WNBA Playoffs Are Here! 🎉

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Brackets Are Set, Playoffs Start Sunday 🏀

The postseason is here. Round 1 of the WNBA Playoffs tips off Sunday, September 14. Here’s who’s playing who, when, and where to watch. Game 1:

• Golden State (8) at Minnesota (1): 1:00 PM ET on ESPN

• Indiana (6) at Atlanta (3): 3:00 PM ET on ABC

• New York (5) at Phoenix (4): 5:00 PM ET on ESPN

• Seattle (7) at Las Vegas (2): 7:00 pm ET on ESPN

👉 See the full Round 1 schedule

WHY IT MATTERS: Our favorite teams have battled all summer long for a playoff spot. Now, everything sets. The first round uses a best-of-3 (1-1-1) format, with the higher seed hosting game 1 and, if needed, game 3. The first team with two wins moves on.

2. Napheesa Collier Joins Elite 50/40/90 Club 💎

With her final regular-season game, Napheesa Collier became just the second player in WNBA history to shoot 50% FG, 40% from three, and 90% at the line in a season. (Minnesota Lynx)

WHY IT MATTERS: Only Elena Delle Donne (2019) has ever pulled it off before, and that year she won both MVP and the championship. Collier’s been in the MVP conversation all year, and reaching this milestone after returning from an August ankle injury strengthens her case.

3. Teams Offer Time-Off Bonuses Just In Time ⏱️

Several WNBA teams finalized time-off bonuses at the close of the regular season for key stars, with the hopes of minimizing their off-season play and injuries ahead of the 2026 season.

This includes $20,000 to Kelsey Mitchell, $14,000 each to Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones, as well as $25,000 to Veronica Burton and $20,000 to Kayla Thornton, among others.

👉 See the latest players to earn time-off bonuses

WHY IT MATTERS: These bonuses cap off at $50K per player and count against the salary cap. They’re designed to reduce offseason workloads, limiting athletes to no more than 90 days of playing in the offseason. They’re also a sign of which players teams view as long-term cornerstones, and reflect who their priorities are in the upcoming free agency frenzy.

Note: Teams cannot give time-off bonuses to players on rookie-scale contracts.