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 results
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
- Game 1: Liberty 91, Lynx 75
- Game 2: Liberty 87, Lynx 71
Liberty win 2-0
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 Dallas Wings
- Game 1: Valkyries 104, Wings 80
- Game 2: Wings 108, Valkyries 100
- Game 3: Valkyries 77, Wings 73
Valkyries win 2-1
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
- Game 1: Aces 102, Fever 85
- Game 2: Fever 99, Aces 89
- Game 3: Aces 94, Fever 83
Aces win 2-1
No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics
- Game 1: Dream 92, Mystics 77
- Game 2: Dream 93, Mystics 75
Dream win 2-0
2026 WNBA semifinals: matchups and previews
No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
Few people had the New York Liberty making noise this deep into October — and then they knocked off the top overall seed to get here. Now the eighth seed draws the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream, who dispatched Washington in a sweep and arrive rested. Atlanta also owns a psychological edge: they took two of three from New York in the regular season, including both September meetings. Game 1 tipped Sunday, Oct. 4 in Atlanta, and the Dream backed up the regular-season form with a 10-point win.
No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
Game 1: Dream 92, Liberty 82
Game 2: Liberty 98, Dream 101 (OT)
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 9 — Dream at Liberty — 7:30PM ET, ESPN2 — watch with DISH in America's Top 120
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 11 — Dream at Liberty* — TBD, ABC — watch with DISH in America's Top 120
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Liberty at Dream* — TBD, ESPN — watch with DISH in America's Top 120
*If necessary
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 3 Las Vegas Aces
The expansion-era Golden State Valkyries have grown up in a hurry. They just claimed the first playoff series win in franchise history, outlasting Dallas, and the prize is a heavyweight test: the Las Vegas Aces, the most battle-tested roster left standing and home to reigning MVP A'ja Wilson. Youthful momentum against championship pedigree — and the Valkyries landed the first blow, holding Las Vegas to 60 points in a Game 1 defensive clinic.
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 3 Las Vegas Aces
Game 1: Valkyries 71, Aces 60
Game 2: Aces 81, Valkyries 83
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 9 — Valkyries at Aces — 9:30PM ET, Peacock — not available with DISH
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 11 — Valkyries at Aces* — TBD, NBC — watch with DISH in America's Top 120
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Aces at Valkyries* — TBD, Peacock — not available with DISH
*If necessary
The road to the WNBA Finals
Four teams remain, and the bracket is set. Atlanta and Golden State grabbed Game 1 wins at home, putting New York and Las Vegas in early must-win mode in their best-of-five semifinals. The two survivors advance to the best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
The No. 1 seed is already gone — New York saw to that. Now it comes down to which pair of teams can win three games first. October is living up to its billing.
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.
