Current:Home > Invest2023 WNBA playoffs: First-round scores, schedules, matchups, predictions-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
2023 WNBA playoffs: First-round scores, schedules, matchups, predictions
View Date:2024-12-23 16:51:41
The 2023 WNBA regular season is in the books. Next up, the playoffs.
The defending champion Las Vegas Aces have looked dominant the entire year, finishing with only six losses in the 40-game season, but the margin between super teams has closed after the New York Liberty beat the Aces three times in August, including the WNBA Commissioner's Cup.
The Aces are looking to become the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002 to win back-to-back WNBA titles, while the Liberty (32-8) are vying for the franchise's first-ever WNBA championship.
But don't count the rest of the teams out yet. Here's everything you need to know about the WNBA playoffs, from the schedule, to matchups and predictions:
LAS VEGAS ACES celebrated at White House for WNBA championship
WNBA Playoff format
The WNBA playoffs consists of three rounds — first-round, semifinals and the WNBA Finals.
The eight teams with the highest winning percentages over the season will compete in the first-round, best-of-three series. Each team will be seeded based on their season record, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and Game 2. The lower seed will host Game 3, if necessary.
The semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series.
NEW WNBA PLAYOFF FORMAT: More games, no byes or single elimination-games
WNBA playoff schedule: First round
All times Eastern, *if necessary
(1) Las Vegas Aces vs. (8) Chicago Sky
The Aces are 3-0 against the Sky this season.
- Game 1, Wednesday: Chicago at Las Vegas, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
- Game 2, Sunday: Chicago at Las Vegas, 3 p.m. (ABC)
- *Game 3, Sept. 20: Las Vegas at Chicago, tip-off TBD (ESPN)
Cydney's prediction: Aces in two.
(2) New York Liberty vs. (7) Washington Mystics
The regular season series between the Liberty and Mystics is tied, 2-2.
- Game 1, Friday: Washington at New York, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
- Game 2, Sept. 19: Washington at New York, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- *Game 3, Sept. 22: New York at Washington, tip-off TBD (ESPN2)
Cydney's prediction: Liberty in two.
(3) Connecticut Sun vs. (6) Minnesota Lynx
The Sun are 3-1 against the Lynx this season.
- Game 1, Wednesday: Minnesota at Connecticut, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
- Game 2, Sunday: Minnesota at Connecticut, 1 p.m (ESPN)
- *Game 3, Sept. 20: Connecticut at Minnesota, tip-off TBD (ESPN)
Cydney's prediction: Sun in three.
(4) Dallas Wings vs. (5) Atlanta Dream
The Wings swept the Dream during the regular season, 3-0.
- Game 1, Friday: Atlanta at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
- Game 2, Sept. 19: Atlanta at Dallas, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
- *Game 3, Sept. 22: Dallas at Atlanta, tip-off TBD (ESPN2)
Cydney's prediction: Wings in two.
WNBA Finals schedule
- Game 1: Oct. 8 (ABC)
- Game 2: Oct. 11 (ESPN)
- Game 3: Oct. 15 (ABC)
- *Game 4: Oct. 18 (ESPN)
- *Game 5: Oct. 20 (ESPN)
Who is the 2023 WNBA MVP?
The end-of-season awards will be rolled out during the playoffs:
- WNBA Peak Performers: Jewell Lloyd (PPG leader), Alyssa Thomas (RPG leader), Courtney Vandersloot (APG leader)
- WNBA Coach of the Year announced Sunday
- Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year announced Sept. 18
- Kia WNBA Most Improved Player announced Sept. 21
- Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player announced Sept. 26
- Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year announced Oct. 2
- WNBA All-Rookie Team announced Oct. 2
- Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year announced Oct. 5
- WNBA All-Defensive Team announced Oct. 5
veryGood! (915)
Related
- Kyle Richards Swears This Holiday Candle Is the Best Scent Ever and She Uses It All Year
- Democratic convention ends Thursday with the party’s new standard bearer, Kamala Harris
- These men went back to prison to make a movie. But this time, 'I can walk out whenever.'
- A dreaded, tree-killing beetle has reached North Dakota
- A herniated disc is painful, debilitating. How to get relief.
- Taylor Swift breaks silence on 'devastating' alleged Vienna terrorist plot
- After DNC speech, Stephanie Grisham hits back at weight-shaming comment: 'I've hit menopause'
- Soldier in mother’s custody after being accused of lying about ties to insurrectionist group
- IAT Community Introduce
- The biggest diamond in over a century is found in Botswana — a whopping 2,492 carats
Ranking
- UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight card, odds, how to watch, date
- What polling shows about Americans’ views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Sicily Yacht Tragedy: All 6 Missing Passengers Confirmed Dead as Last Body Is Recovered
- Andrew Tate placed under house arrest as new human trafficking allegations emerge involving minors
- Cavaliers' Darius Garland rediscovers joy for basketball under new coach
- Chicago police say they’re ready for final day of protests at DNC following night of no arrests
- Democratic convention ends Thursday with the party’s new standard bearer, Kamala Harris
- Man charged in 2017 double homicide found dead at Virginia jail
Recommendation
-
Gisele Bündchen Makes First Major Appearance Since Pregnancy
-
National Public Data confirms massive data breach included Social Security numbers
-
USDA efforts to solve the bird flu outbreak in cows are taking center stage in central Iowa
-
Jolly Rancher flavored popsicles recalled over concerns of milk contamination
-
Blake Snell free agent rumors: Best fits for two-time Cy Young winner
-
Voting technology firm, conservative outlet seek favorable ruling in 2020 election defamation case
-
Appeals panel upholds NASCAR penalty to Austin Dillon after crash-filled win
-
Headlined by speech from Jerome Powell, Fed's Jackson Hole symposium set to begin