One WNBA semifinal matchup is set.
The No. 4-seeded Atlanta Dream and No. 8 New York Liberty will meet in the semifinals of the 2026 WNBA playoffs after both teams recorded a first-round sweep.
Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and the Liberty made WNBA postseason history as the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed with a pair of 16-point victories over the Minnesota Lynx. New York is now one series victory away from its third WNBA Finals appearance in four years.
The Dream are in the semifinals for the first time since 2018 after bouncing the young No. 5 Washington Mystics via victories by 15 and 18 points. The Dream, led by Angel Reese, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, are seeking their first Finals appearance since 2013 and first-ever championship.
The Dream won two of three regular-season matchups against the Liberty, with both victories coming just last week. Atlanta closed out its regular season with two straight double-digit victories in Brooklyn. New York beat Atlanta on the road back in June.
So, when does the Dream-Liberty series start, and what could the other matchup look like? Here’s everything to know for the WNBA semifinals:
How many games are in the WNBA semifinals?
Following a best-of-three format in Round 1, the semifinals feature best-of-five series. The higher seed gets home-court advantage in Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 5.
Are teams reseeded in the WNBA playoffs?
The playoffs follow a bracket format, so teams are not reseeded after the first round.
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What is the semifinal bracket in the 2026 WNBA playoffs?
No. 8 Liberty vs. No. 4 Dream
No. 2 Valkyries/No. 7 Wings vs. No. 3 Aces/No. 6 Fever
The Dream-Liberty matchup is locked in. The other series will feature the winners of the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries-No. 7 Dallas Wings and No. 3 Las Vegas Aces-No. 6 Indiana Fever series. Both first-round series are headed to a decisive Game 3.
When do the 2026 WNBA semifinals start?
The semis tip off Sunday, Oct. 4.
What is the schedule for the 2026 WNBA semifinals?
Here’s what we know about the semifinal schedule (this section will be updated as more details emerge):
Oct. 4
Liberty at Dream, Game 1 — time TBD, network TBD
TBD at TBD, Game 1 — time TBD, network TBD
Oct. 7
Liberty at Dream, Game 2 — time TBD, network TBD
TBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, network TBD
Oct. 9
Dream at Liberty, Game 3 — time TBD, network TBD
TBD at TBD, Game 3 — time TBD, network TBD
Oct. 11
Dream at Liberty, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
TBD at TBD, Game 4 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
Oct. 14
Liberty at Dream, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
TBD at TBD, Game 5 (if necessary) — time TBD, network TBD
When are the 2026 WNBA Finals?
The WNBA Finals are slated to begin Saturday, Oct. 17. Games will air across NBC, Peacock and USA Network.
Here’s a look at the full schedule:
Game 1: Oct. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
Game 2: Oct. 19, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
Game 3: Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
Game 4: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
Game 5 (if necessary): Oct. 26, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
Game 6 (if necessary): Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
Game 7 (if necessary): Oct. 31, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA Network
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le Dream étouffe les Mystics et file en demi-finales | 0 | 9.31 | 01-10-2026 |
| 2 | Lynx’s unprecedented collapse leaves major questions about what comes next | 0 | 7.51 | 30-09-2026 |
| 3 | A'ja Wilson wins AP WNBA Player of the Year for 3rd straight year; Angel Reese top defensive player | 0 | 8.23 | 27-09-2026 |
| 4 | Scoggins: Lynx’s playoff flop exposed a roster that needs more than subtle tweaks | 0 | 8.23 | 30-09-2026 |
| 5 | Olivia Miles learned a painful lesson on playoff stage: ‘Now there’s no excuse.’ | 0 | 9.87 | 30-09-2026 |
| 6 | Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell post big games to help Fever even series with 99-89 win over Aces | 0 | 10.83 | 30-09-2026 |
| 7 | «Ростов-Дон» снова без потерь, а в плей-офф все те же. Обзор OLIMPBET Суперлиги | 0 | 18.95 | 01-03-2026 |
| 8 | Месть «Ростов-Дона» и новый успех ЦСКА. Итоги вторых полуфиналов женской OLIMPBET Суперлиги | 0 | 15.56 | 25-04-2026 |
| 9 | 'Red out' for Fever's playoff game against Aces | 0 | 9.61 | 29-09-2026 |
| 10 | Arike Ogunbowale remporte son gros duel face à Gabby Williams | 0 | 10.39 | 01-10-2026 |