The 2024 WNBA regular season, one of the most consequential in league history is in the books. After a rather anti-climactic final night on Thursday, all of the playoff seeds have been determined and the first-round playoff matchups are set.
Heading into Thursday, there were still three teams alive for the final playoff spot, but the Dream made sure there was no drama with a comfortable win over the Liberty, who had nothing to play for after clinching the No. 1 seed earlier in the week. With their victory, the Dream claimed the No. 8 seed, and will face the Liberty in the first round.
The only other seeding situation still up in the air was decided rather quickly. Needing a win to clinch the No. 3 seed, the Sun destroyed the Sky in the first game of the evening. They will now face Caitlin Clark and the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever in the first round.
As a refresher, the top eight teams, regardless of conference affiliation, make the playoffs in the WNBA. Under the current playoff format, the teams are placed into a standard bracket with the No. 1 seed playing No. 8 in the first round, No. 2 vs. No. 7 and so on.
Teams will play a best-of-three series in the first round and best-of-five series in the semifinals and finals. Notably, the first round is a 2-1 format, which means the higher seed gets the first two games at home, while the lower seed gets the deciding Game 3 at home should the series go that far. In the semifinals and finals, it is a standard 2-2-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2 and 5, if necessary.
Final standings
New York Liberty (32-8) — Playoffs
Minnesota Lynx (30-10) — Playoffs
Connecticut Sun (28-12) — Playoffs
Las Vegas Aces (27-13) — Playoffs
Seattle Storm (25-15) — Playoffs
Indiana Fever (20-20) — Playoffs
Phoenix Mercury (19-21) — Playoffs
Atlanta Dream (15-25) — Playoffs
Washington Mystics (14-26) — Lottery
Chicago Sky (13-27) — Lottery
Dallas Wings (9-31) — Lottery
Los Angeles Sparks (8-32) — Lottery
