The first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs tips off Sunday, September 27, with the Minnesota Lynx locking down the No. 1 seed at 33-11. The Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces round out the top three after finishing 32-12 and 31-13, respectively.
Let’s break down the Round One matchups and look at the updated WNBA odds on DraftKings Sportsbook!
Playoff Picture – First Round
Sunday, September 27
- Game 1: No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 8 Liberty
- Game 1: No. 2 Valkyries vs. No. 7 Wings
- Game 1: No. 3 Aces vs. No. 6 Fever
- Game 1: No. 4 Dream vs. No. 5 Mystics
Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty
New York opened the season as the favorite to win the WNBA Championship. Now, the Liberty enter the postseason as the No. 8 seed and have to go through the current favorite, Minnesota, in the first round.
Plain and simple, the Lynx set themselves up for this run back in the 2026 WNBA Draft when they selected Olivia Miles No. 2 overall. The rookie has looked like a seasoned vet from the jump, averaging 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while driving one of the league’s best offenses. Minnesota also brings a defense that can make any matchup uncomfortable, finishing fourth in defensive rating, second in steals, while having the rim protection of Natasha Howard to clean up mistakes. Add in the consistent scoring of Kayla McBride and a healthy Napheesa Collier, who returned from injury to average 17.5 points per game, and Minnesota has a roster built to make a deep run.
New York still has championship DNA, though, even after locking in the No. 8 seed with 26 wins. Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones have carried the Liberty to a top-five offense, while Pauline Astier stepped into a larger role with Satou Sabally limited to 13 games. The Liberty have enough veteran talent to make this series interesting, especially if Stewart and Jones can establish themselves early and make Miles work on both ends.
Pick: MIN vs. NY Exact Number of Games: 3 (+100)
Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings
Golden State caught momentum early in the season and never let go. The Valkyries enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed behind the league’s best defense, allowing only 78.8 points per game with a 99.1 defensive rating. That defense is their identity: Golden State can turn a game ugly, take away easy looks, and rely on its depth to keep the pressure on for 40 minutes.
However, the Valkyries do have questions offensively. They averaged 82.3 points per game, 13th in the league, and leaned heavily on the three-ball. Golden State took the most threes in the WNBA and made the most per game, but finished sixth in efficiency. If Dallas can run them off the line and make them find points inside the arc, the Wings can keep things close.
Dallas is back in the postseason after two years away, and the Wings have built a roster that can be dangerous. Paige Bueckers is the engine, Arike Ogunbowale gives them another scorer who can get hot quickly, and Jessica Shepard has been one of the most important players in the league. Shepard averaged a 14.5-point, 11.1-rebound double-double while adding 5.3 assists per game, giving Dallas a steady presence on the glass and a connector in the offense.
For Dallas, the formula is clear. The Wings need to attack the basket, control the glass, and make this series physical. But, the Valkyries’ defense and depth still make them the tougher side to trust.
Pick: Series Winner: Golden State Valkyries (-425)
Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever
If there’s one thing the Fever don’t have to worry about, it’s generating offense. Indiana enters the postseason with the league’s best offensive rating, led by a healthy Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Clark averaged 22.8 points and 8.5 assists per game, while Mitchell finished second in the league in scoring at 25.0 points per game. Mitchell has become one of the hardest perimeter players to guard, and when she and Clark are both rolling, Indiana can put up points in a hurry.
The issue for the Fever is on the other end. Indiana has been vulnerable defensively, allowing 90-plus points per game and ranking ninth in defensive rating. Turnovers have also been a problem; against Las Vegas, empty possessions will be costly. The Fever need their offense to be on from the opening tip because the Aces have too much firepower to give away extra chances.
Las Vegas enters the postseason on a seven-game winning streak and looks ready to make another run at the crown. A’ja Wilson is still playing otherworldly basketball, leading the league with 26.0 points per game while adding 9.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Jackie Young is having the best season of her career, and Chelsea Gray remains the steady veteran presence who can control a game when things get tight.
The Aces have the edge in shooting efficiency, rim protection, and taking care of the ball. Indiana has enough offense to make this a real series, especially if Clark and Mitchell get hot from deep, but Las Vegas has the personnel to match scoring with scoring and make the Fever work for every look.
Pick: Series Winner: Las Vegas Aces (-170)
Atlanta Dream vs. Washington Mystics
Atlanta enters the postseason red-hot. The Dream won their final five games while averaging 95.2 points per game during that stretch, and are one of the best two-way teams in the league. Atlanta finished fourth in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating, making it one of only two teams to rank inside the top five in both categories.
Angel Reese is a major reason why this team has been so tough, leading the league in rebounds per game and giving Atlanta another physical presence around the rim. Allisha Gray is having arguably her best scoring season, averaging 19.0 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting, while Rhyne Howard adds 17.7 points and 2.3 steals per game. The Dream lead the league in steals and create nearly 20 percent of their points off turnovers, which is a problem for any young team trying to settle into its first playoff series.
Washington is young, but the Mystics have enough talent to make this matchup a battle. They lead the league in rebounds per game and allow just 82.5 points per game, the second-lowest mark in the WNBA. Shakira Austin has been the star of the group, leading Washington with 17.2 points per game, while Kiki Iriafen nearly averaged a double-double with 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds. Sonia Citron rounds out the young core.
The concern for Washington is scoring depth. The Mystics finished 12th in offensive rating, so they will need their defense and rebounding to keep games in reach. This series will come down to whether Washington can handle Atlanta’s pressure without feeding the Dream easy transition looks.
Pick: Series Correct Score: Atlanta Dream 2-1 (+165)
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