The 2021 WNBA Finals - featuring the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury - are in full swing. See below for results from the earlier rounds, an updated schedule, plus TV channel details for the WNBA Finals.
For schedule and TV info for a wider array of women’s sports happening this month (NWSL, LPGA, WSL, etc), you can find On Her Turf’s full October 2021 viewing guide here.
2021 WNBA Finals: Phoenix Mercury (5) vs. Chicago Sky (6)
Chicago currently leads the best-of-five series 1-0. Note: Games marked with an asterisk (*) will only be played if necessary.
RESULTS
| Sunday, October 10 | Game 1 - Chicago defeated Phoenix |
| Wednesday, October 13 | Game 2 - Phoenix defeated Chicago (recap here) |
UPCOMING GAMES
| Friday, October 15 | Game 3 - Phoenix at Chicago | 9pm ET | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, October 17 | Game 4 - Phoenix at Chicago | 3pm ET | ESPN |
| Tuesday, October 19 | Game 5* - Chicago at Phoenix | 9pm ET | ESPN2 |
2021 WNBA Playoffs - Seeds
Connecticut Sun (double bye to semifinal round)Las Vegas Aces (double bye to semifinal round)Minnesota Lynx (bye to second round)Seattle Storm (bye to second round)- Phoenix Mercury (clinched spot in 2021 WNBA Finals)
- Chicago Sky (clinched spot in 2021 WNBA Finals)
Dallas WingsNew York Liberty
Eliminated from title contention: Dallas Wings (7), New York Liberty (8), Seattle Storm (4), Minnesota Lynx (3), Connecticut Sun (1), Las Vegas Aces (2)
2021 WNBA Playoffs - Results
First Round Results (single elimination)
| Thursday, September 23 | Chicago (6) def. Dallas (7) - 81-64 |
| Thursday, September 23 | Phoenix (5) def. New York (8) - 83-82 |
Second Round Results (single elimination)
| Sunday, September 26 | Phoenix (5) def. Seattle (4) - 85-80 |
| Sunday, September 26 | Chicago (6) def. Minnesota (3) - 89-76 |
Semifinal Round (best-of-five format)
| Tuesday, September 28 | Game 1: Chicago (6) def. Connecticut (1) | 8pm ET | ESPN2 |
| Tuesday, September 28 | Game 1: Las Vegas (2) def. Phoenix (5) | 10pm ET | ESPN2 |
| Thursday, September 30 | Game 2: Connecticut (1) def. Chicago | 8pm ET | ESPN2 |
| Thursday, September 30 | Game 2: Phoenix (5) def. Las Vegas (2) | 10pm ET | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, October 3 | Game 3: Chicago (6) def. Connecticut (1) (Recap here) | 1pm ET | ESPN |
| Sunday, October 3 | Game 3: Phoenix (5) def. Las Vegas (2) (Recap here) | 3pm ET | ABC |
| Wednesday, October 6 | Game 4: Chicago (6) def. Connecticut (1) | 8pm ET | ESPN |
| Wednesday, October 6 | Game 4: Las Vegas (2) def. Phoenix (5) | 10pm ET | ESPN |
| Friday, October 8 | Game 5: Phoenix (5) def. Las Vegas (2) | 9pm ET | ESPN2 |
Quick refresher: How do the WNBA Playoffs work?
The playoff format is the same in 2021 as recent seasons. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season – regardless of conference – qualified for the WNBA playoffs.
The top two teams (Connecticut Sun and Las Vegas Aces) received a bye to the semifinal round, while the third- and fourth-ranked teams (Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm) received a bye to the second round. The first and second rounds were single elimination, while the semifinal and final rounds feature a best-of-five format.
