The Minnesota Lynx are rolling into the 2026 WNBA Playoffs as the top seed for the second year straight. But after not even making it to the finals last year, everyone’s asking: can they actually seal the deal this time around? The tournament kicks off this Sunday, September 27th, and is set to run all the way through October 31st if we go the distance with seven finals games.
The Playoff Field Is Set: Who’s In?
Eight teams are locked in for the postseason, all fighting for that championship trophy. The Lynx hold that number one spot, but the competition is stacked. They are joined by the Golden State Valkyries, the Atlanta Dream, the Indiana Fever, the New York Liberty, the Washington Mystics, and the Dallas Wings. And of course, you cannot forget last year’s champions, the Las Vegas Aces, who are definitely looking to defend their title. It’s a loaded field, and every single one of these squads thinks they have what it takes to hoist the trophy. This best-of-three first round is gonna be intense right from tip-off.
Don’t Miss a Second: How to Catch the Action
Good news, sports fans: catching all the playoff drama is easier than ever. This year’s WNBA playoff tournament is airing across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBC, and USA. If you are looking to stream, you can grab a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue plan, which includes those channels and more than 40 additional options. Just a heads-up for some first round games: a select few will stream exclusively on Prime Video, so make sure you are ready for that.
The first round gets spicy this Sunday, September 27th, with four massive Game 1 matchups:
- 2 p.m. ET: New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx (ABC)
- 4 p.m. ET: Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces (ABC)
- 7 p.m. ET: Washington Mystics vs. Atlanta Dream (Prime Video)
- 9 p.m. ET: Dallas Wings vs. Golden State Valkyries (USA)
Game 2s follow quickly on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and Wednesday, Sept. 30, with potential Game 3s on Thursday, Oct. 1 and Friday, Oct. 2. After the first round, the semifinals will be a best-of-five series, really testing the mettle of these teams.
The playoff battle kicks off this Sunday, September 27th, with four huge Game 1s. From the Lynx trying to prove they belong in the final to the Aces defending their crown, it is gonna be a wild ride all the way to October 31st. You do not wanna miss a single moment of this championship chase!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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