First Round to begin Thursday, Sept. 15

The WNBA Playoff bracket has been set with the Indiana Fever of the Eastern Conference and the Minnesota Lynx of the Western Conference grabbing the top seeds. ESPN2 and ESPN3 will show up to 17 playoff games beginning Thursday, Sept. 15, including the best-of-five WNBA Finals.

Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals

• Top seeded in the Eastern Division, the Indiana Fever will face the No. 4 seed in the Western Division, the New York Liberty, to open ESPN2/ESPN3’s WNBA Playoff coverage on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. ET. The third game of the series, if necessary, will air from Indiana on Monday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m.;
• An always-anticipated Western Conference game, the No. 2 seed Seattle Storm will host the No. 3 seed Phoenix Mercury on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 10 p.m. The third game of the series, if necessary, will air from Seattle on Monday, Sept. 19, at 10 p.m.;
• In the Eastern Conference, ESPN2/ESPN3 will start with the second game between the No. 2 seed Connecticut Sun at the No. 3 seed Atlanta Dream on Sunday, Sept. 18, at 3 p.m.;
• The Minnesota Lynx, the top seed in the Western Division, will play at the No. 4 seed San Antonio Silver Stars in Game 2 on Sunday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m.

Eastern and Western Conference Finals

• ESPN2 and ESPN3 will have up to five games of the Conference Finals from Thursday, Sept. 22 – Tuesday, Sept. 27 in a best-of-three series.

WNBA Finals

• The WNBA Finals are scheduled to begin Sunday, Oct. 2, with a best-of-five format;
• As part of the celebration of its 15th season, the WNBA had its fans select the WNBA Top 15 Moments Presented by Boost Mobile. The top five greatest WNBA moments will be revealed during the ESPN2 telecasts of the WNBA Finals.

ESPN.com/espnW Full Playoff Coverage

ESPN.com and espnW will combine for comprehensive live coverage and analysis throughout the WNBA postseason.

• Rebecca Lobo, Mechelle Voepel and Michelle Smith will break down each series, including predictions from Voepel and Smith;
• New “3-pointers” video analysis from Voepel and Smith will preview each series;
• Features on all eight teams competing in the first round;
• Daily column from Voepel wrapping up each day’s action;
• Live coverage of the Conference Finals from Voepel and Smith;
• Additional game coverage for espnW by Graham Hays, Meri-Jo Borzilleri and Pat Borzi.

2011 WNBA Playoff Schedule (Subject to change)

* – if necessary
^ – if necessary – teams and Conference Finals to be determined

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