The superstars of the WNBA are here to play. Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun, Candace Parker of the Chicago Sky, Las Vegas teammates A’Ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, along with AP Player of the Year Breanna Stewart and WNBA legend Sue Bird, both of the Seattle Storm, are looking to elevate their teams to new heights in the battle for the 2022 WNBA title.
One superstar is missing from the 2022 playoffs Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner remains in prison in Russia after being sentenced to nine years in a penal colony on drug-smuggling charges. Griner is appealing his sentence as prisoner swap talks continue.
Meanwhile, eight WNBA teams continue the three-round journey to the title, and there’s already disappointment. In Game 1, the defending champion Chicago Sky, who finished tied with the Las Vegas Aces for the league’s most wins, lost to the New York Liberty. Chicago looks even for the series this afternoon at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT) on ESPN.
Later tonight, the Aces look to close out the Mercury, who they defeated by 16 points in Game 1. Game 2 of this series will be at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on ESPN 2
Sunday’s games include Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun looking to send Arike Ogunbowale and the Dallas Wings to 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT) on ABC. This will be followed by Elena Delle Donne and the Washington Mystics looking to even the series with the Seattle Storm after a close Game 1. This game will be held on 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) Sunday on ESPN.
Those looking to follow the drama will need access to ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPNU to watch every game. We’ve broken down everything you need to know to stream the WNBA playoffs live without cable.
What does the first round of the playoffs look like?
Unlike previous seasons, all teams will play in a best-of-three first-round match. The winners will then advance to a best-of-five semifinal, followed by a best-of-five WNBA final.
Here’s the remaining first-round schedule with all times in ET:
WNBA First Round Playoff Schedule
|
Date and time |
It matches |
network |
|---|---|---|
|
Saturday, August 20 (12 noon) |
New York Liberty at Chicago Sky, Game 2 (Liberties lead 1-0) |
ESPN |
|
Saturday, August 20 (9:00 p.m.) |
Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces, Game 2 (Aces lead 1-0) |
ESPN2 |
|
Sunday, August 21 (12 noon) |
Dallas Wings at Connecticut Sun, Game 2 (Sun leads 1-0) |
ABC |
|
Sunday, August 21 (4:00 p.m.) |
Washington Mystics at Seattle Storm, Game 2 (Storm leads 1-0) |
ESPN |
|
Tuesday, August 23 (7:00 p.m.) |
Chicago Sky at New York Liberty, match 3* |
ESPN 2 |
|
Tuesday, August 23 (9:00 p.m.) |
Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury Game 3* |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wednesday, August 24 (TBD) |
Connecticut Sun at Dallas Wings Game 3* |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wednesday, August 24 (TBD) |
Seattle Storm at Washington Mystics Game 3* |
ESPN 2 |
*If necessary.
The best streaming options without cable
All 2022 WNBA playoff games will be broadcast on the Disney family of networks, namely ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPNU. To catch every second of the basketball action, cord cutters will need to subscribe to a live tv streaming service. Here’s how they break down.
You can watch the WNBA playoffs with a YouTube TV subscription. ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPNU are included in the package, meaning you’ll have all the channels you need to watch every second of the action.
Read our YouTube TV review.
Hulu Plus Live TV is a bit more expensive than YouTube TV, but it also offers all the channels you need to watch the WNBA playoffs. As an added bonus, Hulu Plus Live TV comes with the rest of the Disney Bundle, which includes a subscription to Disney Plus as well as ESPN Plus. The WNBA playoffs aren’t broadcast on ESPN Plus, but the service offers plenty of other content for die-hard sports fans.
Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review.
Sling TV’s $35 Orange plan can be a good choice for casual WNBA fans who don’t need to watch every game. This plan is one of the cheapest ways to get access to ESPN and ESPN 2. Those looking for ESPNU will have to opt for the $11 Sports Extra ad. Sling TV lacks ABC, which could be a problem for fans hoping to catch some of the biggest games.
Read our Sling TV review.
FuboTV costs $70 per month and includes ABC, ESPN and ESPN 2. The basic package lacks ESPNU, but you can add it for an additional $8 per month with the Fubo Extra Package or pay for the $80 per month Elite streaming level, which includes Fubo Extra. See which local networks FuboTV offers here.
Read our FuboTV review.
DirecTV Stream is the most expensive live TV streaming service. Its cheapest $70-a-month Plus package includes ESPN, ESPN 2 and ABC, but you’ll have to upgrade to the $90-a-month Choice plan to get ESPNews. You can use its channel search tool to see which local channels are available in your area.
Read our DirecTV Stream review.
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