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What are the first round matchups?

Vaseline September 20, 2024

This story has been updated to add new information.

The WNBA postseason field will be finalized after the regular season concludes on Thursday.

A’ja Wilson and the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces are back in the playoffs, along with seven other teams.

Three teams battled it out for the eighth and final playoff spot on Thursday, with the Atlanta Dream earning the final playoff chance with a 78-67 win over the New York Liberty.

The Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics failed to make the playoffs after making the playoffs last season. The Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury earned postseason bids after failing to qualify in 2023.

Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston make their playoff debuts on Sunday.

Playoff Odds: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever takes on Connecticut Sun in the first round

These are the players participating in the play-offs and the first round:

WNBA Playoff Schedule

First round matches

No. 8 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 1 New York Liberty
No. 7 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 2 Minnesota Lynx
No. 6Indiana Fever vs. No. 3 Connecticut Sun
No. 5Seattle Storm vs. No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

2024 WNBA Postseason Schedule:

All times Eastern

Sunday:

Game 1: Atlanta at New York (1 p.m., ESPN)
Game 1: Indiana at Connecticut (3 p.m., ABC)
Game 1: Phoenix at Minnesota (5 p.m., ESPN)
Game 1: Seattle at Las Vegas (10 p.m., ESPN)

Tuesday:

Game 2: Atlanta vs. New York (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 2: Seattle at Las Vegas (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Wednesday:

Game 2: Indiana vs. Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 2: Phoenix at Minnesota (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Thursday

Game 3*: New York at Atlanta (tbc, ESPN 2)
Game 3*: Las Vegas vs. Seattle (tbc, ESPN 2)

Friday September 27:

Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (tbc, ESPN 2)
Game 3*: Minnesota at Phoenix (tbc, ESPN 2)

(* – If necessary)

Final standings, placements:

No. 1 New York Liberty

Breanna Stewart has led Liberty to the top spot in the league. After losing in the finals last season, the question remains whether this is the year they claim the title as their own.

No. 2 Minnesota Lynx

Veteran coach Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx are back for another playoff run after being quickly eliminated in the first round by the Sun last year. The Lynx have not made the finals since winning it all in 2017.

No. 3 Connecticut Sun

The Sun will make their eighth consecutive playoff appearance, but are still looking for their first title. The team reached the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022, but fell short.

No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and the Aces have won the last two WNBA Finals and are vying for a shot at third place under coach Becky Hammon.

No. 5 Seattle Storm

Seattle is back in the playoffs after missing the 2023 playoffs. The Storm were consistent playoff runners from 2016-2021, winning the title in 2018 and 2020.

No. 6 Indiana Fever

Rookie Caitlin Clark makes her postseason debut with the Fever this weekend. Former top favorite Aliyah Boston also makes her playoff debut. The 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award winner missed the playoffs last season.

No. 7 Phoenix Mercury

Diana Taurasi and the Mercury are back in the playoffs after losing in the first round in 2022 and missing the postseason entirely in 2023. This is Brittney Griner’s first postseason appearance since returning to the team after her imprisonment in Russia.

No. 8 Atlanta Dream

The Dream reached the playoffs for the second straight year with Tanisha Wright at the helm. Before Wright’s arrival, the Dream had gone four seasons without a playoff appearance.

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What are the first round matchups?