WNBA Sets 2026 Playoff Schedule, Finals to Open October 17
The league has confirmed key dates for its postseason, with the opening round starting September 27 and the championship series beginning in mid-October.
The WNBA has confirmed the schedule for its 2026 postseason, giving fans and teams a clear roadmap for the weeks ahead as the regular season draws to a close.
According to the league's announcement, the first round of the playoffs will begin on September 27. That opening round will determine which teams advance to the semifinal stage, which the league has scheduled to start on October 4.
The WNBA Finals, the culmination of the postseason and the series that will decide the league's 2026 champion, are set to open on October 17. As in past seasons, the Finals will follow several weeks of playoff basketball across the earlier rounds.
The release of firm dates allows broadcasters, arenas and fan bases to plan around the postseason calendar, and it comes as teams around the league make final preparations for the playoff push. With the first round just days away at the time of the announcement, attention across the league is turning quickly from the regular-season standings to the postseason bracket.
Playoff scheduling announcements such as this one are closely watched across professional sports, since they shape travel plans for teams and viewing plans for supporters ahead of a condensed and high-stakes stretch of games. Further details on ticketing, broadcast partners and specific matchups are expected to follow as the first-round date approaches.
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