WNBA Postseason Will Begin Sunday
The league kicks off its best-of-three first-round series with 17 officials assigned to the playoffs.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Basketball
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Should the WNBA expand first-round playoff series to a best-of-five format?
The WNBA postseason begins this Sunday, September 27, 2026, with four opening first-round matchups across the league. Teams will compete in a best-of-three series format, with each participating team guaranteed one home game.
Why it matters
The playoff structure aims to determine a champion through progressive series lengths, moving from best-of-three in the first round to best-of-five for the semifinals and best-of-seven for the finals.
The Golden State Valkyries enter as the No. 2 seed with a 17-5 home record, averaging 10.4 three-pointers made per game in front of an average crowd of 18,000 at Chase Center.
The players
Golden State Valkyries
The franchise is the No. 2 seed in the 2026 postseason and currently leads the league in points allowed.
Roy Gulbeyan
The official is set to work his 27th consecutive WNBA playoffs.
The details
The postseason will be broadcast across several platforms, including ESPN, NBC, USA Sports, Amazon Prime, and Peacock. While coaches have expressed support for expanding the initial series to a best-of-five format, the current structure maintains a 1-1-1 home court arrangement for the opening round.
Timeline
The WNBA postseason begins on September 27, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The playoff format heavily influences the competitive balance, as the transition from a best-of-three opening round to longer series later tests team depth and endurance. This structure shapes the path to the title and dictates the strategic importance of securing early wins in the 1-1-1 format.
Viewers can follow the tournament across ESPN, NBC, USA Sports, Amazon Prime, and Peacock starting September 27. Fans should note the 1-1-1 home game format as teams vie for the championship title.
The takeaway
The league utilizes a variable series length to increase the intensity of the road to the championship. Fans and analysts continue to debate whether expanding the first round to a best-of-five format would improve the postseason experience.
Further reading
For more on league developments, visit the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
Live Poll
Should the WNBA expand first-round playoff series to a best-of-five format?
