The 2026 WNBA playoffs are set to begin on Sunday, September 27th, featuring eight elite teams battling in best-of-three first-round series. The playoff bracket highlights a mixture of dominant powerhouses and rising contenders, promising an intense postseason.
Claiming the top seed early with an impressive 33-11 record, the Minnesota Lynx will open their campaign on home court against the No. 8 New York Liberty. The Liberty, champions in 2024, have struggled this season, finishing with a 26-18 record and grappling with an injury-riddled roster that pushed them down to the bottom of the playoff bracket.
Meanwhile, one of the most intriguing matchups pairs the No. 3 Las Vegas Aces against the No. 6 Indiana Fever. The Aces, reigning champions in three of the last four seasons, enter the playoffs bolstered by MVP frontrunner A’ja Wilson. The Fever, armed with the league’s highest-scoring offense led by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, have shown offensive firepower but face questions about their defensive consistency.
Examining the Middle of the Bracket: Seeds 4 through 8
The mid-tier matchups promise closely contested battles, starting with No. 4 Atlanta Dream hosting the No. 5 Washington Mystics. Atlanta’s squad, featuring stars such as Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray, will face a young and energetic Mystics team led by Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin. This pairing is widely regarded as the tightest contest of the opening round.
The final first-round game of the day will see the No. 7 Dallas Wings take on the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries under the lights. Dallas returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2023, propelled by the efforts of Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale. The Valkyries, holding the No. 2 seed, pose a significant challenge as they aim to advance deeper into the postseason.