The 2026 WNBA playoffs have finally arrived, and all four first-round series tip off on Sunday in a dreamy quadruple header that is sure to be full of surprises. The first round is only best-of-three, meaning every game is pivotal, and for the second year in a row, the first round will follow a 1-1-1 format, which not only guarantees every team a home game but gives the higher seed the winner-take-all Game 3 at home, if necessary. Here's a quick look at Sunday's schedule: We've already filled out our full brackets and given our championship picks, but here's a more in-depth look at each first-round series.
It is still hard to believe this is a first-round match-up and that one of these teams will be giving exit interviews before next weekend begins. But while I think Breanna Stewart alone will carry this series to a decider, my pick here is less about the match-ups and more about who is doing the matching up -- Cheryl Reeve is the best coach in the game, and the postseason is where she shines. Meanwhile, Chris DiMarco has never been the head coach in a playoff game.
The Liberty won the season series against the Lynx, 2-1, with the lone defeat being by five points. This series, a rematch of the 2024 Finals, is not a typical 1-8 matchup, and the Liberty are more than talented enough to win it. But would I pick the Liberty?
They've been too inconsistent this season, Sabrina Ionescu has been nowhere near her regular self and Jonquel Jones tweaked her ankle in the Liberty's regular-season finale. The Lynx are also entering on a high note after ending the regular season with a 20-point win over the Fever, and have homecourt advantage. The Dallas Wings had a wonderful season, setting the WNBA record for the best single-season turnaround in league history by winning 17 more games in 2026 than they did in 2025.
Paige Bueckers showed no sign of a sophomore slump; Jessica Shepard was an absolute revelation in a bigger role than she had in Minnesota; Azzi Fudd showed tons of promise before her season ended in injury; and Arike Ogunbowale did a great job adjusting her game to fit within a new system. Wings fans should be very optimistic about the future, and having Bueckers in the playoffs is great for WNBA fans everywhere. But the Valkyries are the real deal and a horrible match-up for the Wings.
This series won't be close. This is the first-round series I feel the best about. The Valkyries' defense is suffocating; their defensive rating was more than four points per 100 possessions better than any other team this season.
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