The WNBA’s 2026 regular season is over and the playoff bracket is locked in. The Minnesota Lynx claimed the No. 1 overall seed on Tuesday, September 23, finishing with a 33-11 record and home-court advantage throughout the postseason. The remaining seeds crystallized on Wednesday night as the Dream, Wings and Liberty all secured their positions on the final evening of play.
Eight teams will compete for the championship when the first round begins on Sunday, September 27. For the second consecutive year, the WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven series, a format introduced in 2025 that gave the league its longest championship round since the early 2000s.
The Bracket
The four first-round matchups, all best-of-three series, are:
**(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (8) New York Liberty** — A rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals, which the Lynx won in five games. Minnesota’s consistency this season, led by Kayla McBride and rookie point guard Olivia Miles, gives them home court throughout. New York, which struggled to find the form that carried it to consecutive Finals appearances, limped into the postseason at 26-18.
**(2) Golden State Valkyries vs. (7) Dallas Wings** — The Valkyries, in just their second season, earned the 2-seed at 32-12 — a remarkable ascent for a franchise that finished bottom of the league in its inaugural year. Dallas clinched the final playoff berth on August 25 with a 96-78 win over Portland and will open on the road.
**(3) Las Vegas Aces vs. (6) Indiana Fever** — The Aces, led by their core of A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, posted a 31-13 mark. Indiana, led by Caitlin Clark’s sophomore campaign, finished tied with Washington at 28-16 but earned the 6-seed on tiebreaker. This is Indiana’s first playoff appearance since 2016.
**(4) Atlanta Dream vs. (5) Washington Mystics** — Both teams finished 30-14 and 28-16 respectively, with Atlanta holding home-court advantage by virtue of its higher seed. The Dream were the surprise package of the second half, surging from a .500 team in June to clinch the 4-seed in September.
Schedule and Format
The first round tips off Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ABC when the Liberty visit Minneapolis. The full first-round slate:
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Liberty at Lynx (ABC), Fever at Aces (ABC), Mystics at Dream (Prime), Wings at Valkyries (USA)
- Tuesday, Sept. 29: Aces vs. Fever (Prime), Lynx vs. Liberty (USA/CNBC)
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: Dream vs. Mystics (ESPN), Valkyries vs. Wings (ESPN)
- Thursday–Friday, Oct. 1–2: Potential Game 3s
The semifinals begin October 4, with the best-of-five series running through October 14 if necessary. The Finals open October 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with Game 2 set for October 19. The latest possible conclusion is October 31, Game 7.
Key Storylines
The Lynx’s dominance was the defining narrative of the regular season. McBride scored 33 points in a crucial September win over Seattle and rookie Olivia Miles added 32 in the same game, showcasing a veteran-youth blend that few teams can match. Head coach Cheryl Reeve now has the deepest roster she has worked with since the dynasty years of the mid-2010s.
The Valkyries’ rise from expansion franchise to legitimate contender is the league’s other major subplot. Their 32-12 record represents the best season-two performance in WNBA history.
Game 1 of the Lynx-Liberty series on Sunday will be the marquee opener, pitting the league’s best record against the team that pushed them hardest in last year’s championship round.
Sources
- https://www.nbcsports.com/wnba/news/2026-wnba-playoffs-full-schedule-bracket-matchups-dates-preview
- https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/wnba-playoffs-2026-tracker-final-standings-playoff-bracket-clinch-scenarios-schedule-and-more-185655613.html
