The 2023 WNBA playoffs got underway on Wednesday night, but the action was less than compelling. It started with the Connecticut Sun’s 90-60 win over the Minnesota Lynx thanks to a franchise playoff record 16 3-pointers, and concluded with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces’ 87-59 victory over the Chicago Sky.
Play will resume on Friday when the other two first-round series get underway. Up first is the New York Liberty versus the Washington Mystics, and to conclude the doubleheader the Dallas Wings will host the Atlanta Dream.
After last season’s format change, there are no longer any byes in the playoffs. The eight teams are placed in a standard bracket, with No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The first-round series is best-of-three, while the semifinals and Finals are both best-of-five.
One important note is that the first round is played under a 2-1 format, which means the higher seed has Games 1 and 2 at home, while the lower seed has the deciding Game 3 at home, if necessary. The semis and Finals are both 2-2-1, with the higher seed having Games 1, 2 and 5, if necessary, at home.
Playoff bracket
First round (best-of-three)
All games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC are streaming on fubo (try for free).
Wednesday, Sept. 13 — Game 1s
- Sun 90, Lynx 60 (Sun lead 1-0)
- Aces 87, Sky 59 (Aces lead 1-0)
Friday, Sept. 15 — Game 1s
- No. 7 Washington Mystics at No. 2 New York Liberty, 7:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2
- No. 5 Atlanta Dream at No. 4 Dallas Wings, 9:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2
Sunday, Sept. 17 — Game 2s
- No. 6 Minnesota Lynx at No. 3 Connecticut Sun, 1 p.m. ET — ESPN
- No. 8 Chicago Sky at No. 1 Las Vegas Aces, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
Tuesday, Sept. 19 — Game 2s
- No. 7 Washington Mystics at No. 2 New York Liberty, 7 p.m. ET — ESPN
- No. 5 Atlanta Dream at No. 4 Dallas Wings, 9 p.m. ET — ESPN
Wednesday, Sept. 20 — Game 3s (If necessary)
- No. 1 Las Vegas Aces at No. 8 Chicago Sky, TBD — ESPN
- No. 3 Connecticut Sun at No. 6 Minnesota Lynx, TBD — ESPN
Friday, Sept. 22 — Game 3s (If necessary)
- No. 2 New York Liberty at No. 7 Washington Mystics, TBD — ESPN
- No. 4 Dallas Wings at No. 5 Atlanta Dream, TBD — ESPN
Semifinals
Sunday, Sept. 24 — Game 1s
- TBD at TBD, 1 p.m. ET — ESPN
- TBD at TBD, 5 p.m. ET — ESPN2
Tuesday, Sept. 26 — Game 2s
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN2
- TBD at TBD, 10 p.m. ET — ESPN2
Friday, Sept. 29 — Game 3s
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN2
- TBD at TBD, 10 p.m. ET — ESPN2
Sunday, Oct. 1 — Game 4s (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
- TBD at TBD, 9 p.m. ET — ESPN
Tuesday, Oct. 3 — Game 5s (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPNU
- TBD at TBD, 10 p.m. ET — ESPNU
Finals
Sunday, Oct. 8 — Game 1
- TBD at TBD, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
Wednesday, Oct. 11 — Game 2
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN
Sunday, Oct. 15 — Game 3
- TBD at TBD, 3 p.m. ET — ABC
Wednesday, Oct. 18 — Game 4 (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN
Friday, Oct. 20 — Game 5 (If necessary)
- TBD at TBD, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN
Championship odds
Odds entering the first round as of Sept. 12.
- Aces: -160
- Liberty: +130
- Sun: +2000
- Wings: +3000
- Mystics: +3500
- Dream: +15000
- Lynx: +20000
- Sky: +25000
