WNBA sets 2026 playoff bracket as Valkyries clinch No. 2 seed

The Western Basketball Association’s 2026 playoffs will open on Sunday with four first-round matchups. The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx host the No. 8 New York Liberty, the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries face the No. 7 Dallas Wings, the No. 3 Las Vegas Aces play the No. 6 Indiana Fever, and the No. 4 Atlanta Dream meet the No. 5 Washington Mystics. All series are best-of-three, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and a potential Game 3, while the lower seed hosts Game 2.

The bracket was finalized after Thursday night when the Valkyries erased a 16-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Sparks in Nneka Ogwumike’s farewell appearance, earning the league’s second seed. The second round will shift to a best-of-five format, and the Finals will be a best-of-seven series, marking only the second time the championship will use that length.

Game times are listed in Eastern Time. The opening games are scheduled for September 27 on ABC/fubo and Prime, with subsequent games spread across USA/fubo, ESPN/fubo and other networks through early October. The semifinals and Finals will continue on NBC, ABC, ESPN and related streaming platforms, with dates extending to the end of October.