WNBA playoffs

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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.

Format

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 then seeded by their regular season records, with the higher seeded team (or the team with the better record) in a 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). 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]

Tiebreaker procedures

In case of ties, the following procedures are followed:

  1. Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
  2. Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
  3. Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
  4. Better point differential in all games.
  5. Coin toss (or draw of lots, if at least 3 teams are still tied after the first 4 tiebreakers fail).

History

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 advance to the playoffs, only consisting of 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. The format used in 1999 had six teams with the top three teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs, with 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, the format would stick until 2015.

In 2016, a new format was introduced, featuring a stepladder-like system. In this format, the first- and second-seeded teams start at the Semifinals, third and fourth start at the Second Round, and the remaining four begin at the First Round. The format also removed conference seeding, instead having the top eight teams overall advance. The First and Second Rounds only consist of a single game, with the winning team immediately advancing to the next round. The Semifinals and Finals are both best-of-five series. After each round, the lower surviving seed faces the higher seed in the next round, and the higher surviving seed faces the lower seed.[1]

The current format was adopted in 2022.

Playoff series history

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2023 season

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

2022 season

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

2021 season

Template:8TeamBracket-StepladderToSF Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

2020 season

 
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
3
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun
2
 
 
 
 
 
4
Minnesota Lynx
80
 
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury
79
 
5
Phoenix Mercury
85
 
 
 
8
Washington Mystics
84
 
1
Las Vegas Aces
0
 
 
 
2
Seattle Storm
3
 
6
Chicago Sky
81
 
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun
94
 
3
Los Angeles Sparks
59
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun
73
 
 
 
 
 
2
Seattle Storm
3
 
 
4
Minnesota Lynx
0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Semifinals
Team 1 2 3 4 5
1
Las Vegas Aces
62 83 68 84 66
7
Connecticut Sun
87 75 77 75 63
Team 1 2 3
2
Seattle Storm
88 89 92
4
Minnesota Lynx
86 79 71
WNBA Finals
Team 1 2 3
1
Las Vegas Aces
80 91 59
2
Seattle Storm
93 104 92

2019 season

Template:2019 WNBA Playoffs

2018 season

Template:2018 WNBA Playoffs

2017 season

Template:2017 WNBA Playoffs

2016 season

Template:2016 WNBA Playoffs

2015 season

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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

Bold Series winner
italics Team with home-court advantage

2014 season

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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.

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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

2013 season

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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.

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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

2012 season

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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.

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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

2011 season

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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
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
W3 Phoenix 0
W2 Seattle 1
W3 Phoenix 2

2010 season

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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
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
W2 Phoenix 0
W2 Phoenix 2
W3 San Antonio 0

2009 season

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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
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
W3 Los Angeles 1
W2 Seattle 1
W3 Los Angeles 2

2008 season

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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

2007 season

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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

2006 season

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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

2005 season

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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 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

2004 season

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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

2003 season

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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

2002 season

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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

2001 season

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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

2000 season

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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

1999 season

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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.

     
     
     
           
     
   
       
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
       
   
     


1998 season

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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

1997 season

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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

See also

References

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External links