WNBA Preview | September 20, 2026

The No. 1 seed race is suddenly a dead heat: Minnesota (31-10) leads Golden State (31-11) by just half a game after a wild Friday-Saturday swing, though the Lynx still hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The rest of the eight-team field is locked in but far from settled — Dallas (26-16) sits sixth, with New York and Washington (both 25-16) jammed right behind, and today's Mystics-Fever game is the third and final meeting between two of those teams, deciding their season series outright. Lynx at Sun tips at 1:00, Liberty at Tempo follows at 3:00, Mystics at Fever at 4:00, Fire at Sparks at 7:00, and Storm at Aces closes the night at 9:00.

A Slumping Lynx Try to Right the Ship in Connecticut

Minnesota Lynx @ Connecticut Sun | 1:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass

Minnesota enters on a three-game losing streak, its worst stretch of the season, dropping games to Golden State and Atlanta before the FIBA break and then falling to New York in its return. The good news: the Lynx still control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed, since they hold the tiebreaker over Golden State outright.

Connecticut is 10-31, the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and closes its home schedule against a team with far more urgency than a typical get-right game usually carries.

The line sits at Minnesota -17.5, with the total at 167.5. That's a massive number for a team in a funk, but the Sun have neither the offense nor the defense to make it competitive, and a motivated Lynx group has every reason to make a statement in an early matinee. Lean Minnesota -17.5, and lean the under.

Connecticut wins if the Sun's youngsters play loose with nothing to lose and the Lynx come out flat again in an early tip.

Minnesota wins if the skid ends fast, Olivia Miles and Napheesa Collier set the tone early, and the margin balloons once the Sun's thin bench is exposed.

PICK

MIN -17.5

O/U 167.5

Under ↓

A motivated Lynx team should win big, and a lopsided game against a bad offense keeps the total down.

Liberty Try to Keep the Momentum Rolling in Toronto

New York Liberty @ Toronto Tempo | 3:00 PM ET | WWOR / TSN

New York is fresh off upsetting Minnesota 93-81 on Friday, with Breanna Stewart posting 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Liberty have won seven of their last 10 while averaging 89.5 points a game over that stretch. At 25-16, every game still carries seeding weight in a crowded 6-8 race.

Toronto is 11-30 and riding a five-game losing streak, with little separating it from the bottom of the league all season.

The line sits at New York -14.5, with the total at 177.5. The Liberty are playing their best basketball of the second half against a Tempo team that's lost five straight and allows plenty of paint scoring — New York's specialty. Lean New York -14.5, and lean the over.

Toronto wins if the Tempo's shooters get hot and New York has any letdown off Friday's signature win.

New York wins if Stewart and the Liberty carry Friday's energy into a second straight rout of a struggling opponent.

PICK

NY -14.5

O/U 177.5

Over ↑

A Liberty team playing its best ball of the year should roll past a five-game-skid Tempo squad.

A Record-Setting Fever Host the Decisive Mystics Rematch

Washington Mystics @ Indiana Fever | 4:00 PM ET | NBA TV

KEY STAT

1,034

Kelsey Mitchell's points this season, a new WNBA single-season scoring record and just the second 1,000-point season in league history.

Indiana is 27-14 and fresh off a 103-85 win over Toronto, with Clark and Mitchell combining for 61 points and Clark's gold-medal rhythm carrying straight into her 28-point, 14-assist outing. This is the third and final meeting between these teams this season, tied 1-1, with the winner claiming the season series and the tiebreaker that goes with it.

Washington is 25-16 and playoff-bound, coming off a 110-80 win over Chicago behind Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen, though guard Sonia Citron's status remains to be determined. Both prior meetings between these teams were decided by two points or less.

The line sits at Indiana -6.5, with the total at 177.5. Two elite offenses meeting for a season-series decider, with the Fever playing their best two-way basketball since the World Cup break, tips this toward the home team. Lean Indiana -6.5, and lean the over.

Washington wins if the Austin-Iriafen paint pairing controls the glass again and Citron gives the Mystics a third scoring option.

Indiana wins if Clark and Mitchell's backcourt punch decides another nail-biter against Washington, same as the first two meetings.

PICK

IND -6.5

O/U 177.5

Over ↑

Two top-tier offenses in a decisive rubber match; both prior meetings were tight, high-scoring affairs.

Two Eliminated Teams Meet With Fire Down Their Top Two

Portland Fire @ Los Angeles Sparks | 7:00 PM ET | USA Network

Portland is 16-26 and riding a three-game slide, and the news gets worse: leading scorer and playmaker Carla Leite (15.9 points, 6.3 assists per game) and forward Frieda Buhner are both out for this one, not injury-related.

Los Angeles is 15-26 but has taken two of two from Portland already this season, winning the last meeting 106-101 on Aug. 2. Nneka Ogwumike leads the Sparks at 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds a night.

The line sits at Los Angeles -1.5, with the total at 176.5. Losing your top scorer and primary facilitator against a team that already owns the season series is about as clean a lean as this slate offers. Lean Los Angeles -1.5, and lean the under.

Portland wins if the Fire's role players step up in Leite's absence and the defense keeps this a low-possession grind.

Los Angeles wins if Ogwumike controls the paint against a short-handed Fire frontcourt and closes out the season series 3-0.

PICK

LA -1.5

O/U 176.5

Under ↓

Portland is without its leading scorer and top playmaker; take the healthier team and the lower score.

Wilson and the Aces Look to Sweep the Season Series

Seattle Storm @ Las Vegas Aces | 9:00 PM ET | USA Network / CNBC

Las Vegas is 28-13 and enters the second half of this home-and-home having taken care of business Thursday in Seattle. A'ja Wilson is putting up 26.0 points and 9.4 rebounds a night and has scored 25-plus in four of her last five games, giving the Aces a clear edge in nearly every matchup left on their schedule.

Seattle is 8-34, the league's worst record, and dealing with frontcourt injury issues that have made life even harder against a team of this caliber.

The line sits at Las Vegas -14.5, with the total at 175.5. Wilson's road scoring form has been automatic, and a home Aces team looking to complete the sweep against the league's worst roster is the profile of another comfortable cover. Lean Las Vegas -14.5, and lean the over.

Seattle wins if the Storm's youngsters play with house money and the Aces show any signs of looking ahead to the playoffs.

Las Vegas wins if Wilson picks up where Thursday left off and the Aces complete the two-game sweep at home.

PICK

LV -14.5

O/U 175.5

Over ↑

Wilson's road scoring form and a motivated sweep bid clear this number.

What to Watch For Today and Tonight.

The Mystics-Fever finale is the marquee: a rubber match that decides the season series and the tiebreaker between two teams both fighting for playoff position. Keep half an eye on Minnesota's scoreboard too — every result down the stretch matters with Golden State now just half a game back in the closest No. 1 seed race in years. Five games today across NBA TV, USA Network, and WNBA League Pass, with the regular season wrapping up Tuesday, September 24.

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