An exciting regular season came to an end on Sunday, giving basketball fans the full field for the 2022 WNBA Playoffs.
Heading into the final day of the regular season, the Aces and Sky were still battling for the No. 1 seed, but Las Vegas ultimately clinched home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
There were also four teams fighting for the final two WNBA Playoff berths. The Liberty and Mercury snagged the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds, respectively, pushing the Lynx and Dream out of the bracket.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2022 WNBA Playoffs.
When do the WNBA Playoffs start?
- WNBA Playoffs start date: Wednesday, Aug. 17
The 2022 WNBA regular season ended on Sunday, Aug. 14. The 2022 WNBA Playoffs will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
How will the WNBA Playoffs work?
- Each of the top eight teams in the standings (regardless of conference) will clinch a berth in the WNBA Playoffs.
- Each of those eight teams will play in a best-of-three first-round series. The higher-seeded teams will host Games 1 and 2.
- Each of the teams that advance to the semifinals will play in a best-of-five series. The higher-seeded teams will host Games 1, 2 and 5.
- The WNBA Finals will also be a best-of-five series.
WNBA Playoff bracket
The #WNBAPlayoffs bracket presented by @Google is set ✅
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 15, 2022
First round starts this Wednesday, August 17 on ESPN 2 🤩 pic.twitter.com/iwULG82YTP
WNBA Playoff schedule 2022
Wednesday, Aug. 17 (first day of WNBA Playoffs)
Game | Time (ET) |
Liberty vs. Sky | 8 p.m. |
Mercury vs. Aces | 10 p.m. |
Thursday, Aug. 18
Game | Time (ET) |
Wings vs. Sun | 8 p.m. |
Mystics vs. Storm | 10 p.m. |
Saturday, Aug. 20
Game | Time (ET) |
Liberty vs. Sky | Noon |
Mercury vs. Aces | 9 p.m. |
Sunday, Aug. 21
Game | Time (ET) |
Wings vs. Sun | Noon |
Mystics vs. Storm | 4 p.m. |
WNBA standings 2022
Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
1. | Las Vegas Aces* | 26-10 | — |
2. | Chicago Sky* | 26-10 | — |
3. | Connecticut Sun* | 25-11 | 1 |
4. | Seattle Storm* | 22-14 | 4 |
5. | Washington Mystics* | 22-14 | 4 |
6. | Dallas Wings* | 18-18 | 8 |
7. | New York Liberty* | 16-20 | 10 |
8. | Phoenix Mercury* | 15-21 | 11 |
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*clinched WNBA Playoff berth
Eliminated from WNBA Playoff contention: Dream, Fever, Lynx, Sparks
WNBA tiebreaker procedure
Here is the procedure the league follows, per WNBA.com:
- Better record in head-to-head games
- Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season
- Better point differential in games net result of total points scored less total points allowed head-to-head
- Better point differential net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents