The WNBA playoffs are set and the Las Vegas Aces are going for back-to-back titles for the second time in five years.
The No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx and the rest of the field will, of course, have something to say about it. The Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Aces, Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings
and New York Liberty, seeded in that order, will all begin their postseason on Sunday, Sept. 27."At this point, everybody's record is zero and zero," Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark said postgame on Thursday.
"I'm excited. If you can't get up for the playoffs, then probably shouldn't be on this team. That's the great thing, you look at one through eight in this league right now [and] it's anybody's to take. We have to have the mentality
going into the playoffs of let's go steal the first one."
The Fever fell to the No. 6 seed after losing to the Lynx to close the season. They will play the defending champion Aces in the first round.
Here's USA TODAY Studio IX's breakdown of the all the first-round matchups:
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx (33-11)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +100
Reason for hope: The Minnesota Lynx rank top 5 in the league in offensive rating (112.3) and defensive rating (103.5), with the second-highest 3-point percentage (47.8). Rookie point guard Olivia Miles has been sensational, leading the team in scoring (19.8 points per game) and assists (6.0). All five of the Lynx’s starters are averaging double-digits and will have extra motivation facing off against the Liberty, who won the 2024 WNBA championship over Minnesota.
Reason for concern: The Lynx have been the top team all season long, but they’ve looked vulnerable heading into the postseason after dropping four of their final six regular-season games. Coach Cheryl Reeve pointed to the team’s defensive lapses, with Minnesota’s defensive rating (105.6) dropping to ninth in the league across the rough stretch. The Lynx’s starting unit has been fantastic, but with the lowest-scoring bench in the league (15.4), Minnesota won’t be able to outscore their mistakes and must shore up its defense.
Stat to know: Playing at home is a big incentive in the postseason, but Minnesota may be the only team indifferent about it. Sure, they secured the No. 1 overall seed and homecourt throughout the playoffs, but Minnesota actually has a better record on the road (18-4) than at home (15-7).
First-round outlook: All eyes will be on the availability of Olivia Miles. The Rookie of the Year frontrunner missed the Lynx’s last two games with a left calf injury that Reeve said recently “popped up.” Miles has scored double-digit points in all three matchups against the Liberty, including a 23-point, five-rebound performance in the Lynx’s 90-85 win over the Liberty on July 11.
No. 8 New York Liberty (26-18)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +1400
Reason for hope: New York’s Big 3 of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu have championship experience. The trio led the Liberty to the franchise’s first title over the Lynx in 2024, so they know what it takes to get over the mountain. The team also clinched the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, proving they are contenders. Can the Liberty turn it on when it matters most?
Reason for concern: The Liberty stumbled into the playoffs, dropping their final two games of the season to the Atlanta Dream by double-digits. Even more cause for concern, there’s question marks surrounding the status of Breanna Stewart (left knee soreness) and Jonquel Jones (left ankle). Stewart sat out the Liberty’s regular-season finale as a precaution and Jones exited early after twisting her ankle after stepping on a fan’s foot. Stewart and Jones are crucial to New York’s playoff run.
Stat to know: The Liberty have had 15 different starting lineups this season, the most of any playoff team, highlighting how injuries have impacted the Liberty’s season. Sabrina Ionesco has been limited to 31 games due to injury, Leonie Fiebich has played 21 and Satou Sabally 13 games before shutting down her season. Health is a big factor for the Liberty’s playoff hopes.
First-round outlook: New York Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said he’s not sure if Stewart's knee soreness will affect her availability in the postseason: “Hopefully she'll (be) ready." The Liberty needs Breanna Stewart in the lineup. Stewart had 36 points in the Liberty’s 99-86 win over the Lynx on July 3 and dropped a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Liberty’s 93-81 win over the Lynx on Sept. 18. Stewart leads the team in scoring (20.8 points per game), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.3).
No. 2 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 7 Dallas Wings
Golden State Valkyries (32-12)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +600
Reason for hope: By essentially any statistical metric, the Valkyries have the best defense in the WNBA, leading the league in defensive rating, points allowed and 3-point defense. If you believe in the mantra that defense wins championships, Golden State is a title contender. Additionally, they lead the WNBA in total 3-pointers made this season.
Reason for concern: While Golden State’s defense is incredible, there’s a lot to be desired on the other end of the floor. The Valkyries have the second-worst field goal percentage in the league and the third-worst points per scoring attempt mark. They’re also one of two teams — joining the Connecticut Sun — without a player averaging more than 14.5 points per game this season. The lack of an elite, go-to-scorer is worrisome.
Stat to know: Indeed, while the Valkyries don’t set the scoreboard on fire, they do take care of the basketball. Golden State averages the least amount of turnovers per game with 11.5 and also has the best turnover rate in the WNBA this season at 13.1%.
First-round outlook: Golden State will have homecourt advantage throughout the first two rounds in a building that leads the WNBA in attendance this season with an average crowd size north of 18,000. They have the best home record in the league at 17-5 and are 3-0 against the Wings this season with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points.
Dallas Wings (27-17)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +8000
Reason for hope: The Wings are playing with house money for the playoffs in coach Jose Fernandez’s first season. Two players with legitimate cases to get All-WNBA nods this season — Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard — lead a Wings team riding some solid momentum, having won seven of their last eight games. Ball movement is the key to the Wings’ success, as they lead the league in assists and assist-turnover ratio.
Reason for concern: The Wings are a bit banged up. No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd is done for the year and last season's Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith hasn’t played in nearly a month. Dallas has signed two guards from the Upshot League in recent weeks — Christyn Williams and Deja Kelly — and has had to lean on former role players like Maddy Siegrist and Awak Kuier. Another worrisome factor is their inability to get to the free-throw line, as they’ve attempted the third-least amount of free throws this season.
Stat to know: Jessica Shepard does it all. She leads the WNBA in triple-doubles this season with six, and she’s the only player in the history of the WNBA to average at least 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a single season.
First-round outlook: Dallas struggled in its matchups with Golden State this season, but the Wings haven’t faced the Valkyries in over a month — before they went on their surge after the FIBA break. If the Wings can keep this momentum rolling, upsetting the Valkyries isn’t impossible. Besides, is it really wise to bet against Bueckers in the postseason?
No. 3 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever
Las Vegas Aces (31-13)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +575
Reason for hope: There’s a reason Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers told Prime Video’s broadcast crew that the Aces turn into a “different animal come playoffs.” The reigning champions didn’t look bad in the regular season, but there are new levels of performance they can tap into on both sides of the ball and individually.
In addition to their postseason pedigree, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson showcased her health in the team’s regular-season finale against the Phoenix Mercury scoring 19 points in 19 minutes in the first quarter, en route to 34 points and 10 rebounds.
Reason for concern: When asked about what she liked in the Aces' win over the Mercury, Wilson said: "Our confidence. The ball was poppin'. The ball was moving. Everybody was rocking and rolling." That wasn’t true through the entirety of the game, as the Aces saw a 31-point lead cut down to nine midway through the fourth quarter. Therein lies the issue for the Aces, who can be a streaky. The team chalks this issue up to effort or mindset, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t something to worry about.
Stat to know: The Las Vegas Aces have a playoff record of 26–9 under head coach Becky Hammon. That’s a 74% winning percentage. Enough said.
First-round outlook: The Aces lost two of their games against the Fever in the regular season, with the lone win requiring overtime. Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was sidelined in one of those games and on a minutes restriction in another. Those contests might not be the best indicator of what this first-round matchup might look like, and the same could be said for the semifinals matchup between the teams last season. Although the Fever had the Aces on the brink of elimination back then, Clark wasn’t involved in that series as she was sidelined due to injury.
Indiana Fever (28-16)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +800
Reason for hope: For a shot of confidence concerning what the Fever can accomplish, look no further than the scorers on their roster. Caitlin Clark has arguably been the league’s best playmaker this season, tying Alyssa Thomas with a WNBA-high 8.5 assists per game. She's also the league’s No. 3 leading scorer with 22.8 points per game. Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitch joins Clark in the Fever’s historically effective backcourt. Having broken A'ja Wilson’s records for points in a season and longest streak of 20-point games (27), Mitchell is unstoppable. In the frontcourt, Aliyah Boston has been a real nuisance for Wilson, which could be key in this series.
Reason for concern: With all of that offensive excitement, the Fever are equally concerning defensively. They’re defensive rating of 108, the worst among playoff teams. Indiana was also 12th of the 15 WNBA teams in points allowed per game. If the saying is “defense wins championships” is true, the Fever are going to need a miracle to bring Indiana its first WNBA championship since 2012.
Stat to know: The Fever had the best offense in the entire WNBA this year. They ended the regular season with league-highs of 96 points per game and a 115 offensive rating.
First-round outlook: On paper, everything in the first-round against the Aces appears to be in the Fever’ favor. Out of all eight playoff teams, Las Vegas is the only one the Fever had a winning record against this season. A first-round storyline to watch will be the Fever's health. Clark has seemed generally free from the back injury that plagued her for parts of this season. Although Aliyah Boston exited the team’s blowout loss to the Lynx on Thursday, Fever coach Stephanie White said it was only a precaution. Meanwhile, the team is awaiting an update on guard Ty Harris, who also went down in the loss – her ankle injury was serious, as she had to be carried off the court.
No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 5 Washington Mystics
Atlanta Dream (30-14)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +850
Reason for hope: The Dream have a vaunted defense that causes disruption and exploits opposing teams at their weakest points. Offensively, their production is complementary with multiple scoring options, including Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada and Allisha Gray.
Reason for concern: Atlanta's slow starts have been a problem all season, as well as limited bench production. If either of those items become a thing, the Dream could be bounced early.
Stat to know: The Dream lead the league in team steals and have three players who also top the league list. Be careless with the basketball around them if you dare.
First-round outlook: After securing homecourt, the Dream have more than helped themselves. Now, the question remains: After a brutal first-round exit in 2025, can they make it out of the round in 2026?
Washington Mystics (28-16)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +4500
Reason for hope: The Mystics are full of young talent that does not quit. They punish teams with shots and bring suffocating defensive disruption. That kind of productivity goes a long way.
Reason for concern: Washington is really young. Only one player, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, has deep playoff and championship experience. That could come back to haunt them when the pressure and competition increase.
Stat to know: The Mystics finished the regular season with the third-best defense (103.2 defensive rating). Much of their defensive prowess starts and ends with players like Sonia Citron and Shakira Austin. Don't sleep on the Mystics.
First-round outlook: Washington has to weather Atlanta's physicality and fall behind when the Dream push pace. If it can do that, the Mystics could pull off a first-round upset.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 WNBA playoff preview: Breaking down every first-round matchup
