The Golden State Valkyries just threw down a ridiculous 16-point comeback against the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night, ripping the No. 2 seed right out of their hands and officially setting the WNBA playoff bracket. Fans don’t have to wait long, because the best-of-three first round tips off this Sunday.
This Season Has Been Absolutely Electric
Seriously, this 2026 WNBA season has been historic, on and off the court. We saw a contentious labor battle end with a massive raise for players, pushing the salary cap from $1.5 million in 2025 all the way up to $7 million this year. That led to a wild, condensed offseason, two brand-new expansion teams, and a crop of rookies that have been incredible. Olivia Miles is already proving to be a generational talent, breaking Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record.
The record books got absolutely torched this year. Kelsey Mitchell blew past A’ja Wilson’s single-season points record. Caitlin Clark became the first player ever in the WNBA to drop a 40-point, 10-assist game. Angel Reese smashed the single-game rebounding record with 26 boards. And Marina Mabrey? She tied the single-game scoring record with an insane 53 points. From start to finish, this league has been pure fire.
First-Round Matchups Are Locked In
So, after all that chaos and excitement, the top eight teams are set, and the playoff format is simple: no conferences, just the best eight squads fighting it out. The first round is a best-of-three series, with the higher seed getting to host Game 1 and, if needed, the decider. The tension is already through the roof.
Here’s who’s clashing this Sunday for Game 1 action (all times ET):
* At 2 p.m., the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx will host the No. 8 New York Liberty in a rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals. You know that’s going to be spicy.
* The No. 3 Las Vegas Aces kick off their title defense against the No. 6 Indiana Fever at 4 p.m.
* Then, at 7 p.m., the No. 4 Atlanta Dream welcome the No. 5 Washington Mystics to town.
* And finally, at 9 p.m., our comeback queens, the No. 2 Valkyries, will host the No. 7 Dallas Wings.
Get ready, because a thrilling month of hoops starts Sunday. The second round moves to a best-of-five format, and the Finals will be a best-of-seven series for only the second time in league history. This is going to be epic.
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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