Overview
- The WNBA confirmed the first‑round matchups on Friday with Minnesota (1) vs. New York (8), Golden State (2) vs. Dallas (7), Las Vegas (3) vs. Indiana (6), and Atlanta (4) vs. Washington (5).
- Game 1 of all four series is scheduled as a national quadruple‑header on Sunday, Sept. 27, with two ABC windows in the afternoon followed by Prime Video and USA/CNBC in primetime.
- The opening round will be best‑of‑three while the semifinals are best‑of‑five and the Finals are best‑of‑seven, a structure that magnifies the impact of short absences and minor injuries.
- Key storylines heading into the weekend include Paige Bueckers’ impending playoff debut for Dallas, Aliyah Boston’s lower‑leg flare‑up for Indiana that the Fever are monitoring, and the Aces’ bid to repeat as champions.
- Coverage and betting markets emphasize league parity this season and suggest small margins and matchup details will likely decide which teams advance from the compressed first round.