The 2026 WNBA playoffs tipped off on Sunday, September 27, with opening-round Game 1s featuring upsets and blowout performances across the league. Eight teams entered the postseason bracket following a historic season that saw multiple scoring records fall. The WNBA postseason features three rounds, with the first round being a best-of-three, the semifinals being best-of-five, and the WNBA Finals stretching to a best-of-seven format.
Breanna Stewart and the Liberty Stun Top-Seeded Lynx
The eighth-seeded New York Liberty pulled off a statement opening upset on Sunday, defeating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 91-75. The 2026 regular season was arguably the quietest Liberty star Breanna Stewart had since entering the league in 2016, as she rarely factored into the MVP race and her team slipped to eighth in the standings with a 26-18 record compared to Minnesota’s 33-11 regular-season mark. Energized by the widespread doubts directed at New York, the eight-time All-Star delivered a stellar performance in the 91-75 upset over the Lynx, racking up 34 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Her effort marked her third career 30-point playoff double-double in a rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals.
Analyses of how each victory was achieved, along with crucial factors for the remainder of the first round and beyond, were broken down by ESPN analysts Myron Medcalf, Kareem Copeland, Michael Voepel and Kendra Andrews. The opening round’s quartet of best-of-three matchups began with an 8-seeded New York Liberty squad delivering a statement victory against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.
A’ja Wilson and the Aces Overpower the Fever
In Las Vegas, the No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces, led by MVP frontrunner A’ja Wilson, began their title defense by crushing the 6-seeded Indiana Fever 102-85. Throughout this year’s campaign, multiple regular-season benchmarks were shattered, beginning with Caitlin Clark making history as the first WNBA player to post a 40-point, 10-assist game, followed by Angel Reese setting a new single-game rebounding mark with 26, and Kelsey Mitchell eclipsing A’ja Wilson’s record for points in a single season. The WNBA Playoffs tip off on Sunday, Sept. 27, featuring the league’s top eight squads: the 1-seed Minnesota Lynx, defending champion Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Washington Mystics and Golden State Valkyries.
Atlanta and Golden State Secure Opening Victories
Later, the No. 4 Atlanta Dream took down the No. 5 Washington Mystics 92-77 before the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries earned a statement win — their first in the WNBA playoffs — against the Dallas Wings with a 104-80 final score. The No. 7 Dallas Wings and No. 2 Golden State Valkyries kicked off their 2026 WNBA Playoffs Round 1 series on Sunday, September 27, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Wings vs. Valkyries Game 1 aired live on USA Network, and can be streamed with a free trial of DIRECTV. Having taken all three games of their regular-season meetings, the No. 2-seeded Golden State Valkyries head into the postseason following an impressive sophomore campaign anchored by stifling defense—ranking near the top of the league in points conceded and defensive rating—while simultaneously emerging as one of the premier three-point shooting threats in the WNBA.
First-Round Game 2 Schedule and Elimination Stakes
The 2026 WNBA playoffs are here, and the four best-of-three first-round series have provided an immediate jolt of drama. Fans can watch the 2026 WNBA Playoffs live online when games run through October 31 if the WNBA Finals goes to seven games. TV channels broadcasting the postseason include ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBC, NBC Sports Network, USA Network, and CNBC, with online streaming options across DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Fubo, Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN Unlimited, and WNBA League Pass. Given the WNBA’s long-standing tradition of drawing star-studded crowds, spectators can anticipate a strong celebrity presence at upcoming matches, continuing a trend where notable film stars, television actors, and music icons regularly turn out to support teams, alongside dedicated fans like Jason Sudeikis and Aubrey.
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