PLAYOFF FORMAT: The four-round WNBA Playoffs feature the eight teams with the best regular-season records, regardless of conference affiliation. The top two seeds – the No. 1 Connecticut Sun and the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces – earned a double bye into the WNBA Semifinals (third
round). The third and fourth seeds – the No. 3 Minnesota Lynx and the No. 4 Seattle Storm – received a bye into the second round. The first and second rounds are single-elimination games. The WNBA Semifinals and the WNBA Finals 2021 presented by YouTube TV are best-of-five series.
VIEWERS’ GUIDE: The WNBA Playoffs will have a maximum of 19 games, all available across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and the ESPN App. Minnesota and Seattle will each host a second-round, single-elimination game Sunday, Sept. 26. The WNBA Semifinals will begin Tuesday, Sept. 28 on ESPN2, with Connecticut and Las Vegas each hosting a series opener. Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is currently scheduled to be played Sunday, Oct. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. Click here for the complete playoff schedule.
BLAZING SUN: Top-seeded Connecticut (26-6) won its final 14 regular season games, marking the longest season-ending winning streak in WNBA history and the fourth-longest winning streak overall. The Sun, which posted the best single-season winning percentage in franchise history (.813), is seeking to win its first WNBA championship. Connecticut is led by MVP candidate Jonquel Jones, who averaged 19.4 points and a league-leading 11.2 rebounds per game in the regular season.

DRIVE FOR FIVE: Minnesota and Seattle will each have a chance to become the first franchise to win five WNBA championships. The Lynx won 17 of its final 20 regular-season games to earn its 11th consecutive playoff appearance, the second-longest streak in WNBA history. Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles, a two-time WNBA Finals MVP and the league’s career rebounding leader, is viewed as a top candidate for the regular-season MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Las Vegas reached the WNBA Finals last season before losing to Seattle in a three-game sweep. Led by 2020 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and reigning Western Conference Player of the Month Kelsey Plum, the second-seeded Aces (24-8) have another opportunity to win their first WNBA championship.