoff, in regard to international fixtures, is to qualify or progress to the next round of a competition or tournament.
The WNBA Finals are the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the conclusion of the league's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002. Since 2016, Verizon is the official sponsor.
There are a number of formats used in various levels of competition in sports and games to determine an overall champion. Some of the most common are the single elimination, the best-of- series, the total points series more commonly known as on aggregate, and the round-robin tournament.
A wild card is a tournament or playoff berth awarded to a team or individual that does not directly qualify. In some events, wildcards are chosen freely by the organizers. Other events have fixed rules. Some North American professional sports leagues compare the records of teams which did not qualify directly by winning a division or conference.
The PBA Governors' Cup is a tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association. Along with the PBA Commissioner's Cup, the tournament is one of the two conferences that allows teams to hire a single foreign player, also known as an "import". The tournament was first held in 1993 as the third conference of the PBA season.
The Stanley Cup playoffs is the annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, and the league champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the NHL's regular season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season points totals. The final round is commonly known as the Stanley Cup Finals, which matches the two conference champions.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs is the annual elimination tournament held to determine the league champion. The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the league's regular season and its preliminary postseason tournament, the NBA play-in tournament. Six teams from each of the two conferences automatically advance to the playoffs based on regular season winning percentage, while those teams finishing seven through 10 from each conference compete in the play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff seeds.
The MLS Cup Playoffs is the annual postseason elimination tournament of Major League Soccer. The MLS Cup, the league's championship game, is the final match of the tournament. Under the current format adopted for the 2023 season, 18 teams qualify for the tournament based on regular-season point totals — the nine highest-placed teams from each the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Audi is the title sponsor of this tournament.
The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences that make up the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the other being the Western Conference. Both conferences consist of 6 teams.
The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. Both conferences consist of 6 teams.
The 2011 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2011 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a best-of-five format. The finals were won by the Minnesota Lynx who defeated the defending Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream.
The 2013 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2013 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences will qualify for the playoffs, seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a best-of-five format.
The 2014 WNBA playoffs was the postseason for the 2014 WNBA season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a best-of-five format.
The 2015 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2015 season.
The 2016 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2016 season.
The 2017 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2017 season.
The 2018 WNBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2018 season. The Seattle Storm won the team's third WNBA title, sweeping the Washington Mystics 3–0 in the best-of-five WNBA Finals.
The 2019 WNBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2019 season. The Washington Mystics won the team's first WNBA title in their 22-year franchise history.
The 2020 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2020 season being played in Bradenton, Florida at the IMG Academy, known for the season as the "wubble." The Seattle Storm defeated the Las Vegas Aces three games to zero in the finals to claim the franchise's fourth WNBA title.
The 2020 WNBA Finals, officially WNBA Finals 2020 presented by YouTube TV for sponsorship reasons, was the best-of-five championship series for the 2020 season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Finals feature the top seeded Las Vegas Aces facing off against the second seed Seattle Storm. Despite losing both regular season meetings against Las Vegas, the Storm dominated the series, sweeping the Aces in three straight games. Led by Finals MVP Breanna Stewart, Seattle won all three games by double-digits, claiming their second title in three years and fourth in franchise history.