WNBA Playoffs 2024: Schedule, how does it work, format, bracket, rounds, previous winners

What has been an unequalled, wildly widespread WNBA season now heads to its brightest highlight — the playoffs.

The New York Liberty have been the most effective crew within the W all season, however the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces have put it collectively these days behind A’Ja Wilson, who’s about to win her third MVP award, and are a menace to win all of it. Then lurking to shock everyone seems to be Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, who’ve discovered their rhythm and went 11-5 down the stretch of the season.

In the event you’ve acquired questions concerning the WNBA playoffs, we have now solutions.

When do the WNBA playoffs start?

The WNBA Playoffs tip-off with 4 first-round video games on Sunday, Sept. 22, and the best-of-three first spherical continues till Sept. 27. The WNBA semi-finals — a best-of-five sequence — will begin every week after the primary spherical, on Sunday, Sept. 29, and can run by way of Oct. 8

The WNBA Finals will begin on Oct. 10 and is a best-of-five sequence, that may run till Oct. 20.

What’s the format of the WNBA playoffs?

The eight groups with the most effective information of the 12 WNBA groups make the playoffs, and they’re seeded into a normal event bracket primarily based on the place they completed (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5). The primary spherical is a best-of-three sequence, adopted by a best-of-five semi-finals and finals.

Which WNBA groups shall be within the playoffs?

The eight groups that made the WNBA playoffs are (in seeding order):

1. New York Liberty (32-8)
2. Minnesota Lynx (30-10)
3. Connecticut Solar (28-12)
4. Las Vegas Aces (27-13)
5. Seattle Storm (25-15)
6. Indiana Fever (20-20)
7. Phoenix Mercury (19-21)
8. Atlanta Dream (15-25)

The playoff matchups for the primary spherical are:

Atlanta vs. New York
Phoenix vs. Minnesota
Indiana vs. Connecticut
Seattle vs. Las Vegas

Which crew received the 2023 WNBA championship?

The Las Vegas Aces repeated as champions once they knocked off the New York Liberty in 4 video games to take the 2023 WNBA title. inals MVP A’Ja Wilson led the Aces averaging 21.3 factors and 12.5 rebounds a sport, whereas anchoring the crew’s protection. Guard Kelsey Plum additionally averaged 21.3 factors a sport.

In 2022, the Aces beat the Connecticut Solar in 4 video games to take the WNBA crown. Chelsey Grey was named Finals MVP after averaging 18.3 factors and 6 assists a sport for Las Vegas, whereas Wilson was once more dominant averaging 20 factors, 9.8 rebounds and a couple of.5 blocks a sport.

Has a crew ever received three straight WNBA championships?

Sure. Within the first 4 years of the WNBA’s existence — 1997 to 2000 — Houston Comets received the title every year behind four-time Finals MVP and WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper. They beat the New York Liberty in three of these 4 seasons, and the Phoenix Mercury as soon as.

The Los Angeles Sparks received two WNBA titles in a row in 2001 and 2002, however the Detroit Shock and Ruth Riley stored them from a three-peat in 2003. The Minnesota Lynx received 4 titles between 2011 and 2017, profitable one each different yr, however they by no means repeated as champions. They might have three-peated if the Lynx had not misplaced to Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever within the 2012 Finals.

Has a No. 1 choose ever received the WNBA championship of their first season?

Sure, twice.

Within the first yr of the WNBA’s existence, Tina Thompson was the No. 1 choose of the Houston Comets and the crew went on to win the inaugural WNBA title (and the subsequent three after that). In what was a one-game, winner-take-all Finals towards New York, Thompson scored 18 factors and had 6 rebounds for the Comets.

Maya Moore was the 2011 No. 1 choose of the Minnesota Lynx out of NCAA powerhouse UConn, and that season the Lynx went on to brush the Atlanta Dream out of the WNBA Finals. Moore began all three video games and averaged 11.3 factors and 5.7 rebounds a sport for the Lynx, nevertheless she was not but their greatest participant (2006 No. 1 choose Seimone Augustus received the Finals MVP award averaging 24.7 factors per sport).

There was an attention-grabbing scenario in 2007 when the Phoenix Mercury used the No. 1 choose on Lindsey Harding out of Duke, however then on draft night time traded her to Minnesota for Tangela Smith. The Mercury went on to win the Finals and Smith began all 5 video games of that sequence averaging 12.4 factors and 6.8 rebounds an evening.

When does Caitlin Clark play within the WNBA playoffs?

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever start the WNBA playoffs on the highway in Connecticut on Sunday (Sept. 22) at 3 p.m. (the sport is on ABC). Sport 2 of the best-of-three sequence is Wednesday (Sept. 25) at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN). Sport 3, if crucial, is in Indiana on Sept. 27, with the time TBD.

WNBA Playoffs schedule 2024

Right here is the complete schedule for the primary spherical of the WNBA Playoffs (all occasions are Japanese):

Sunday, September 22 (Sport 1)
1 p.m.: Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty (ESPN)
3 p.m.: Indiana Fever at Connecticut Solar (ABC)
5 p.m.: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx (ESPN)
10 p.m.: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces (ESPN)

Tuesday, September 24 (Sport 2)
7:30 p.m.: Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty (ESPN)
9:30 p.m.: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces (ESPN)

Wednesday, September 25 (Sport 2)
7:30 p.m.: Indiana Fever at Connecticut Solar (ESPN)
9:30 p.m.: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx (ESPN)

Thursday, September 26 (Sport 3, If Crucial)
TBD: New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream (ESPN2)
TBD: Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm (ESPN2)

Friday, September 27 (Sport 3, If Crucial)
TBD: Connecticut Solar at Indiana Fever (ESPN2)
TBD: Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury (ESPN2)

Odds to win WNBA Finals 2024

The percentages are courtesy of our companions at BetMGM.

“BetMGM skilled historic curiosity within the WNBA in the course of the 2024 common season with a 108% improve in betting year-over-year. Caitlin Clark establishing herself as a star participant and veterans like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson persevering with to dominate fueled the spectacular progress. Constant curiosity in Clark props and Fever moneylines, and a major variety of bets on the Fever outright make Clark’s affect on the league simple. We anticipate these developments to hold over into the postseason which is shaping as much as be extremely aggressive and thrilling.” – Hannah Luther, Sports activities Dealer, BetMGM

Championship Line motion (open to present)

• Liberty +250 to +125

• Aces +115 to +225

Highest Ticket%

• Fever 46.8%

• Liberty 12.7%

• Aces 11.1%

Highest Deal with% (most cash wager)

• Fever 61.7%

• Liberty 16.7%

• Aces 7.9%

WNBA Finals full winners listing

1997 — Houston Comets
1998 — Houston Comets
1999 — Houston Comets
2000 — Houston Comets
2001 — Los Angeles Sparks
2002 — Los Angeles Sparks
2003 — Detroit Shock
2004 — Seattle Storm
2005 — Sacramento Monarchs
2006 — Detroit Shock
2007 — Phoenix Mercury
2008 — Detroit Shock
2009 — Phoenix Mercury
2010 — Seattle Storm
2011 — Minnesota Lynx
2012 — Indiana Fever
2013 — Minnesota Lynx
2014 — Phoenix Mercury
2015 — Minnesota Lynx
2016 — Los Angeles Sparks
2017 — Minnesota Lynx
2018 — Seattle Storm
2019 — Washington Mystics
2020 — Seattle Storm
2021 — Chicago Sky
2022 — Las Vegas Aces
2023 — Las Vegas Aces