What to expect for the 2026 WNBA Playoffs.
The 2026 WNBA playoffs are finally here! After a regular season filled with standout individual performances, surprising teams and a competitive race for playoff positioning, the league’s postseason starts this Sunday, Sept. 27.
The opening round features four best-of-three series, with the top four seeds hosting Game 1. From a rematch between two recent championship contenders to Golden State’s continued rise, there is no shortage of storylines heading into the first round.
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx will open the postseason against the New York Liberty in a matchup between two teams with recent championship experience.
Minnesota finished the regular season 33-11 and will look to Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride and Natasha Howard to lead the way. Rookie Olivia Miles has also been an important part of the Lynx’s success throughout the season.
The Liberty enter as the No. 8 seed but should not be overlooked. Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones give New York plenty of playoff experience, and the Liberty won the regular-season series 2-1.
With New York already showing it can challenge Minnesota, this series could provide an interesting test for the top seed.
Player to watch: Breanna Stewart
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 Dallas Wings
The Golden State Valkyries’ impressive rise continues into the postseason.
After reaching the playoffs in their inaugural season, the Valkyries followed that performance by finishing 32-12 and earning the No. 2 seed. Golden State built its success around one of the WNBA’s strongest defenses and a deep rotation.
The Dallas Wings, meanwhile, enter the playoffs after making one of the biggest improvements in the league. Dallas went from 10 wins in 2025 to 27 this season, with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale leading the offense.
Golden State won all three regular-season meetings, but Dallas’ offensive firepower could make this an interesting matchup.
Player to watch: Paige Bueckers
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
A rematch of last year’s semifinal series will headline the opening round as the Las Vegas Aces take on the Indiana Fever.
The defending champions enter the postseason playing some of their best basketball of the season, winning their final seven regular-season games. A’ja Wilson once again leads the way for Las Vegas, surrounded by veterans such as Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young.
Indiana brings one of the league’s most explosive offenses. Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell lead the Fever. Aliyah Boston is questionable to play due to a lower-leg injury. If she plays, she provides a major presence in the frontcourt.
The Fever won two of the three regular-season meetings, making this one of the first round’s most intriguing matchups.
Player to watch: A’ja Wilson
No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics
The Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics will meet in a matchup between two teams that made significant strides during the 2026 season.
Atlanta finished 30-14 and enters the playoffs on a five-game winning streak. Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray give the Dream a talented trio capable of impacting the game on both ends of the floor.
Washington enters as the No. 5 seed after improving from 16 wins last season to 28 this year. The young Mystics have been one of the league’s better defensive teams, led by players including Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin.
Washington won the regular-season series 2-1, setting up what could be a tightly contested series.
Player to watch: Angel Reese
The postseason begins
Each first-round series brings a different storyline, from Minnesota’s pursuit of another deep playoff run to Golden State’s continued rise and Las Vegas’ attempt to defend its championship.
With the first round being decided in a best-of-three format, there is little room for error. The 2026 WNBA playoffs are set to begin Sunday, and the road to the championship starts now.
