Unrivaled Playoffs 2026: Schedule, Matchups, and What to Expect

The inaugural Unrivaled playoffs are set to begin Saturday, February 28, 2026, with a five-game, five-day postseason culminating in the championship game on Wednesday in Miami. A $600,000 prize pool will be split among the six players on the winning roster, a significant increase from the $50,000 per player awarded to the 2025 champions.

Playoff Format and Seeds

The top six teams – Phantom, Mist, Laces, Rose, Breeze, and Vinyl – have advanced to the playoffs. The Phantom and the Mist, as the top two seeds, received byes directly to the semifinals. The first round will feature single-elimination games: Vinyl versus Laces and Breeze versus Rose.

First Round Matchups

No. 6 Vinyl vs. No. 3 Laces (8:30 p.m. ET, truTV)

Vinyl and Laces split their regular season series. Vinyl secured a seven-point victory after Rae Burrell entered the starting lineup, scoring the game-winning basket. Burrell has been in strong form, with recent games of 24, 30, and 23 points, shooting 9-for-19 from three-point range. Despite the presence of WNBA All-Stars Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby, coach Teresa Weatherspoon has prioritized Burrell. Laces, known for their defensive physicality led by Alyssa Thomas, will likely focus on slowing down Burrell, potentially shifting focus to Hamby and Brittney Griner, who were efficient in their previous matchup against Laces.

No. 5 Breeze vs. No. 4 Rose (9:45 p.m. ET, truTV)

This matchup features a clash of MVP candidates Chelsea Gray and Paige Bueckers, as well as a battle of the bigs between Angel Reese and Shakira Austin against Cameron Brink and Dominique Malonga. Still, the outcome may hinge on the performances of Kahleah Copper and Lexie Hull for Rose, and Rickea Jackson and Courtney Williams for Breeze.

Rose tends to succeed when prioritizing defense, and Copper’s impact on that end will be crucial. If Copper struggles, Lexie Hull will be relied upon to provide energy and three-point shooting. For Breeze, Jackson’s two-way impact and Williams’ reliable ball-handling and playmaking will be key. Breeze secured a 25-point victory in their second meeting, with Bueckers and Jackson combining for 52 points.

Semifinals and Finals Schedule

• Semifinals (Monday, March 2; Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY):
• No. 1 Phantom vs. Lowest Remaining Seed (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, truTV, HBO Max)
• No. 2 Mist vs. Highest Remaining Seed (8:45 p.m. ET, TNT, truTV, HBO Max)
• Finals (Wednesday, March 4; Miami’s Sephora Arena):
• Semifinal Winners (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT, truTV, HBO Max)

The semifinals will mark the first time Unrivaled playoff games will be held outside of Miami, following a successful regular-season game in Philadelphia that sold out a 21,490-seat arena.