The 2026 WNBA playoffs are already rewriting the history books! The No. 8 seed New York Liberty just delivered a stunning two-game sweep, completely ousting the top-seeded Lynx, who entered the postseason as heavy title favorites. This isn’t just a big win; the Liberty became the very first No. 8 seed in WNBA history to knock off a No. 1 seed. Talk about a statement!
Valkyries Punch Their Ticket, Aces Shut Down Fever
While the Liberty were busy making history, the rest of the first round was pure fire. On Friday night, the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries fought tooth and nail to defeat the Dallas Wings 77-73 in a deciding Game 3. What a comeback, too! They were down by a massive 16 points in the second half. Gabby Williams, who only had two points in the first half, absolutely took over the fourth quarter, finishing with 19 points, four boards, two assists, and two steals to seal the deal. For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale dropped a playoff-record 45 points in their Game 2 overtime win (108-100), keeping their season alive for a moment, but her 30 points in Game 3 just weren’t enough.
Meanwhile, the No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces booked their semifinal spot with a 94-83 victory over the Fever in their own winner-take-all Game 3 showdown on Thursday. The Fever had kept their season alive with a home win in Game 2, which marked Caitlin Clark’s first playoff win, but they couldn’t recapture that magic on the road. Why? Because A’ja Wilson delivered another MVP performance: 36 points on 11-of-18 shooting, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. She’s just built different.
Semifinals Are SET After A Groundbreaking Season
So, the stage is set for the semifinals, and after that wild first round, who knows what’s going to happen next? The Valkyries now advance to face the Las Vegas Aces in a best-of-five series. In the other bracket, the No. 4 seed Dream will take on those history-making No. 8 seed New York Liberty. The Dream, by the way, swept the Mystics and are heading to the semifinals for the first time since 2018.
This thrilling start to the playoffs feels totally fitting for the 2026 WNBA season. It’s been groundbreaking from day one, on and off the court. We saw a contentious labor battle that ultimately led to a historic raise for the players, with the salary cap jumping from $1.5 million in 2025 to a whopping $7 million in 2026! And the players absolutely delivered in return, raising the bar every single week. Multiple regular-season records fell, with Caitlin Clark becoming the first player in WNBA history to notch a 40-point, 10-assist game, Angel Reese breaking the single-game rebounding record with 26, and Kelsey Mitchell passing A’ja Wilson’s single-season points record. This league is absolutely electric right now.
Get ready, because both semifinal series will tip off this Sunday! The Valkyries and Aces will battle it out in San Francisco, while the Liberty and Dream face off in Atlanta. You do not want to miss what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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