In this guide
The first round is best of threeThe semi-finals are best of fiveThe Finals are best of sevenRead game score and series score separatelyKeep the edition with the formatThe WNBA is a professional women’s basketball league. Its 2026 playoffs take the top eight teams in the league regardless of conference, seeded by regular-season record.
The postseason uses three different series lengths. The round name tells you both the number of wins required and the pattern of home games; it should not be dropped from a programme title.
The first round is best of three
A team needs two game wins to advance. The 1–1–1 hosting pattern alternates venues, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and a possible Game 3. Game 3 is unnecessary if one team wins the first two.
The semi-finals are best of five
Three game wins are required. The 2–2–1 pattern gives the higher seed the first two games and a possible fifth, while the lower seed hosts the middle pair. This is a venue allocation rather than a prediction of results.
The Finals are best of seven
The title series requires four wins and uses 2–2–1–1–1. A seven-game format allows up to seven games; it does not require all seven to be played. A team winning four straight ends the series in four.
| 2026 round | Wins needed | Hosting pattern |
|---|---|---|
| First round | 2 | 1–1–1 |
| Semi-finals | 3 | 2–2–1 |
| Finals | 4 | 2–2–1–1–1 |
Read game score and series score separately
An 80–78 game result contributes one win to the series. It does not create a two-point aggregate lead for the next game. A 2–1 series score counts completed games, while the current scoreboard counts baskets and free throws within the game.
Keep the edition with the format
The 2026 Finals use best of seven. Historical programmes may belong to shorter Finals formats. Preserve year, round and game number when saving coverage, and retain if necessary beside later games. A schedule’s possible Game 7 is not evidence that the series eventually reached it.