The 2017 WNBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2017 season.

Format

Following the WNBA regular season, eight teams in the entire league qualified for the playoffs and were seeded one to eight. Regular season records determined the seedings of the teams. The team with the best record received seed one, the team with the next best record received seed two, and so on. The top two seeds get double byes, while the next two seeds get first-round byes.

These seedings were used to create a bracket that determines the match-ups throughout the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs consisted of two match-ups based on the seedings (5-8 and 6-7). The two winners advanced to the second round with a match-up between the number 3 seed and the lower of the advancing seeds and another match-up between the number 4 seed and the other first round winner. The winners of the first two rounds advanced to the semifinals, where the lower ranked seed of the winners faced the number 1 seed, while the other remaining team faced the number 2 seed.

The first two rounds are single elimination games played on the higher ranking seed's home court. The semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series played in a 2-2-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage (better record) hosts games 1, 2, and 5 while their opponent hosts games 3 and 4.

Tiebreak procedures

  1. Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
  2. Better winning percentage against teams within conference (for Finals only: better record against teams in # the opposite conference).
  3. Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
  4. Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
  5. Coin toss (or draw of lots, if at least 3 teams are still tied after the first 4 tiebreakers fail).

Playoff qualifying

SeedTeamRecordClinched
Playoff berthBye to SemisTop Record
1Minnesota Lynx27–7
2Los Angeles Sparks26–8
3New York Liberty22–12
4Connecticut Sun21–13
5Phoenix Mercury18–16
6Washington Mystics18–16
7Dallas Wings16–18
8Seattle Storm15–19

Bracket

First round Single elimination (Sept. 6)Second round Single elimination (Sept. 10)Semifinals Best-of-5 (Sept. 12 – Sept. 17)WNBA Finals Best-of-5 (Sept. 24 – Oct. 4)
2Los Angeles Sparks3
4Connecticut Sun835Phoenix Mercury0
5Phoenix Mercury795Phoenix Mercury881Minnesota Lynx3
8Seattle Storm692Los Angeles Sparks2
1Minnesota Lynx3
3New York Liberty686Washington Mystics0
6Washington Mystics866Washington Mystics82
7Dallas Wings76

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

  • Bold – Game or series winner
  • Italic – Team with home-court advantage

First round

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(6) Washington Mystics vs. (7) Dallas Wings

ESPN2
September 6 8:00 PM
Dallas Wings 76, Washington Mystics 86
Scoring by quarter: 12-18, 22-16, 16-25, 26-27
Pts: Powers 21 Rebs: Johnson 14 Asts: four tied 3Pts: Delle Donne 25 Rebs: Thomas 17 Asts: Meesseman 5
Washington wins series 1-0
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. Attendance: 6,483 Referees: Tiara Cruse, Tim Greene, Tom Nunez
Regular-season series
Dallas won 2–1 in the regular-season series
June 6, 2017 Washington Mystics 101, Dallas Wings 89 College Park Center, Arlington, TX June 18, 2017 Dallas Wings 87, Washington Mystics 83 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. August 26, 2017 Dallas Wings 83, Washington Mystics 78 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
June 6, 2017
Washington Mystics 101, Dallas Wings 89
College Park Center, Arlington, TX
June 18, 2017
Dallas Wings 87, Washington Mystics 83
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
August 26, 2017
Dallas Wings 83, Washington Mystics 78
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

(5) Phoenix Mercury vs. (8) Seattle Storm

ESPN2
September 6 10:00 PM
Seattle Storm 69, Phoenix Mercury 79
Scoring by quarter: 17–16, 14–16, 15–24, 23-23
Pts: Stewart 23 Rebs: Stewart 8 Asts: Bird 5Pts: Griner 23 Rebs: Griner 11 Asts: three tied 3
Phoenix wins series 1-0
Wells Fargo Arena, Temple, AZ Attendance: 5,764 Referees: Tiffany Bird, Eric Brewton, Cheryl Flores, Kurt Walker
Regular-season series
Phoenix won 2–1 in the regular-season series
June 23, 2017 Phoenix Mercury 85, Seattle Storm 82 KeyArena, Seattle, WA August 12, 2017 Seattle Storm 98, Phoenix Mercury 89 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ August 27, 2017 'Phoenix Mercury '75, Seattle Storm 71 KeyArena, Seattle, WA
June 23, 2017
Phoenix Mercury 85, Seattle Storm 82
KeyArena, Seattle, WA
August 12, 2017
Seattle Storm 98, Phoenix Mercury 89
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
August 27, 2017
'Phoenix Mercury '75, Seattle Storm 71
KeyArena, Seattle, WA

Second round

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(4) Connecticut Sun vs. (5) Phoenix Mercury

ESPN2
September 10 3:00 PM
Phoenix Mercury 88, Connecticut Sun 83
Scoring by quarter: 18-29, 25–21, 25–18, 20-15
Pts: Griner 26 Rebs: Griner 9 Asts: Mitchell 5Pts: A. Thomas 20 Rebs: Jones 15 Asts: J. Thomas 4
Phoenix wins series 1-0
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT Attendance: 8,420 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Roy Gulbeyan, Byron Jarrett
Regular-season series
Connecticut won 2–1 in the regular-season series
August 4, 2017 Phoenix Mercury 92, Connecticut Sun 93 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT August 20, 2017 Phoenix Mercury 66, Connecticut Sun 94 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT September 1, 2017 Connecticut Sun 66, Phoenix Mercury 86 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
August 4, 2017
Phoenix Mercury 92, Connecticut Sun 93
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
August 20, 2017
Phoenix Mercury 66, Connecticut Sun 94
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
September 1, 2017
Connecticut Sun 66, Phoenix Mercury 86
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ

(3) New York Liberty vs. (6) Washington Mystics

ESPN2
September 10 5:00 PM
Washington Mystics 82, New York Liberty 68
Scoring by quarter: 10-21, 25–20, 25–10, 22-17
Pts: Toliver 32 Rebs: Delle Donne 10 Asts: Ruffin-Pratt & Toliver 4Pts: Charles 18 Rebs: Charles & Zellous 6 Asts: Hartley 5
Washington wins series 1-0
Madison Square Garden New York, New York Attendance: 9,538 Referees: Sue Blauch, Billy Smith, Jeff Wooten
Regular-season series
New York won 2–1 in the regular-season series
June 29, 2017 New York Liberty 54, Washington Mystics 67 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. July 16, 2017 Washington Mystics 55, New York Liberty 85 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY August 25, 2017 Washington Mystics 66, New York Liberty 74 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
June 29, 2017
New York Liberty 54, Washington Mystics 67
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
July 16, 2017
Washington Mystics 55, New York Liberty 85
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
August 25, 2017
Washington Mystics 66, New York Liberty 74
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Semifinals

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (6) Washington Mystics

ESPN2
September 12 8:00 PM
Washington Mystics 81, Minnesota Lynx 101
Scoring by quarter: 18–26, 20-27, 18-31, 25–17
Pts: Delle Donne 17 Rebs: Delle Donne 6 Asts: Toliver 6Pts: Augustus 24 Rebs: Fowles 7 Asts: Moore 4
Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 7,834 Referees: JB DeRosa, Maj Forsberg, Billy Smith
ESPN2
September 14 8:00 PM
Washington Mystics 83, Minnesota Lynx 93
Scoring by quarter: 29–19, 18-26, 17–24, 19–24
Pts: Delle Donne & Toliver 25 Rebs: Thomas 7 Asts: Toliver 6Pts: Fowles 25 Rebs: Brunson 10 Asts: Whalen 7
Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 9,033 Referees: Sue Blauch, Roy Gulbeyan, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal
ESPN
September 17 3:00 PM
Minnesota Lynx 81, Washington Mystics 70
Scoring by quarter: 18–16, 20–23, 21–14, 22–17
Pts: Moore 21 Rebs: Fowles 14 Asts: Moore & Whalen 5Pts: Delle Donne 15 Rebs: Delle Donne 8 Asts: Toliver 5
Minnesota wins series 3-0
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. Attendance: 7,950 Referees: Cheryl Flores, Kurt Walker, Jeff Wooten
Regular-season series
Minnesota won 3–0 in the regular-season series
June 9, 2017 Minnesota Lynx 98, Washington Mystics 73 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. June 23, 2016 Washington Mystics 76, Minnesota Lynx 93 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN September 3, 2017 Washington Mystics 72, Minnesota Lynx 86 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
June 9, 2017
Minnesota Lynx 98, Washington Mystics 73
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
June 23, 2016
Washington Mystics 76, Minnesota Lynx 93
Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
September 3, 2017
Washington Mystics 72, Minnesota Lynx 86
Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN

(2) Los Angeles Sparks vs. (5) Phoenix Mercury

ESPN2
September 12 10:00 PM
Phoenix Mercury 66, Los Angeles Sparks 79
Scoring by quarter: 23–19, 19-23, 6-14, 18-23
Pts: Mitchell 19 Rebs: Little 11 Asts: Mitchell 4Pts: Ogwumike 19 Rebs: Ogwumike 9 Asts: Gray 6
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 7,963 Referees: Tiffany Bird, Jeff Smith, Kurt Walker
ESPN2
September 14 10:00 PM
Phoenix Mercury 72, Los Angeles Sparks 86
Scoring by quarter: 19–22, 16-21, 20-18, 17–25
Pts: Taurasi 21 Rebs: Mitchell 6 Asts: Taurasi 4Pts: Parker 24 Rebs: Parker 13 Asts: Gray & Parker 6
Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, CA Attendance: 4,023 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Byron Jarrett, Thomas Nunez
ESPN
September 17 5:00 PM
Los Angeles Sparks 89, Phoenix Mercury 87
Scoring by quarter: 21–25, 24–13, 18–24, 26–25
Pts: Sims 22 Rebs: Ogwumike 12 Asts: Parker 11Pts: Taurasi 22 Rebs: Griner & Little 8 Asts: Mitchell & Taurasi 5
Los Angeles wins series 3-0
Talking Stick Resort Arena Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 12,043 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Billy Smith
Regular-season series
Los Angeles won 3–0 in the regular-season series
June 10, 2017 Los Angeles Sparks 89, Phoenix Mercury 87 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ June 18, 2017 Phoenix Mercury 59, Los Angeles Sparks 90 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA August 24, 2017 Los Angeles Sparks 82, Phoenix Mercury 67 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
June 10, 2017
Los Angeles Sparks 89, Phoenix Mercury 87
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
June 18, 2017
Phoenix Mercury 59, Los Angeles Sparks 90
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
August 24, 2017
Los Angeles Sparks 82, Phoenix Mercury 67
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ

WNBA Finals

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (2) Los Angeles Sparks

ABC
September 24 3:30pm ET
Los Angeles Sparks 85, Minnesota Lynx 84
Scoring by quarter: 32–11, 11–22, 25–23, 17–28
Pts: Gray 27 Rebs: Parker 12 Asts: Gray 6Pts: Moore 27 Rebs: Fowles 13 Asts: Whalen 6
Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 11,823 Referees: Cheryl Flores, Kurt Walker, Jeff Wooten
ESPN2
September 26 8:00pm ET
Los Angeles Sparks 68, Minnesota Lynx 70
Scoring by quarter: 10–28, 16–17, 24–15, 18–10
Pts: Parker 17 Rebs: Ogwumike 13 Asts: Parker 6Pts: Whalen 14 Rebs: Fowles 17 Asts: Brunson, Whalen 3
Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 11,434 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Bryon Jarrett, Billy Smith
ESPN2
September 29 9:00pm ET
Minnesota Lynx 64, Los Angeles Sparks 75
Scoring by quarter: 8–17, 18–15, 22–24, 16–19
Pts: Moore 16 Rebs: Fowles 11 Asts: Jones 4Pts: Ogwumike, Sims 16 Rebs: Ogwumike 10 Asts: Gray 7
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 13,500 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Roy Gulbeyan
ESPN
October 1 8:30pm ET
Minnesota Lynx 80, Los Angeles Sparks 69
Scoring by quarter: 21–16, 22–15, 18–13, 19–25
Pts: Fowles 22 Rebs: Fowles 14 Asts: Whalen 8Pts: Sims 18 Rebs: Ogwumike, Parker 8 Asts: Gray 9
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 13,500 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Billy Smith, Kurt Walker
ESPN
October 4 8:00pm ET
Los Angeles Sparks 76, Minnesota Lynx 85
Scoring by quarter: 19–21, 16–20, 21–19, 20–25
Pts: Parker 19 Rebs: Parker 15 Asts: Gray 8Pts: Moore 18 Rebs: Fowles 20 Asts: Whalen 8
Minnesota wins series 3-2
Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 14,632 Referees: Sue Blauch, Roy Gulbeyan, Byron Jarrett
Regular-season series
Los Angeles won 2–1 in the regular-season series
July 6, 2017 Los Angeles Sparks 77, Minnesota Lynx 88 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN August 11, 2016 Los Angeles Sparks 70, Minnesota Lynx 64 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN August 27, 2017 Minnesota Lynx 67, Los Angeles Sparks 78 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
July 6, 2017
Los Angeles Sparks 77, Minnesota Lynx 88
Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
August 11, 2016
Los Angeles Sparks 70, Minnesota Lynx 64
Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
August 27, 2017
Minnesota Lynx 67, Los Angeles Sparks 78
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA