The WNBA playoffs for 2026 might be set when it comes to *who’s* in, but the seeding? Oh, that’s still a wild free-for-all, and our Seattle Storm could play a HUGE spoiler role tonight. Even though Saturday’s games featured three playoff teams fighting for position, it’s the Golden State Valkyries hosting our Storm that has massive implications for the top spot. Seriously, this is going to be good.
The Playoff Picture is Wild Right Now
Look, the top eight teams are locked in, but where they land could change everything for the first round. Right now, the Minnesota Lynx are holding strong at number one with a 31-10 record. Breathing down their neck are the Golden State Valkyries at 30-11, just one game back. Then you have the Las Vegas Aces at 28-13, followed by a tight race between the Atlanta Dream (27-14) and Indiana Fever (27-14). Dallas, New York, and Washington round out the bottom three, all fighting to avoid the top seeds. If the season ended today, you’d see the Lynx versus the Mystics, the Dream battling the Fever, the Valkyries taking on the Liberty, and the Aces facing the Wings. Total chaos, right?
Wings Make a Major Jump, Dream Also Fighting Hard
Saturday was a roller coaster, especially for the Dallas Wings. Led by superstar guard Paige Bueckers, the Wings pulled off a clutch 87-82 win against the Phoenix Mercury. That victory launched them from the #8 seed all the way up to #6, at least temporarily! Bueckers was unreal, dropping a game-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, plus five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Before the game, Dallas was looking at a brutal first-round matchup against the top-seeded Lynx. Now? They’re slated to face the reigning champs, the #3 Las Vegas Aces, led by four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. The Aces have won three of the last four titles, so that’s still a tough draw, but hey, it’s better than the Lynx! The Wings still have two games left, while the Liberty and Mystics each have three, so nothing is set in stone.
The Atlanta Dream have a big game too. If they beat the Chicago Sky tonight, they’ll stay fourth and get within a half-game of the third-place Aces. But if they lose? Poof, they drop to fifth, a half-game behind the Indiana Fever. Talk about high stakes!
Our Storm Could Be the Ultimate Playoff Spoilers
Here’s where it gets interesting for us Seattle fans. The Golden State Valkyries are set to host our very own Seattle Storm in the 9 p.m. ET game. This isn’t just any game for the Valkyries; it could decide their fate for the #1 seed. If Golden State pulls off a win against the Storm, they cut the Minnesota Lynx’s lead for the top spot from one game down to a tiny half-game. But get this: if the Valkyries lose to *last-place Seattle* tonight, they stay put at second, 1.5 games behind the Lynx and 1.5 games ahead of the Aces. Think about that for a second. Our Storm, even in last place, could seriously mess with who grabs that coveted top seed. You gotta tune in to see if our squad can play spoiler and make this seeding race even wilder!
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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