WNBA Playoffs: Liberty Shock Top-Seeded Lynx, and Wilson and the Aces Dominate

It’s the start of the 2026 WNBA playoffs, and the games did not disappoint. The Liberty pulled off the shocker of the day in Minnesota, while the Aces, Dream, and Valkyries rolled on.

Night 1 of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs delivered on every ounce of its promise, treating fans to a historic upset, masterful individual performances, and the sheer intensity that only October—or in this case, late September—basketball can provide.

With all four first-round series tipping off on Sunday, September 27, the heavyweights were tested, and one title favorite finds itself in an immediate hole. Here is a detailed recap of the opening night of the postseason, highlighting the massive shockers, the standout stars, and where each series stands.

The Shocker: No. 8 Liberty Stun No. 1 Lynx

The biggest storyline of the weekend unfolded in Minneapolis, where the No. 8 seed New York Liberty stunned the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx with a 91-75 blowout victory at the Target Center.

New York relied heavily on its championship pedigree, leaning on superstar Breanna Stewart, who delivered an absolute masterclass. Stewart was virtually unguardable, producing a clutch 34 points and 12 rebounds to completely neutralize Minnesota’s home-court advantage.

For the Lynx, who entered the postseason as the heavy title favorites, Game 1 was a nightmare. The team was plagued by foul trouble all afternoon; star forward Napheesa Collier and All-Star center Natasha Howard both fouled out of the contest. Without her frontcourt running mates, rookie sensation Olivia Miles had a remarkably quiet postseason debut, managing just 11 points on an icy 3-for-12 shooting performance while dishing out only a single assist.

Minnesota’s only bright spots came from the supporting cast. Nia Brodie led the team with 16 points in just 19 minutes off the bench, and Kayla McBride chipped in 14 points after starting the game 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. The Lynx now face a sudden must-win Game 2 on Tuesday to save their historic season.

MVP Form: Wilson Drops 38 as Aces Handle Fever

There was no upset to be found in Las Vegas. The No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces protected their home floor at Michelob ULTRA Arena, pulling away from the high-octane Indiana Fever for a 102-85 victory.

The story of the game was the sheer dominance of A’ja Wilson. Proving exactly why she is the focal point of the basketball universe, Wilson tied her playoff career-high by erupting for 38 points. The Fever’s defense threw multiple looks at Wilson, but nothing could slow down the reigning MVP frontrunner. Las Vegas capitalized on Wilson’s gravity, scoring efficiently and matching the fast-paced Indiana offense blow-for-blow before putting the game away in the fourth quarter.

Second Year Powerhouse: Valkyries Rout Wings

The No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries continue to look like a legitimate juggernaut. In front of a sold-out racous crowd at Chase Center, the Valkyries demolished the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings 104-80.

The game was decided in a staggering second-quarter blitz, where Golden State outscored Dallas 37-11 to put the contest entirely out of reach before halftime. Cecilia Zandalasini paced the Valkyries’ balanced attack with 22 points, while Kia Stokes controlled the glass with 8 rebounds and Veronica Burton orchestrated the offense with 5 assists.

Despite the blowout, Dallas fans got a glimpse of the future. Playing in her first WNBA postseason game, Paige Bueckers shined in a losing effort. Bueckers tallied 21 points and 6 rebounds, finishing just one point shy of tying the Wings’ franchise record for points in a playoff debut.

A FIGHT TO THE FINISH! LET’S GO, DREAM FC 🅰️#DoItForTheDream | @lendistry#AllForAtlanta pic.twitter.com/DPqZZvm29i

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) September 28, 2026

Dream Defend Home Court Against Mystics

In Atlanta, the No. 4 seed Dream halted the momentum of the surging Washington Mystics, securing a decisive 92-77 victory at State Farm Arena. Allisha Gray led the way for the Dream with 22 points, while AP DPOY, Angel Reece added 13 points to go with 12 rebounds. Jordan Canada had a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.

Washington entered the playoffs as the hottest team in the league after climbing from out of the playoff picture to the No. 5 seed, but Atlanta’s stifling defense grounded the Mystics’ attack. Sonia Citron showed out, scoring 25 points with 6 assists, while Kiki Iriafen chipped in 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Shakira Austin added 12 points and 16 rebounds in the losing effort.

By securing the 15-point victory, the Dream successfully protected their hard-earned home-court advantage and will look to close out the best-of-three series on Wednesday night.