2026 WNBA playoffs first-round preview: breaking down all four series
The 2026 WNBA playoffs opened Sunday, September 27, with all four best-of-three first-round series getting underway on the same day. The bracket pits the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx against the No. 8 New York Liberty, the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries against the No. 7 Dallas Wings, the No. 3 Las Vegas Aces against the No. 6 Indiana Fever, and the No. 4 Atlanta Dream against the No. 5 Washington Mystics, according to ESPN. Every series follows the 1-1-1 format, meaning the higher seed gets home-court advantage for Games 1 and 3. Here's a breakdown of what to watch in each matchup.
Lynx and Liberty open with a health question mark hanging over Minnesota
Minnesota finished the regular season 33-11, first in the Western Conference, but the top seed enters the playoffs after a season in which Napheesa Collier played only 38 games following offseason surgeries on both ankles. Minnesota rested her against Washington on August 21, her first missed game since July 20. Collier then suited up for Team USA at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 in September, playing all the way through the final against France. She averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds across the tournament and scored 19 points in the quarterfinal rout of Hungary, a 108-56 win.
Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty) - Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx) · WNBA 2026-2027
| Breanna Stewart | Napheesa Collier | |
|---|---|---|
| GP | 42 | 16 |
| PTS | 20.8 | 16.8 |
| REB | 8.3 | 6.9 |
| AST | 3.3 | 2.6 |
| STL | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| BLK | 1.3 | 0.9 |
The Lynx have leaned instead on Olivia Miles (18.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists), Kayla McBride (17.6 points) and Natasha Howard (14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds) to carry the load. New York counters with Breanna Stewart (20.3 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Jonquel Jones (14.2 points, 8.9 rebounds), plus Sabrina Ionescu at 12.6 points and 4.1 assists across 36 games. The Liberty's depth up front gives them a puncher's chance, but Minnesota's balanced scoring and superior seed should be enough. Prediction: Lynx advance.
Valkyries lean on Gabby Williams as Dallas plays shorthanded
Golden State secured the No. 2 seed in the final days of the regular season, according to CBS Sports, and the Valkyries bring a deep, balanced rotation into their series with Dallas. Gabby Williams (13.7 points, 3.1 rebounds) and Janelle Salaün (12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds) lead the scoring, while Veronica Burton runs the offense with 12.2 points and 5.7 assists per game across all 44 contests. Kiah Stokes anchors the interior with 5.8 rebounds a night.
Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries) - Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings) · WNBA 2026-2027
| Gabby Williams | Paige Bueckers | |
|---|---|---|
| GP | 39 | 42 |
| PTS | 14.4 | 20.9 |
| REB | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| AST | 2.2 | 5.9 |
| STL | 1.6 | 1 |
| BLK | 0.2 | 0.4 |
Dallas counters with its own star duo in Paige Bueckers, who topped the Wings in scoring at 20.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists, and Arike Ogunbowale at 15.3 points. Jessica Shepard posted 14.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists. But Dallas is dealing with significant attrition: No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd, who averaged 12.3 points in 32 games, is out for the remainder of the season. Alanna Smith was affected by an injury at the World Cup, according to Swish Appeal. That depletes Dallas's rotation right when it needs everyone available. Prediction: Valkyries advance.
Aces carry A'ja Wilson into a series shadowed by Clark's back
Las Vegas enters as the No. 3 seed behind A'ja Wilson's 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, the best scoring average among the players listed here. Jackie Young adds 18.9 points and 6.8 assists, while Chelsea Gray runs the offense at 12.0 points and 6.7 assists. That trio gives
A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) - Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever) · WNBA 2026-2027
| A’ja Wilson | Kelsey Mitchell | |
|---|---|---|
| GP | 41 | 44 |
| PTS | 26.2 | 24.7 |
| REB | 9.4 | 1.7 |
| AST | 3.2 | 2.8 |
| STL | 1.4 | 1 |
| BLK | 1.9 | 0.1 |
Las Vegas as much firepower as any team in the bracket. Indiana counters with Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever's top scorer at 24.7 points per game, and Caitlin Clark, who posted 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists across 43 games. But Clark was named on Indiana's injury report ahead of Game 1 against Las Vegas for a chronic back issue, according to Yardbarker, a report confirmed by Yahoo Sports. Clark has been managing the lingering back injury for weeks and has continued to play through it, according to ItsGame7, but any limitation on her workload would be a major blow against a Las Vegas team this deep. Aliyah Boston's 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds give Indiana a reliable third scorer regardless. Prediction: Aces advance.
Dream's rebounding edge meets Mystics' frontcourt duo
Atlanta enters as the No. 4 seed with Allisha Gray leading the way at 19.0 points per game, followed by Rhyne Howard at 17.7 points and 34.2 minutes a night, the heaviest minutes load among Atlanta's main contributors listed here. Angel Reese anchors the paint with 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds, the best rebounding average among the players listed here.
Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream) - Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream) · WNBA 2026-2027
| Allisha Gray | Angel Reese | |
|---|---|---|
| GP | 44 | 43 |
| PTS | 19 | 16.4 |
| REB | 3.5 | 12.1 |
| AST | 2.7 | 2.8 |
| STL | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| BLK | 0.4 | 0.7 |
Jordin Canada distributes at 7.1 assists per game, giving Atlanta a genuine playmaking hub. Washington counters with its own frontcourt strength in Shakira Austin (16.6 points, 9.3 rebounds) and Kiki Iriafen (14.2 points, 9.0 rebounds), a pairing that could make life difficult on the glass for Atlanta despite Reese's presence. Sonia Citron adds 15.6 points and 4.1 assists, while Georgia Amoore steadies the backcourt with 3.4 assists per game. The matchup shapes up as a battle in the paint, with Atlanta's higher seed and Howard's scoring punch giving the Dream the edge in a series that could turn on rebounding margins. Prediction: Dream advance.
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