The 2026 WNBA playoffs are here!
The four best-of-three first-round series tipped off with a statement win from the eighth-seeded New York Liberty over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. Then the No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces, led by MVP frontrunner A'ja Wilson, blew out the 6-seed Indiana Fever. Later, the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream took down the fifth-seeded Washington Mystics, before the No. 2-seeded Golden State Valkyries earned a statement win -- their first in the WNBA playoffs -- against the 7-seed Dallas Wings.
ESPN experts Myron Medcalf, Kareem Copeland, Michael Voepel and Kendra Andrews dissect how each game was won as well as keys for the rest of the first round of the playoffs and beyond.
MORE: Playoff predictions | Strengths, flaws for every team |
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(8) New York Liberty 91, (1) Minnesota Lynx 75
How the game was won: Despite an up-and-down season that ultimately led to the eighth seed in the WNBA playoffs, the Liberty still have one of the best players in basketball history. Breanna Stewart's run of dominance continued against the Lynx with a 34-point, 12-rebound effort -- her third career 30-point playoff double-double. But her impact doesn't show up just in the box score; it shows up in all of the defensive issues she creates for opponents. Case in point: Early in the third quarter, Minnesota's Napheesa Collier, Natasha Howard and Nia Brodie (4-for-5 from the 3-point line) each had four fouls. They were hesitant on defense, and Stewart capitalized. Despite drawing extra defenders, she created more looks for herself and her teammates on the perimeter (the Liberty made 52% of their shots from beyond the arc). Nine days after beating the Lynx by 12 points in Minneapolis, the Liberty did it again, more dominantly.
What it means for the Liberty: The Liberty won Game 1 behind a strong effort from Stewart, who creates matchup problems for everyone on the floor. If she can continue to be an effective presence in the paint against the Lynx (she has averaged 20.9 points per game against the franchise during her career), she'll create more opportunities for teammates, as the Lynx can't afford to put just one defender on her. Leonie Fiebich, who had scored 10 points combined in the final four games of the regular season, was a surprising beneficiary of the attention the Lynx put on Stewart on Sunday. She finished with 16 points (4-for-5 from beyond the arc).
One area to watch for the Liberty: They could have been more effective defending the 3-point line early in the game. The Lynx stayed alive because they had open looks from the perimeter. On Sunday, however, New York looked like the better team.
Who needs to step up for Minnesota? The favorites to win the 2026 WNBA title, the Lynx are on the brink of elimination and have to avoid the foul trouble that plagued them Sunday. They can't afford to have Howard and Collier in foul trouble. But the biggest X factor in Game 2 (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET) will be AP Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles. All season, Minnesota played its best basketball with Miles as the maestro. But on Sunday, she looked like a rookie in her first WNBA playoff game. She was looking for chances to impact the game rather than taking control -- which is how she'd helped keep the Lynx at the top of the regular-season standings while Collier recovered from injury -- and ultimately finished with 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting. If Miles isn't the Miles she has been all season in her phenomenal rookie campaign, the Lynx could go home much earlier than anyone anticipated. -- Myron Medcalf
(3) Las Vegas Aces 102, (6) Indiana Fever 85
How the game was won: The A'ja Wilson takeover set the tone on both ends of the floor from the start, and the rest of the Aces followed along. Wilson scored 22 points in the first half, winning one-on-one matchups with Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. Only one of those three actually plays Wilson's position, demonstrating her continued ability to go against all five positions on the floor. Overall, she finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. The four-time MVP is the first player in WNBA postseason history to have 20-plus points, three-plus blocks and two-plus steals in a half, and the first player in WNBA history -- regular season or postseason -- with 35 points, 15 rebounds and a 75% FG.
There's a world in which teams let Wilson get hers and try to contain everyone else, but Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young weren't having any of that. Gray put up 14 points and eight assists while Young added 21 points and 10 assists.
Throughout the regular season, the Fever leaned on Mitchell and Clark, the highest-scoring duo in a single season in league history, to pace the highest-scoring offense in league history. But nothing came easy for the duo, with Clark scoring 15 points and Mitchell 12, and together they shot 10-for-33 from the field. Boston, who was listed as questionable with a lower leg injury before the game, scored 18 points and had eight rebounds and four assists.
Whereas the Aces were able to keep the Fever's big three from running wild, Indiana could not do the same in return.
What it means for the Aces: The Aces had dealt with injuries throughout the season, which contributed to a lack of depth. Sunday proved that as long as Wilson, Young and Gray are on the court, any title hopes must go through the defending champs. Wilson remains the best player on the planet on both ends, even if her regular-season defensive metrics seemed to indicate she took a step back on that end of the floor.
Winning Game 1 is crucial in a three-game series, and the Aces are now guaranteed the opportunity to close out at home if Indiana manages to defend its home court on Tuesday.
What must Indiana do to win Game 2? As has been the case all season, the Fever have to figure out a way to get stops. The Aces scored 62 points in the first half (on gaudy 64.9% shooting from the field), including 35 in the second quarter. Those 62 points tied for the second most the Fever have allowed in any half this season. Indiana simply had no answer for the opposing big three, as Wilson, Gray and Young scored all but seven of the Aces' points in the second quarter. In the regular season, the Fever ranked 11th in points allowed and eighth in defensive rating. They've got to figure out a way to at least slow Las Vegas. -- Kareem Copeland
(4) Atlanta Dream 92, (5) Washington Mystics 77
How the game was won: The Dream didn't just win the third quarter, they dominated it -- and that changed the game. Trailing 41-36 at halftime, Atlanta shot just 29% from the field in the first half. The Dream were too often playing into the heart of Washington's defense and forcing shots. That changed with the Dream's first basket of the second half, when Naz Hillmon cut to the lane for a driving layup.
It was the kind of look the Dream needed, and the turnaround followed. Atlanta outscored the Mystics 29-12 in the third quarter, led by DeWanna Bonner's 11 points. The guard-forward played most of this season with Phoenix and joined Atlanta in late August, after the Mercury bought out her contract to allow Bonner another chance at the playoffs. Bonner, 39, filled the role of savvy veteran against the Mystics, which is exactly why the Dream wanted her. In the fourth quarter, the Mystics got as close as seven at 81-74, with 3:26 left. But the Dream were not going to let this one get away.
What it means for the Dream: The Dream haven't advanced past the first round since 2018, when they lost to Washington in the semifinals; they lost in the first round the past three years and missed the playoffs the four years before that.
During the regular season, Atlanta won the first matchup with Washington, but the Mystics won the next two. The Dream know how dangerous Washington can be. In Wednesday's Game 2 in Washington, the Dream want to step on the gas from the start -- not wait until the third quarter to feel comfortable. They played well defensively Sunday, with 16 steals to Washington's two, and thrived on offense. Rhyne Howard led five Atlanta scorers in double figures with 26 points. The No. 1 pick in 2022, Howard has been part of the Dream teams that have been tripped up in the first round the past three years. She wants to avoid that fate this time.
Who needs to step up for Washington? Most of the Washington players had never appeared in the WNBA playoffs before Sunday, including three starters. Yet the Mystics didn't look rattled in the first half, taking advantage of Atlanta's mistakes and being the more aggressive team. That edge slipped away in the third quarter, when the Dream took control. Turnovers were part of the problem: Washington finished with 22 to Atlanta's seven. The Mystics must limit the giveaways, but they also can't play timidly in Game 2. There are good things to build on from Game 1, including Sonia Citron's 25 points and double-doubles from Kiki Iriafen (15 points, 14 rebounds) and Shakira Austin (12, 16). -- Michael Voepel
(2) Golden State Valkyries 104, (7) Dallas Wings 80
How the game was won: Golden State hit 16 3-pointers and shot 48.5% from beyond the arc to get there. Cecilia Zandalasini knocked down four 3s, and Tiffany Hayes added three. Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton each got two. It was one of the best offensive nights the Valkyries have had in 2026. Of course, they say this started on the defensive end -- and to that point, they did lock Dallas down. Paige Bueckers got 21 points in her playoff debut, but no other Wings player finished with more than 11. The Valkyries held the Wings to 30% from 3 on 6-of-20 shooting.
What it means for the Valkyries: Going on the road with a 1-0 advantage in a best-of-three series is huge for Golden State. The Valkyries also know they went 3-0 against Dallas during the regular season, including a game in Texas. Even if the Valkyries' offense doesn't translate to such a high shooting clip in Game 2, Golden State can attempt to replicate a defensive effort that kept any Wings player outside of Bueckers from getting hot. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase has said defending Bueckers is a team effort, and it was in Game 1. But even if Bueckers gets her points and Golden State can keep everyone else quiet, the Valkyries can sweep the series.
What must the Wings do to win Game 2? For the Wings to push this series to three games, Bueckers will need to get more help. She became the first player in WNBA history to shoot 90% or better in a 20-point performance in her playoff debut. But the Wings' bench stayed cold, and they'll need more from Maddy Siegrist, Jessica Shepard and Arike Ogunbowale, who combined for 21 points after Shepard was held scoreless. -- Kendra Andrews