How to watch the 2017 WNBA Playoffs, which begin Wednesday

The WNBA playoffs will kick off this week, and the eight teams with the best winning percentage will collide in the postseason for a chance to win a WNBA championship.

Here are the eight squads that will lock horns in this year’s postseason: Minnesota Lynx, Los Angeles Sparks, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury, Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, and the Seattle Storm.

The new format put into place last season will again be in place this year. Rounds 1 and 2 are single-elimination, which means the two best teams — Los Angeles and Minnesota— will have two consecutive bye weeks. Connecticut and New York will receive one bye, but both teams will compete in the second single-elimination round. On the other hand, the semifinals and finals rounds are best-of-five series. There is a 2-2-1 format for the last two rounds as well.

For more information, read our piece that explains the new format.

Just like last year, Minnesota and Los Angeles are the two teams to beat in this tournament. The Lynx finished with a league-best 27-7 record and were 15-2 at home. The Sparks went 26-8 in the regular season and were 16-1 at home.

Los Angeles won the WNBA Championship last year after battling Minnesota for five games in the finals. The Sparks won because of a go-ahead basket by Nneka Ogwumike with seconds remaining on the clock. That shot capped off one of the most thrilling finals in WNBA history.

Round 1: Single elimination

Wednesday, Sept. 6: No. 7 Dallas at No. 6 Washington: (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Wednesday, Sept. 6: No. 8 Seattle at No. 5 Phoenix (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Round 2: Single elimination

Sunday, Sept. 10: Mercury/Storm at No. 4 Connecticut (3 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Sunday, Sept. 10: Wings/Mystics at No. 3 New York (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Semifinals: Five-game series with a 2-2-1 format

No. 1 Minnesota vs. TBD

Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 12 — TBD at Minnesota (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Game 2: Thursday, Sept. 14 — TBD at Minnesota (8 p.m., ESPN2)

Game 3: Sunday, Sept. 17

Game 4 (if necessary): Tuesday, Sept. 19

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, Sept. 21

No. 2 Los Angeles vs. TBD

Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 12 — TBD vs. Los Angeles (10 p.m., ESPN2)

Game 2: Thursday, Sept. 14 — TBD vs Los Angeles (10 p.m., on ESPN2)

Game 3: Sunday, Sept. 17

Game 4 (if necessary): Tuesday, Sept. 19

Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, Sept. 21

WNBA Finals: Five-game series with a 2-2-1 format (top seed will host)

Game 1: Sunday, Sept. 24

Game 2: Tuesday, Sept. 26

Game 3: Friday, Sept. 29

Game 4 (if necessary): Sunday, Oct. 1

Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, Oct. 4

Keep track of the postseason bracket here.