The WNBA playoffs 2026 are only one round old and the top seed is already in trouble. The No. 8 New York Liberty beat the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx 91-75 at Target Center on Sunday, September 27, and can finish the best of three series in Brooklyn on Tuesday night. The other three Game 1s went to the home sides: the Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries all lead 1-0.
That means every first round series can end in the next two nights. Below you will find each Game 1 result, the Game 2 start times in US, UK and Pakistan time, and a quick guide to how the new format works.
WNBA playoffs Game 1 results at a glance
| Series | Game 1 score | Standout |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Lynx vs (8) Liberty | Liberty 91, Lynx 75 | Breanna Stewart, 34 points |
| (3) Aces vs (6) Fever | Aces 102, Fever 85 | A’ja Wilson, 38 points |
| (4) Dream vs (5) Mystics | Dream 92, Mystics 77 | Rhyne Howard, 26 points |
| (2) Valkyries vs (7) Wings | Valkyries 104, Wings 80 | Paige Bueckers, 21 points in defeat |
Scores and scoring figures are taken from CBS Sports, NBC Sports and the 2026 playoff record on Wikipedia, which all agree.
The upset: Stewart takes over in Minneapolis
Minnesota clinched the top seed last week, as we covered in our Lynx vs Fever report. None of that mattered on Sunday afternoon. Breanna Stewart scored 34 points and the Liberty won by 16 on the Lynx’s own floor.
Minnesota now has to win twice in a row: once in Brooklyn on Tuesday and again at home on Thursday. Lose on Tuesday and the No. 1 seed is out before October.
Wilson, Clark and the rest of Game 1
Aces 102, Fever 85. A’ja Wilson scored 38 points in Las Vegas. Yahoo Sports reported she added 16 rebounds and four blocks, and that it was the 11th 30 point playoff game of her career, extending her own WNBA record. For Indiana, Caitlin Clark had 15 points and 10 assists but also six turnovers, according to the same report.
Dream 92, Mystics 77. Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 26 points. CBS Sports also singled out DeWanna Bonner, who only joined the Dream last month, for her impact off the bench.
Valkyries 104, Wings 80. Golden State won by 24 at Chase Center, the biggest margin of the opening weekend. Paige Bueckers scored 21 for Dallas, and the Wings now need a win at home to stay alive.
WNBA playoffs Game 2 schedule and TV
All times below are confirmed by CBS Sports and NBC Sports. UK and Pakistan times fall on the following day.
| Game | Date (US) | ET | UK (BST) | PKT | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aces at Fever (Aces lead 1-0) | Tue, Sept 29 | 6:30pm | 11:30pm | 3:30am Wed | Prime Video |
| Lynx at Liberty (Liberty lead 1-0) | Tue, Sept 29 | 8:30pm | 1:30am Wed | 5:30am Wed | USA Network |
| Dream at Mystics (Dream lead 1-0) | Wed, Sept 30 | 7:00pm | 12:00am Thu | 4:00am Thu | ESPN |
| Valkyries at Wings (Valkyries lead 1-0) | Wed, Sept 30 | 9:00pm | 2:00am Thu | 6:00am Thu | ESPN |
The Fever host Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and the Liberty host at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. If needed, Game 3s are set for Thursday, October 1 (Liberty vs Lynx and Fever vs Aces) and Friday, October 2 (Mystics vs Dream and Wings vs Valkyries), back at the higher seed’s arena. Tip times for those games have not been announced yet.
Explainer: how the 2026 WNBA playoff format works
Eight teams qualify and are seeded 1 to 8, so the pairings are 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. According to the league’s own postseason FAQ on WNBA.com, the first round is a best of three played in a 1-1-1 pattern. The higher seed hosts Game 1, the lower seed hosts Game 2, and a deciding Game 3 goes back to the higher seed.
That is why Tuesday feels so big. The Fever, Liberty, Mystics and Wings all get their only guaranteed home game in Game 2. For the Liberty it is a chance to close out the top seed in front of their own fans. For the Fever, Mystics and Wings it is win or go home.
After that, the semifinals are best of five and start on Sunday, October 4. The WNBA Finals are best of seven, in a 2-2-1-1-1 pattern, and begin on Saturday, October 17. NBC Sports notes this is only the second season the Finals have been a seven game series.
