The 2021 WNBA regular season has come to an end, which means the postseason is here. The schedule is set for the 2021 WNBA Playoffs, and now it’s time to see who can cement their spot in history as the 25th-ever W champion.
How, when, and where can you catch all the action? This is the 2021 WNBA Playoffs schedule watch guide that will have you fully prepared for all the dramatic and high-level action that’s about to bless basketball fans across the world.
2021 WNBA Playoffs Schedule: How, When & Where to Watch
In case you don’t know, the WNBA has a pretty unique playoff structure. Eight of the league’s 12 teams qualify for the postseason, then four rounds whittle that down to an eventual champion. Seeds No. 5 through 8 play in the first round in single-elimination games hosted by the higher seeds, then those winners play at the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in the second round in another single-elimination situation. The two squads that survive that play best-of-five series with seeds No. 1 and 2 in the semifinals, and then those victors advance to a best-of-five WNBA Finals.
Who’s in the 2021 WNBA Playoffs?
These are the eight teams still alive to win the WNBA’s ultimate prize:
- Connecticut Sun, 26-6 in regular season (double bye to semifinals)
- Las Vegas Aces, 24-8 in regular season (double bye to semifinals)
- Minnesota Lynx, 22-10 in regular season (single bye to second round)
- Seattle Storm, 21-11 in regular season (single bye to second round)
- Phoenix Mercury, 19-13 in regular season
- Chicago Sky, 16-16 in regular season
- Dallas Wings, 14-18 in regular season
- New York Liberty, 12-20 in regular season
2021 WNBA Playoffs Schedule
All times Eastern.
First Round
Thursday, Sept. 23
7 Dallas Wings, 64 at 6 Chicago Sky, 81 (8 p.m., ESPN2)
8 New York Liberty, 82 at 5 Phoenix Mercury, 83 (10 p.m., ESPN2)
Second Round
Sunday, Sept. 26
5 Phoenix Mercury, 85 (OT) at 4 Seattle Storm, 80 (3 p.m., ABC)
6 Chicago Sky, 89 at 3 Minnesota Lynx, 76 (5 p.m., ESPN2)
Semifinals
Tuesday, Sept. 28
Game 1: 6 Chicago Sky, 101 (2OT) at 1 Connecticut Sun, 95 (8 p.m., ESPN2) – CHICAGO LEADS, 1-0
Game 1: 5 Phoenix Mercury, 90 at 2 Las Vegas Aces, 96 (10 p.m., ESPN2) – LAS VEGAS LEADS, 1-0
Thursday, Sept. 30
Game 2: 6 Chicago Sky, 68 at 1 Connecticut Sun, 79 (8 p.m., ESPN2) – SERIES TIED, 1-1
Game 2: 5 Phoenix Mercury, 117 at 2 Las Vegas Aces, 91 (10 p.m., ESPN2) – SERIES TIED, 1-1
Sunday, Oct. 3
Game 3: 1 Connecticut Sun, 83 at 6 Chicago Sky, 86 (1 p.m., ESPN) – CHICAGO LEADS, 2-1
Game 3: 2 Las Vegas Aces, 60 at 5 Phoenix Mercury, 87 (3 p.m., ABC) – PHOENIX LEADS, 2-1
Wednesday, Oct. 6
Game 4: 1 Connecticut Sun, 79 at 6 Chicago Sky, 69 (8 p.m., ESPN) – CHICAGO WINS, 3-1
Game 4: 2 Las Vegas Aces, 93 at 5 Phoenix Mercury, 76 (10 p.m., ESPN) – SERIES TIED, 2-2
Friday, Oct. 8
Game 5: 5 Phoenix Mercury, 87 at 2 Las Vegas Aces, 84 (TBD, ESPN2) – PHOENIX WINS, 3-2
WNBA Finals
Sunday, Oct. 10
Game 1: 6 Chicago Sky, 91 at 5 Phoenix Mercury, 77 (3 p.m., ABC) – CHICAGO LEADS, 1-0
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Game 2: 6 Chicago Sky, 86 at 5 Phoenix Mercury, 91 (9 p.m., ESPN) – SERIES TIED, 1-1
Friday, Oct. 15
Game 3: 5 Phoenix Mercury at 6 Chicago Sky (9 p.m., ESPN2)
Sunday, Oct. 17
Game 4: 5 Phoenix Mercury at 6 Chicago Sky (3 p.m., ESPN)
Tuesday, Oct. 19
Game 5 (if necessary): 6 Chicago Sky at 5 Phoenix Mercury (9 p.m., ESPN2)
