Intense Stage Set for the 2024 WNBA Playoffs
If you're a basketball fan, buckle up. The WNBA Playoffs 2024 are about to serve up storylines you just can't script. The action tips off on September 22, bringing together eight fired-up teams—each one with something big to prove. The format is all business: best-of-three for the first round, then best-of-five showdowns as the field narrows. Critics and fans alike are circling their calendars for potential classics and star turns.
The No. 1 seed New York Liberty have blitzed through the regular season, and now they get home-court advantage against the No. 8 Atlanta Dream. Last year, the Liberty fell to the Aces in the finals, but this season they’re not messing around. Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have been relentless, making the Liberty favorites in every matchup until proven otherwise.
But don’t count out the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Despite a rocky 6-6 start, they put the league on notice with a fierce second-half run. A’ja Wilson cranked up her game at just the right moment, and the return of Chelsea Gray from injury gives the Aces the postseason experience edge. They'll host the Seattle Storm, who have rebuilt quickly around Jewell Loyd and Nneka Ogwumike—no easy out in a playoff series.
Matchups, New Faces, and High Expectations
This year is extra special for Indiana Fever fans, as their team is back in the postseason mix after eight long years on the outside. Everyone's talking about Caitlin Clark—she's not just hype. With Aliyah Boston as her frontcourt partner, the Fever are suddenly a dangerous sixth seed, facing the Connecticut Sun. The Sun, meanwhile, are playoff veterans—Alyssa Thomas has dominated on both ends, so expect some physical, grind-it-out basketball in this series.
The Lynx-Mercury matchup is another one to watch. Minnesota started strong and never looked back, locking up the two seed. Napheesa Collier has led a young but seasoned Lynx team, while Phoenix gets a major boost from Diana Taurasi, who just doesn’t know how to quit. The Mercury scraped into the playoffs at the last moment, so they’re playing with house money—and sometimes, that’s the most dangerous position.
First-round sweeps were the rule last postseason, and analysts think it might happen again. Still, there’s a real chance for surprises: playoff basketball has a way of turning the regular-season script upside down. Home-court advantage matters—ask anyone who’s tried to win a deciding game in front of a hostile crowd. And with so many stars looking to cement their legacy, clutch performances are almost guaranteed.
Once the semifinals roll around, everyone is eyeing the potential mega-rematch: Aces vs. Liberty. Last year, those games were can’t-miss TV, with buzzer-beaters and wild swings. Could this year be even more dramatic? On the other side, the Sun and Lynx are set up for a defensive slugfest. Both squads pride themselves on making opponents earn every basket, so don’t be shocked by some low-scoring, nail-biting finishes.
Who’s your pick—the seasoned champs, the hungry challengers, or a surprise underdog? We’ll get our answer before October 20, when the trophy gets hoisted and the season’s stories are written for good.
