As of October 2, 2026, the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty make up one confirmed WNBA Playoffs semifinal. The Las Vegas Aces have also advanced but are still waiting for the winner of the Golden State Valkyries-Dallas Wings series. One first-round matchup therefore remains open.
Updated bracket on October 2
The official WNBA bracket shows three completed matchups. The eighth-seeded Liberty eliminated the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 2-0. No. 4 Atlanta defeated the fifth-seeded Washington Mystics by the same margin. The third-seeded Aces beat the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever 2-1.
No. 2 Golden State and No. 7 Dallas are tied 1-1. The Game 3 winner will complete the other semifinal and face Las Vegas. With that side of the bracket still unresolved, the Aces do not yet have a definitive opponent.
Atlanta and New York in the semifinal
The first confirmed semifinal pairs fourth-seeded Atlanta with No. 8 New York. According to the league’s playoff page, the series begins October 4. The Dream schedule lists games on October 4, 7, 9, 11 and 14; the final two will be played only if the series has not already ended. Start times are marked “TBD” and should be checked again on the official site.
Atlanta hosts Games 1 and 2 and, if needed, Game 5. New York hosts Games 3 and 4, with the latter also dependent on the series continuing. The reviewed sources do not confirm broadcast outlets by territory.
How the Dream advanced
The Dream closed out Washington with a 93-75 win at CareFirst Arena. Atlanta’s official recap highlights a 13-0 fourth-quarter run that helped complete the sweep.
Allisha Gray scored 22 points. Jordin Canada recorded 19 points — 13 in the final quarter — and 11 assists. Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese scored 15 apiece, while Naz Hillmon added 10. Washington won the rebounding battle 42-27 but committed 19 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 23 points.
It was Atlanta’s first playoff series victory since 2016 and its first semifinal appearance since 2018.
Wins required to reach the Finals
Eight teams qualify regardless of conference and are seeded by regular-season record. The official standings place Minnesota first, Golden State second, Las Vegas third and Atlanta fourth; New York entered as the eighth seed.
The first round is best-of-three, so two wins are needed to advance. The semifinals are best-of-five, requiring three victories under a 2-2-1 format. The Finals are best-of-seven, requiring four wins under a 2-2-1-1-1 format. The WNBA lists October 17 as the start of the Finals, with the participants still undecided.
Atlanta and New York are consequently three wins away from the Finals. Las Vegas also needs three semifinal wins, but must first learn its opponent.
Where to check for changes
Dates, start times and the identity of the final semifinalist may be updated as the first round concludes. The safest reference is the official Playoffs page, which collects the series and results. For Atlanta-New York, the team schedule helps distinguish guaranteed games from those listed only “if necessary.”
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Visit Becoartes at Rua Gonçalo Afonso, 99, Vila Madalena, São Paulo.
Becoartes - Beco do Batman
99 Gonçalo Afonso Street, Vila Madalena, São Paulo
Sources and credits
- Lorie Shaull — CC BY-SA 4.0
- John Mac — CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lorie Shaull — CC BY-SA 4.0
- WNBA — chave, resultados e formato dos playoffs de 2026
- Atlanta Dream — classificação à semifinal e vitória sobre Washington
- WNBA — página oficial do Atlanta Dream e calendário da semifinal
- WNBA — classificação oficial e critérios de desempate
- Wikimedia Commons — fotografia de Allisha Gray com licença Creative Commons