Race charts for every WNBA season from 1997 to 2026, 30 seasons in all: every conference race and playoff chase, each a day by day graph of games above .500 on one scale. Pick any season from the menu above.
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Clinch key
x
clinched a playoff place
Turning points
The lead changed hands 16 times.
The Atlanta Dream trailed by as many as 1.5 games on August 16, 2026.
The Atlanta Dream took first place for good on September 19, 2026.
The New York Liberty won 8 games in a row from May 27, 2026 to June 17, 2026, the longest run of the race.
The Indiana Fever led by 1.5 games as late as August 19, 2026.
The Atlanta Dream went 7-1 from August 20, 2026 to September 21, 2026, turning a deficit of 1.5 games into a lead of 1.5 games. That stretch runs either side of the World Cup break.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 99 of the 107 days played.
Five teams held or shared first place.
The Atlanta Dream spent 87 of the season's 140 charted days in first place. The season's charted days include the World Cup break.