When do the WNBA Playoffs start in 2022? Key dates, schedule, updated standings & more to know
An exciting regular season concludes Sunday, giving basketball fans a full field for the 2022 WNBA Playoffs.
Heading into the final day of the regular season, the Aces and Sky are still battling for the No. 1 seed. Also, four teams are fighting for the last two spots in the WNBA playoffs. Only the Sparks and Fever were eliminated from the postseason competition.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 WNBA Playoffs.
When do the WNBA playoffs start?
- WNBA Playoffs Start Date: Wednesday 17 August
The 2022 WNBA regular season ends Sunday, August 14. The 2022 WNBA Playoffs begin three days later on Wednesday, August 17.
How will the WNBA playoffs play out?
- After the conclusion of the regular season, each of the top eight teams overall (regardless of conference) will earn a spot in the WNBA Playoffs.
- Each of these eight teams plays in a best-of-three first-round series. The higher seeded teams will host games 1 and 2.
- Each of the teams that reach the semi-finals will play in a best-of-five series. The higher seeded teams will host games 1, 2 and 5.
- The WNBA Finals will also be a best-of-five series.
WNBA Playoff Bracket
WNBA Playoff Schedule 2022
Sunday 14 August (last day of regular season)
| Game | time (ET) |
| Lynx against sun | 13 o’clock |
| Dream vs Freedom | 14 o’clock |
| Fever vs. Mystic | 3 pm |
| Storm vs Aces | 3 pm |
| Heaven vs Mercury | 17 o’clock |
| wings against sparks | 19 o’clock |
Wednesday, August 17 (Day One of the WNBA Playoffs)
| Game | time (ET) |
| TBD vs. TBD | 19 o’clock |
| TBD vs. TBD | 21 clock |
Thursday 18 August
| Game | time (ET) |
| TBD vs. TBD | 19 o’clock |
| TBD vs. TBD | 21 clock |
WNBA Rankings 2022
| seed | team | recording | games back |
| 1. | Las Vegas Aces* | 25-10 | — |
| 2. | Chicago sky* | 25-10 | — |
| 3. | Connecticut Sun* | 24-11 | 1 |
| 4. | Seattle Storm* | 22-13 | 3 |
| 5. | Washington mystic* | 21-14 | 4 |
| 6. | Dallas Wings* | 17-18 | 8th |
| 7. | Phoenix Mercury | 15-20 | 10 |
| 8th. | New York freedom | 15-20 | 10 |
| — | Minnesota Lynx | 14-21 | 11 |
| — | Atlanta dream | 14-21 | 11 |
* WNBA playoff berth earned
Eliminated from WNBA Playoff Contest: Fever, Sparks
WNBA Tiebreak Procedure
Here’s the process the league follows, according to WNBA.com:
- Better record in head-to-head matches
- Better win rate against all teams with .500 or better stats at the end of the season
- Better point difference in games Net score of total points scored less total points allowed head-to-head
- Better point difference net score from total points scored less allowable total against all opponents