WNBA playoffs: Who, when the Indiana Fever will play in first round

The Indiana Fever are the No. 6 seed in the 2024 WNBA playoffs, and they could play the Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun or Las Vegas Aces in the first round.

The Fever (20-19 with one game remaining), powered by record-setting rookie Caitlin Clark and high-scoring Kelsey Mitchell, are in the playoffs for the first time since 2016, clinching a .500 or better record for the first time since going 17-17 that year.

Eight teams in the 12-team league make the WNBA playoffs. The No. 1 seed plays the No. 8 seed in the first round, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5.

The first round of the playoffs will be the best-of-3 games, with the better seed getting two home games, with the final − if necessary − at the lower seed. The league semifinals and finals are best-of-5 series.

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Who will the Indiana Fever play in the WNBA playoffs?

The Fever are the No. 6 seed, and they will play the No. 3 seed in the first round. The Connecticut Sun (27-11) are currently in that position with two games remaining. The Sun beat the Fever three times in the first 13 games of the season, and the Fever won the final matchup, which came after the Olympic break.

The Fever could play the current No. 2 seed Minnesota Lynx, who are 2-1 vs. Indiana this season. Both Lynx (29-9) wins came after the Olympic break.

Another possibility is the Las Vegas Aces (25-13), who swept the Fever in four meetings this season, including two in the past week.

How does Minnesota finish third?

The Lynx need to lose out vs. Connecticut and Los Angeles and Connecticut needs to win out vs. Minnesota and Chicago. Minnesota and Connecticut would be 29-11 with Connecticut holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.

How does Las Vegas finish third?

If the Aces win out vs. Seattle and Dallas and Connecticut loses out vs. Minnesota and Chicago, Las Vegas is the third seed. Las Vegas and Connecticut would both finish 27-14 with Las Vegas owning the head-to-head tiebreaker.

How does Connecticut finish third?

All other scenarios would have Connecticut finishing third.

What are the odds of each team playing the Fever?

If we assume all of the teams involved have a 50/50 chance of winning each game, here are the odds for the Fever’s opponent:

Connecticut: 87.5%

Las Vegas: 6.3%

Minnesota: 6.3%

When do the WNBA playoffs start?

Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. Game times haven’t been announced.

How do the WNBA playoffs work?

First round: Best of 3 games, with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 8 seed in the first round, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5. Better seed gets two home games, with the worse seed getting Game 3 at home, if necessary.

WNBA semifinals: Winner of 1-8 vs. winner of 4-5; winner of 3-6 vs. winner of 2-7, with the better seed getting homecourt advantage.

WNBA Finals: Semifinals winners, with the better seed getting homecourt advantage.

Caitlin Clark stats with the Indiana Fever

(39 games through Sept. 15): 19.5 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, along with 34.1% 3-point shooting and 90% free throw shooting

Indiana Fever stats leaders

Kelsey Mitchell (19.6 points, 40.2% 3-pointers); Caitlin Clark (19.5 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 34.1% 3-point shooting, 90% free throw shooting); Aliyah Boston (14.1 points, 9.0 rebounds); NaLyssa Smith (10.4 points, 7.2 rebounds)

Indiana Fever playoff tickets

The Indiana Fever will release playoff ticket details here.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: WNBA playoffs: Indiana Fever playoff schedule for first round