WNBA Playoff Preview 2024: Opening Championship Odds & First-Round Matchups

The 2024 WNBA regular season came to an end on Thursday night, meaning the postseason is officially upon us. The first-round action will begin on Sunday, Sept. 22 as all eight of the qualified teams begin their journey toward a potential WNBA Finals berth.

This article is here to get you ready for the upcoming basketball postseason. Let’s dive into the schedule for Round 1 of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, as well as the opening championship odds.

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WNBA Playoffs 2024: Round 1 Schedule

New York Liberty (1) vs Atlanta Dream (8) Playoff Series Schedule

• Game 1: Dream @ Liberty — Sunday, Sept. 22 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Dream @ Liberty — Tuesday, Sept. 24 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Liberty @ Dream — Thursday, Sept. 26 (TBD p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Regular season series: New York wins 3-1

Read about picks for every WNBA playoff game!

Minnesota Lynx (2) vs Phoenix Mercury (7) Playoff Series Schedule

• Game 1: Mercury @ Lynx — Sunday, Sept. 22 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Mercury @ Lynx — Wednesday, Sept. 25 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Lynx @ Mercury — Friday, Sept. 27 (TBD p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Regular season series: Minnesota wins 3-1

Connecticut Sun (3) vs Indiana Fever (6) Playoff Series Schedule

• Game 1: Fever @ Sun — Sunday, Sept. 22 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Fever @ Sun — Wednesday, Sept. 25 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Sun @ Fever — Friday, Sept. 27 (TBD p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Regular season series: Connecticut wins 3-1

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Las Vegas Aces (4) vs Seattle Storm (5) Playoff Series Schedule

• Game 1: Storm @ Aces — Sunday, Sept. 22 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Storm @ Aces — Tuesday, Sept. 24 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Aces @ Storm — Thursday, Sept. 26 (TBD p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Regular season series: Las Vegas wins 3-1

2024 WNBA Championship Odds & Best Bet

WNBA Finals odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Friday, Sept. 20 at 2:47 p.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

• New York Liberty (+135)
• Las Vegas Aces (+250)
• Minnesota Lynx (+300)
• Connecticut Sun (+650)
• Indiana Fever (+1800)
• Seattle Storm (+3500)
• Phoenix Mercury (+4000)
• Atlanta Dream (+25000)

Last year’s WNBA Finals were won by the Las Vegas Aces, marking their second consecutive championship win. The Aces also became the third franchise in WNBA history to go on back-to-back title runs, joining the Los Angeles Sparks (2001-02) and Houston Comets (1997-00) as the only others to accomplish the feat.

Having said that, I’m going with the Liberty (+135) for my 2024 WNBA Finals pick.

For starters, the Liberty only lost eight games all season with only four of those losses coming at Barclays Center, where they’ll have the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.  New York also boasts a plethora of top-tier talent, including WNBA Finals MVP favorite Breanna Stewart (+275 on BetOnline), Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones, just to name a few.

The Liberty held their own against the rest of the WNBA, including the defending champion Aces. The two juggernauts collided three times during the regular season, resulting in a sweep for New York as it outscored Las Vegas by an average of 8.0 points per game.

While that doesn’t guarantee a deep playoff run, it shows that the Liberty have what it takes to beat the team that finished on top the last two years — especially after last year’s Finals loss.

The Liberty’s championship odds will only shorten the longer the postseason goes, meaning it’s best to jump on the bandwagon right now.

Best WNBA Finals 2024 Bet: New York Liberty (+135)

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WNBA Playoff Preview FAQ

When do the 2024 WNBA playoffs begin?

• All four of the first-round WNBA playoff series will begin on Sunday, Sept. 22.

How long is each WNBA playoff series?

• Each first-round series will be a best-of-three situation while the WNBA semifinals and Finals will be best-of-five.

Who won the 2023 WNBA Finals?

• The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in four games to win the 2023 WNBA Finals, marking their second consecutive championship.

Who is the No. 1 seed in the 2024 WNBA playoffs?

• The New York Liberty will enter the WNBA postseason as the No. 1 seed after going 32-8 during the regular season.

Where can I bet on the WNBA playoffs?

• Most major online sportsbooks will offer odds throughout the 2024 WNBA postseason, including these trusted partners:

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