2020 WNBA Playoffs: What is the WNBA playoffs schedule?

Carlan Gay

2020 WNBA Playoffs: What is the WNBA playoffs schedule? image

There's just one week left in a WNBA season that feels like it flew by. 

All but one playoff spot in spoken for, with the Dallas Wings clinging to the eighth and final spot. 

While we already know where the 2020 WNBA playoffs will be played (in the Wubble), on Tuesday we found out when they'll be played. 

The postseason will begin on Tuesday, September 15th will a pair of first-round single-elimination games beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The double-header can be seen in the U.S. on ESPN 2. (Canadian broadcast information to come.)

The 2020 WNBA Finals will begin on Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. ET. If there's a fifth and deciding game in the Finals, that game will be played on Sunday, October 11th at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.

Here's the complete 2020 WNBA Playoffs schedule:

2020 WNBA Playoff Schedule
Date Time (ET) Game Network
Tue, Sept 15 7 p.m. First Round (Single Elimination) ESPN2
Tue, Sept 15 9 p.m. First Round (Single Elimination) ESPN2
Thu, Sept 17 7 p.m. Second Round (Single Elimination) ESPN2
Thu, Sept 17 9 p.m. Second Round (Single Elimination) ESPN2
Sun, Sept 20 1 p.m. Semifinals Game 1 ESPN
Sun, Sept 20 3 p.m. Semifinals Game 1 ABC
Tue, Sept 22 6 p.m. Semifinals Game 2 ESPN2
Tue, Sept 22 8 p.m. Semifinals Game 2 ESPN2
Thu, Sept 24 7:30 p.m. Semifinals Game 3 ESPN2
Thu, Sept 24 9:30 p.m. Semifinals Game 3 ESPN2
Sun, Sept 27 1 p.m. Semifinals Game 4 (If Necessary) ESPN
Sun, Sept 27 3 p.m. Semifinals Game 4 (If Necessary) ABC
Tue, Sept 29 7 p.m. Semifinals Game 5 (If Necessary) ESPN2
Tue, Sept 29 9 p.m. Semifinals Game 5 (If Necessary) ESPN2
Fri, Oct 2 7 p.m. Finals Game 1 ESPN2
Sun, Oct 4 3 p.m. Finals Game 2 ABC
Tue, Oct 6 7 p.m. Finals Game 3 ESPN
Thu, Oct 8 7 p.m. Finals Game 4 (If Necessary) ESPN2
Sun, Oct 11 3 p.m. Finals Game 5 (If Necessary) ABC

What WNBA teams are in the playoffs?

The Las Vegas Aces finished with the best record in the WNBA this season at 18-4. Led by MVP candidate Brenna Stewart, the Seatle Storm also finished with an 18-4 record and will be looking to capture their fourth title.

Here's how the WNBA standings look after the 2020 WNBA season.

WNBA 2020 Standings
TEAM W L PCT HOME AWAY LAST 10 STRK
Las Vegas Aces - x 18 4 .818 - - 9-1 W6
Seattle Storm - x 18 4 .818 - - 7-3 L1
Los Angeles Sparks - x 15 7 .682 - - 6-4 L2
Minnesota Lynx - x 14 8 .636 - - 5-5 W1
Phoenix Mercury - x 13 9 .591 - - 7-3 L1
Chicago Sky - x 12 10 .545 - - 4-6 W1
Connecticut Sun - x 10 12 .455 - - 5-5 L2
Washington Mystics - x 9 13 .409 - - 5-5 W4
Dallas Wings - o 8 14 .364 - - 4-6 W1
Atlanta Dream - o 7 15 .318 - - 5-5 L1
Indiana Fever - o 6 16 .273 - - 1-9 L1
New York Liberty - o 2 20 .091 - - 1-9 L8

Legend

x: Clinched Playoffs Berth o: Eliminated from Playoffs contention

How do the WNBA playoffs work?

The first round of the 2020 WNBA playoffs will see seeds No. 5 and No. 8 and seeds No. 6 and No. 7 play in a single-elimination game.

Seeds No. 3 and No. 4 receive a bye to round two, while the top two seeds earn a direct bye to the Semifinals.

In round two, the No. 3 seed will take on the lowest remaining seed from the first round and the fourth seed will play the other in another single-elimination game.

The Semifinals and WNBA Finals are both best of five series.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, WNBA or its clubs.

Carlan Gay