WNBA's historical 20th season continues as WNBA Playoffs 2016 begins in September 21. According to WNBA's official website, this year's playoffs will have a different format.
The top 8 teams from the regular season qualifies for the WNBA playoffs, regardless of the conference that they're playing at.
The rounds of playoffs this year have increased from 3 rounds last year to 4 rounds this year.
The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receives a bye and will play in the semifinals. The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds also receives a bye and starts playing at the second round.
The first and second rounds are single elimination rounds. Which means that if a team loses, the season is over for them.
In the first round, the No. 5 seed plays the No. 8 seed. On the other hand, the No. 6 seed will play the No. 7 seed. In the second round, the No. 3 seed will play the lowest seed that will advance to the second round. While the No. 4 seed will play the other team who will go through the second round.
In the semifinals, the teams participating will play a best-of-five series. The No. 1 seed will play the lowest seed that will reach the semifinals. While the No. 2 seed will play the other team who manages to go make it to the semifinals.
The teams that win the semifinals will face-off in the WNBA Finals. The format is still a best-of-five series just like last year.
Longtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith says that the Minnesota Lynx has a best chance to win in this years playoffs. Minnesota finishes as the No. 1 overall seed in the WNBA after yet another dominant season finishing with a record of 28-6. Because of that, they receives a homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. If they manage to win, they will be back-to-back WNBA Champions.
WNBA Playoffs 2016 kicks off at September 21 with the No. 5 seed Indiana Fever hosts the No. 8 seed Phoenix Mercury. The No. 6 seed Atlanta Dream and the No. 7 seed Seattle Storm are also scheduled to face-off on September 21.
