WNBA Playoffs First Round Game 1 recaps: Liberty stun Lynx, Aces roll past Fever, Valkyries dominate
The 2026 WNBA Playoffs' First Round kicked off this weekend with two Game 1 results that put the road teams in control of their series. The Liberty topped the Lynx 91-75, while the Aces crushed the Fever 102-85 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Both series now shift for Game 2, with the Fever hosting Las Vegas on Tuesday while New York and Minnesota await their next matchup.
Stewart's 34 points push Lynx to the brink
Breanna Stewart delivered 34 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists to send New York past Minnesota 91-75, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The Liberty won the first quarter, Minnesota answered in the second to grab a brief halftime lead, and New York took over in the second half to pull away for good.
Minnesota Lynx 75 - 91 New York Liberty · WNBA 2026-2027 · 27/09/2026
Leaders
| Minnesota Lynx | New York Liberty | |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | Nia Brodie 16 | Breanna Stewart 34 |
| REB | Olivia Miles 8 | Breanna Stewart 12 |
| AST | Kayla McBride 6 | Breanna Stewart 6 |
Team stats
| Minnesota Lynx | New York Liberty | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 41.8% | 50.8% |
| 3PTS | 9/26 | 13/25 |
| FT | 10/13 | 16/18 |
| REB | 23 | 38 |
| OREB | 5 | 5 |
Kayla McBride paced the Lynx with 14 points and 6 assists, but Minnesota never found enough offense to keep pace with Stewart and the Liberty. The result echoed New York's 93-81 regular-season win over Minnesota on September 18, a game already billed at the time as a possible playoff preview. With the Game 1 win, the Liberty now lead the series 1-0 and put the top-seeded Lynx in a hole they'll need to climb out of.
Wilson's 38-point night buries Indiana
A'ja Wilson turned in a dominant line of 38 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks as Las Vegas routed Indiana 102-85 to open their First Round series. The Aces pulled away in the second quarter and never let the Fever get within striking distance the rest of the way, cruising to a 17-point final margin.
Las Vegas Aces 102 - 85 Indiana Fever · WNBA 2026-2027 · 27/09/2026
Leaders
| Las Vegas Aces | Indiana Fever | |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | A’ja Wilson 38 | Aliyah Boston 18 |
| REB | A’ja Wilson 16 | Aliyah Boston 8 |
| AST | Jackie Young 10 | Caitlin Clark 10 |
Team stats
| Las Vegas Aces | Indiana Fever | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 59.4% | 44.8% |
| 3PTS | 9/19 | 12/31 |
| FT | 17/20 | 13/14 |
| REB | 31 | 24 |
| OREB | 5 | 8 |
It marked a rematch of last year's WNBA semifinals between the two clubs. The Fever now trail 1-0 in the best-of-three series and will look to even things up on their own floor. Indiana returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 2 on Tuesday, September 29, tipping off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Prime.
Valkyries blow past Wings behind Hayes-Williams surge
Golden State handed Dallas a 104-80 defeat at Chase Center, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the two clubs' best-of-three series. The Valkyries pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring the Wings 37-11 in that frame to build a halftime cushion they never let slip. Tiffany Hayes and Gabby Williams combined for 41 points and 8 assists to fuel the rout. The win completed a clean sweep of the season series for Golden State, which beat Dallas in all three regular-season meetings in 2026, two of them at Chase Center, the arena the Valkyries call "Ballhalla." Dallas will now try to regroup before Game 2 as Golden State looks to close things out.
What's next for both series
Both matchups now hinge on Game 2. The Fever get a quick turnaround and home-court comfort as they try to force a decisive Game 3 against Las Vegas. Minnesota, meanwhile, faces a tougher road: as the No. 1 seed, the Lynx will need to solve Stewart and the Liberty's offense to avoid an early playoff exit. No Game 2 date has been set yet for New York and Minnesota, but the Liberty will look to close out the series after Sunday's road statement in Minneapolis.
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