The bracket said this series was a formality. The New York Liberty came in as the No. 8 seed and swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in two games. They became the first eight seed to eliminate a one seed in the WNBA's 30-year history, and the first team into the 2026 semifinals.
How New York did it
Game 1 on Sunday in Minneapolis set the tone: Liberty 91, Lynx 75, on the road, with the higher seed on its own floor. Back in Brooklyn on Tuesday night, New York closed the series with an 87-71 win. According to ESPN's recap, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart each scored 21 points and Sabrina Ionescu added 18.
The Liberty won both games by double digits, so this wasn't a buzzer-beater fluke. The regular-season standings undersold this team, and the veteran core that won a title two years ago looks like it knows exactly what it's doing in September.
The rest of the first round
- Aces vs. Fever: going the distance. A'ja Wilson scored 38 as Las Vegas took Game 1, 102-85. Indiana answered with a 99-89 win in Game 2. Caitlin Clark finished with 27 points, 15 assists and 7 rebounds, and became the first WNBA player to record a points-and-assists double-double in a single playoff half, per Bleacher Report. Game 3 is Thursday in Las Vegas.
- Valkyries vs. Wings. Golden State opened with a 104-80 blowout of Dallas, which Just Women's Sports reports set a scoring record. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Dallas.
- Dream vs. Mystics. Atlanta took Game 1, 92-77.
What's next
Any Game 3s are scheduled for October 1–2, and the best-of-five semifinals tip off Sunday, October 4. New York gets a few days of rest while the rest of the bracket sorts itself out. Every team left knows the Liberty took out the league's best regular-season team without needing a third game.
Results via CBS Sports and ESPN.
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