The 2026 WNBA Playoff Semifinals are officially locked in, and things are about to get absolutely wild. The Golden State Valkyries clinched their spot last Friday night with a tight 77-73 win over the Dallas Wings, setting up a blockbuster showdown with the Las Vegas Aces for a shot at the WNBA Finals. The other semifinal series is already set, featuring the Atlanta Dream and the New York Liberty, which promises an insane clash of styles.
Aces Hunting for Four, Valkyries Bring the Firepower
Talk about high stakes! The Las Vegas Aces are not just playing for a championship; they are hunting for their fourth title in five years. That’s dynasty-level stuff, and they are playing like it, too. Their offense has been incredibly efficient throughout the postseason, boasting a league-high 63.0 true shooting percentage in the playoffs. And then there’s A’ja Wilson. The four-time MVP absolutely went off in the first round against Indiana, averaging an absurd 32.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game on ridiculous 64.6/66.7/85.7 shooting splits. How do you even slow that down?
Well, the Golden State Valkyries are going to try! They’re not looking to match Wilson’s production with just one player. Instead, they’re leaning into their collective offensive approach, and it worked big time against Dallas. They had four different players hit double-digit scoring averages in that first round, with Gabby Williams leading the charge, dropping 25.0 points per game. Golden State is looking for a deep playoff run here, but they are going up against an Aces squad that is all about experience and winning. This series is gonna be a heavyweight battle.
Liberty’s Upset Win Sets Up Defensive Showdown with Dream
Over in the other bracket, the New York Liberty are riding high after pulling off a huge upset victory against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. That’s right, the top seed is out! Meanwhile, the Atlanta Dream punched their ticket to the semifinals by sweeping the Washington Mystics. So, we’ve got a seriously intriguing matchup on our hands.
The Liberty are powered by their dynamic duo, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. Stewart was an absolute force against Minnesota, dominating around the rim and firing away from behind the arc. Seriously, New York has been chucking up three-pointers, attempting 28.5 per game in the postseason, which ranks second in the entire league. And they’re hitting them, too, connecting on 40.4 percent of their triples in the playoffs. They’re going to need every one of those against Atlanta’s explosive guard tandem of Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, both of whom earned their fourth All-Star nods this season. But the real X-factor for the Dream is Angel Reese. She was just named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday, and Atlanta’s defense has been lockdown. Their 92.1 defensive rating in the playoffs is the absolute best in the league. Stewart vs. Reese in the frontcourt? Get ready for some fireworks!
This Sunday, October 4, Game 1s are hitting our screens. The Dream and Liberty kick things off at 2 p.m. ET on ABC, followed by the Aces and Valkyries at 4:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. A spot in the WNBA Finals is on the line, and you know these teams are leaving everything on the court!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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