WNBA playoffs bracket: Final standings, seeds, matchups, first round schedule

The WNBA postseason field is finalized after the conclusion of the regular season Thursday.

A’ja Wilson and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces are back in the playoffs along with seven other teams.

Three teams were battling for the eighth and final playoff spot Thursday. The Atlanta Dream earned the final playoff bid with a 78-67 victory over the New York Liberty.

The Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics fell short of a playoff bid after participating in the playoffs last season. The Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury earned a postseason bid after not qualifying in 2023.

Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston will make their postseason debuts on Sunday.

Here’s who is in the playoffs and the first round matchups:

WNBA playoffs bracket

First round matchups

• No. 8 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 1 New York Liberty

• No. 7 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 2 Minnesota Lynx

• No. 6 Indiana Fever vs. No. 3 Connecticut Sun

• No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

2024 WNBA postseason schedule:

All times Eastern

Sunday:

• Game 1: Atlanta at New York (1 p.m., ESPN)

• Game 1: Indiana at Connecticut (3 p.m., ABC)

• Game 1: Phoenix at Minnesota (5 p.m., ESPN)

• Game 1: Seattle at Las Vegas (10 p.m., ESPN)

Tuesday:

• Game 2: Atlanta at New York (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

• Game 2: Seattle at Las Vegas (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Wednesday:

• Game 2: Indiana at Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

• Game 2: Phoenix at Minnesota (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Thursday

• Game 3*: New York at Atlanta (TBD, ESPN 2)

• Game 3*: Las Vegas at Seattle (TBD, ESPN 2)

Friday, Sept. 27:

• Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (TBD, ESPN 2)

• Game 3*: Minnesota at Phoenix (TBD, ESPN 2)

(* – If necessary)

Final standings, seeds:

• No. 1 New York Liberty

• No. 2 Minnesota Lynx

• No. 3 Connecticut Sun

• No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

• No. 5 Seattle Storm

• No. 6 Indiana Fever

• No. 7 Phoenix Mercury

• No. 8 Atlanta Dream

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA playoffs bracket: What are the first round matchups?