WNBA playoffs 2026: How all eight teams could win the title - ESPN

A rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals. Another 6-seed for the Indiana Fever. Angel Reese's postseason debut.

The seeding for the 2026 WNBA playoffs came down to the final night of the regular season Thursday, but the matchups are finally set. Eight teams remain, with the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream earning top-four seeds for home-court advantage in the first round, which opens Sunday with four games (beginning at 2 p.m. ET on ABC).

The Lynx, the top seed for the second consecutive year, face the No. 8 seed New York Liberty in the first round; they met for the title just two seasons ago. The No. 2 Valkyries — who overcame a 16-point deficit Thursday to beat Los Angeles on the road and grab the 2-seed — will host the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings.

Reigning MVP A'ja Wilson and the defending champion Aces, the 3-seed, will meet the Fever, a No. 6 seed for the third consecutive season. And Reese and the No. 4 seed Dream will play the No. 5 seed Washington Mystics, who are back in the playoffs for the first time in three years.

We break down every team in the playoff field, from their best strengths to their potential flaws.

Jump to: ATL | DAL | GS | IND | LV | MIN | NY | WAS

First-round opponent: New York Liberty

What's on the line: The Lynx, the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season, look to become the first franchise to win five WNBA championships. Their most recent title was in 2017, and their latest appearance in the WNBA Finals was in 2024, when they lost in five games to New York.

Projected starters: G Olivia Miles (19.8 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.7 RPG), G Kayla McBride (17.9 PPG, 2.2 APG, 3.1 RPG), G Courtney Williams (14.2 PPG, 4.9 APG, 4.2 RPG), F Napheesa Collier (18.1 PPG, 2.7 APG,