The WNBA playoff picture has finally come into focus.
After an entertaining finish to the regular season, eight WNBA teams are moving on to the postseason: the Connecticut Sun, Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings and New York Liberty. The top-seeded Sun are the betting favorite to win the 2021 championship, but the road to the title will be filled with challengers.
MORE: Watch the WNBA live with fuboTV (free 7-day trial)
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the 2021 WNBA playoffs, including a look at the final standings and a schedule of upcoming games.
When do the WNBA playoffs start in 2021?
- Last day of regular season: Sunday, Sept. 19
- WNBA playoffs: Thursday, Sept. 23
The 2021 WNBA playoffs will begin on Thursday, Sept. 23. The latest possible date for a WNBA Finals game is Tuesday, Oct. 19.
WNBA playoffs channel, how to live stream
ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will provide coverage of up to 19 postseason games during the WNBA playoffs and the WNBA Finals. You can also live stream the WNBA playoffs for free with fuboTV.
How will the WNBA playoffs work?
- Eight total teams will qualify for the WNBA playoffs with regular season record determining the seedings of those teams. The top two seeds will earn a bye to the semifinals, and the third and fourth seeds will earn a bye to the second round.
- The first and second rounds are single elimination, and the semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series. The higher seeds will host Games 1, 2 and 5, while the lower seeds will host Games 3 and 4 in those series.
- Teams will be re-seeded after each playoff round.
MORE: Upcoming key dates for the 2021-22 NBA season
WNBA playoff schedule 2021
Sept. 23
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury | 10 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Sept. 26
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| TBD vs. Seattle Storm | 3 p.m. | ABC |
| TBD vs. Minnesota Lynx | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Sept. 28
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| TBD vs. Connecticut Sun | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| TBD vs. Las Vegas Aces | 10 p.m. | ESPN2 |
WNBA standings 2021
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Connecticut Sun* | 26-6 | — |
| 2. | Las Vegas Aces* | 24-8 | 2.0 |
| 3. | Minnesota Lynx* | 22-10 | 4.0 |
| 4. | Seattle Storm* | 21-11 | 5.0 |
| 5. | Phoenix Mercury* | 19-13 | 7.0 |
| 6. | Chicago Sky* | 16-16 | 10.0 |
| 7. | Dallas Wings* | 14-18 | 12.0 |
| 8. | New York Liberty* | 12-20 | 14.0 |
*clinched playoff berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics
