WNBA Playoff Bracket: Aces Lead Way With No. 1 Seed

Following a thrilling conclusion to the regular season on Sunday, the 2022 WNBA playoff field is set. 

The Aces clinched the top seed with an offensive explosion in their regular season finale against Sue Bird and the Storm on Sunday. Chelsea Gray scored a team-high 33 points and All-Stars A’Ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum became the first duo in WNBA history to each score 700-plus points in a single season as Las Vegas notched home court advantage for the entirety of the playoffs with the win.

The Aces’ victory kept the Sky in the No. 2 spot, despite a blowout win over the Mercury on Sunday afternoon. The defending champions ended up with the same regular season record as Las Vegas (26–10) and just a game clear of the No. 3-seeded Sun. 

The No. 4 Storm and the No. 5 Mystics also ended the campaign with the same record (22–14) but Seattle won the tiebreaker to lock up home-court advantage for the ensuing first-round series between the two teams. The Wings clinched the No. 6 seed, while the Liberty dashed the playoff hopes of the Dream and sealed the No. 7 spot in the bracket in the process.

The Mercury round out the eight-team field, setting up a first-round series between Phoenix and Las Vegas. 

All four of the best-of-three series will begin later this week. Here’s a look at the complete schedule for the first round:

Wednesday, Aug. 17

• No. 7 Liberty at No. 2 Sky – 8 p.m. ET (ESPN 2)
• No. 8 Mercury at No. 1 Aces – 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday, Aug. 18

• No. 6 Wings at No. 3 Sun – 8 p.m. ET (ESPN U/NBA TV)
• No. 5 Mystics at No. 4 Storm – 10 p.m. ET (ESPN 2)

Saturday, Aug. 19

• No. 7 Liberty at No. 2 Sky – 12 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• No. 8 Mercury at No. 1 Aces – 9 p.m. ET (ESPN 2)

Sunday, Aug. 20

• No. 6 Wings at No. 3 Sun – 12 p.m. ET (ABC)
• No. 5 Mystics at No. 4 Storm – 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, Aug. 23*

• No. 2 Sky at No. 7 Liberty – TBD (TBD)
• No. 1 Aces at No. 8 Mercury – TBD (TBD)

Wednesday, Aug. 24*

• No. 3 Sun at No. 6 Wings – TBD (TBD)
• No. 4 Storm at No. 5 Mystics – TBD (TBD)

*if necessary