WNBA playoff field set, Liberty luck out with final berth

The New York Liberty clinched the WNBA's eighth and final playoff berth after both the Washington Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks lost their final regular-season games on Sunday.

With that, the 2021 playoffs are officially set:

Final standings

* Double bye to semifinals
^ Single bye to second round
x Eliminated

Here's how the postseason will play out in the weeks ahead:

Round 1

The first round of single-elimination games will begin on Thursday, Sept. 23.

• No. 8 Liberty at No. 5 Mercury
• No. 7 Wings at No. 6 Sky

Round 2

The second single-elimination round will take place Sunday, Sept. 26.

• Lowest remaining seed from Round 1 at No. 3 Lynx
• Highest remaining seed from Round 1 at No. 4 Storm

Semifinals

The two best-of-five semifinal series will begin Tuesday, Sept. 28.

• Lowest remaining seed from Round 2 vs. No. 1 Sun
• Highest remaining seed from Round 2 vs. No. 2 Aces

Finals

The 2021 WNBA Finals will pit the winners of the two semifinals against each other in a best-of-five series. Game 1 will tip off Sunday, Oct. 10, with a possible Game 5 slated for Tuesday, Oct. 19.