WNBA Playoffs 2026: Schedule and How to Watch with DISH
The WNBA playoff field is set and eight teams remain in the hunt for the 2026 WNBA championship. After a regular season that generated plenty of conversation, it is time to let the games do the talking.
Minnesota, Golden State, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Indiana, Washington, Dallas, and New York are all headed to the postseason. The Lynx enter as the No. 1 seed, securing home-court advantage throughout the tournament.
This year’s playoffs deliver an extended runway for drama. The first round remains best-of-three, followed by best-of-five semifinals, before the last two teams standing meet in a best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
Who has a legitimate shot at the trophy? Technically, all of them. Here is the case for why each playoff team can win it all, and why each one might head home sooner than they prefer. To watch WNBA Playoff basketball, subscribe to DISH America's Top 120, which includes USA Network, ESPN, NBC, and ABC.
How to watch the 2026 WNBA Playoffs with DISH
The 2026 WNBA Playoffs will be split between several major networks. You can catch the action on the following channels:
USA Network
NBC
ABC
ESPN and ESPN2
Amazon Prime Video (requires a separate subscription)
To watch the most basketball throughout the playoffs on USA Network, ESPN, NBC, and ABC, subscribe to America's Top 120. If you are stepping away from the living room, you can take the games with you using the DISH Anywhere mobile app.
2026 WNBA Playoffs: First round schedule
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
Game 1: Liberty at Lynx - Sunday, Sept. 27, 2PM ET - ABC
Game 2: Lynx at Liberty - Tuesday, Sept. 29, 8:30PM ET - USA
Game 3: Liberty at Lynx - Thursday, Oct. 1 - TBD (If necessary)
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 Dallas Wings
Game 1: Wings at Valkyries - Sunday, Sept. 27, 9PM ET - USA
Game 2: Valkyries at Wings - Wednesday, Sept. 30, 9PM ET - ESPN
Game 3: Wings at Valkyries - Friday, Oct. 2 - TBD (If necessary)
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
Game 1: Fever at Aces - Sunday, Sept. 27, 4PM ET - ABC
Game 2: Aces at Fever - Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:30PM ET - Prime Video
Game 3: Fever at Aces - Thursday, Oct. 1 - TBD (If necessary)
No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics
Game 1: Mystics at Dream - Sunday, Sept. 27, 7PM ET - Prime Video
Game 2: Dream at Mystics - Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7PM ET - ESPN
Game 3: Mystics at Dream - Friday, Oct. 2 - TBD (If necessary)
WNBA Playoffs 2026: Team previews
Minnesota Lynx
Why they can win it all: Minnesota was the first team to lock up a playoff berth and has secured the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the postseason. Rookie point guard Olivia Miles helped the team stay atop the standings while Napheesa Collier missed the first 27 games of the season. Miles, the No. 2 overall pick, has played like a seasoned star, giving Minnesota another major weapon alongside Collier.
Why they might not: Minnesota enters the postseason as the team everyone is measuring itself against. The best-of-three opening round leaves very little room for an off night.
Golden State Valkyries
Why they can win it all: In their second WNBA season, the Valkyries spent much of the year right behind Minnesota near the top of the standings. Gabby Williams gives Golden State an All-Star centerpiece, and their league-best defense has set the tone.
Why they might not: Their postseason debut ended with a first-round loss to Minnesota. Going from a playoff team to a championship team requires a sizable leap, particularly with experienced contenders waiting in the bracket.
Las Vegas Aces
Why they can win it all: Las Vegas brings a ridiculous amount of championship experience, starting with A’ja Wilson and extending to Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. The Aces have surged down the stretch and look like a team nobody wants to play.
Why they might not: The Aces spent much of the season chasing Minnesota and Golden State rather than setting the pace themselves. Another championship will likely require beating multiple teams that finished ahead of them.
Atlanta Dream
Why they can win it all: Atlanta is on a hot streak going into the playoffs. Rhyne Howard gives them a bona fide star at the center of the roster. Throw in Angel Reese and a balanced roster that gets production from multiple spots, and Atlanta does not need one player to carry the whole team.
Why they might not: Their postseason resume is not as decorated as some of the teams surrounding them. Winning series after series against highly experienced teams is a difficult challenge.
Indiana Fever
Why they can win it all: Kelsey Mitchell put together a monster season, setting a WNBA single-season scoring record in September. With Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston alongside her, Indiana has plenty for opposing defenses to worry about.
Why they might not: When the playoffs arrive, defenses get more targeted. Indiana will need its offense clicking against teams that get multiple chances to adjust over the course of a series.
Washington Mystics
Why they can win it all: Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen both earned All-Star nods this summer. Washington spent the closing stretch of the regular season hanging right in the middle of the playoff pack.
Why they might not: Youth can be unforgiving in the postseason. Washington may find itself matched against a team with significantly more playoff experience, and a best-of-three first round does not offer much time to adjust.
Dallas Wings
Why they can win it all: Paige Bueckers gives the Wings one of the league’s most dangerous young stars, acting as a shot-maker capable of changing a playoff game by herself. Jessica Shepard also earned an All-Star starting spot this season.
Why they might not: Dallas is likely to play the entire postseason without home-court advantage and will have to go through the league’s heavyweights.
New York Liberty
Why they can win it all: Breanna Stewart gives the Liberty the confidence of one of the best players in basketball. A veteran roster brings a ton of postseason experience, and they added a new head coach in Chris DeMarco.
Why they might not: New York has spent the closing stretch fighting for seeding rather than home-court advantage. Being the No. 8 seed means the degree of difficulty goes up immediately.
2026 WNBA Playoffs FAQ
When do the 2026 WNBA Playoffs start? The 2026 WNBA Playoffs tip off Sunday, September 27.
How many teams make the WNBA Playoffs? Eight teams qualify for the WNBA Playoffs, seeded by regular-season record regardless of conference.
What is the format for the 2026 WNBA Playoffs? The first round is best-of-three with a 1-1-1 format, followed by best-of-five semifinals, and a best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
Can I watch the WNBA Playoffs with DISH? Yes. USA Network, ESPN, NBC, and ABC are available with the America's Top 120 package. You can also use the Voice Remote with Google Assistant built-in to navigate directly to the games without hunting through the guide, and the Hopper 3 DVR allows you to record up to 16 channels at once.
When are the 2026 WNBA Finals? The 2026 WNBA Finals begin Saturday, October 17. If the series goes the distance, Game 7 will be played Saturday, October 31.
