WNBA Preview | September 22, 2026
Five games close out the penultimate day of the regular season, headlined by Minnesota and Indiana opening a home-and-home that closes out both teams' schedules. The Fever (27-15) are locked into the playoff field but not the seeding: a loss tonight and again Thursday, combined with wins by New York, Washington, and Dallas, would drop Indiana all the way to the No. 8 seed. Minnesota (32-10) still leads Golden State (31-11) by a game for the No. 1 overall spot with the tiebreaker in hand. Sun at Mystics tips at 7:30, Tempo at Sky and Lynx at Fever both start at 8:00, and Sparks at Aces and Valkyries at Fire close the night at 10:00.
Mystics Look to Build Cushion Against an Eliminated Sun
Connecticut Sun @ Washington Mystics | 7:30 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
Washington is 26-16 and tied with Dallas for sixth, half a game up on New York, with every win still shaping a crowded finish to the standings. The Mystics have won seven of their last 10 and are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time.
Connecticut is 10-32, the worst record in the league, and closes its road schedule with nothing left to play for but pride.
The line sits at Washington -14.5, with the total at 158.5, the lowest number of the early window. A motivated playoff team against a Sun roster that's been one of the league's least competitive all year is about as clean a lean as this slate offers. Lean Washington -14.5, and lean the under.
Connecticut wins if the Sun's young core plays loose with the season winding down and Washington shows any signs of looking ahead.
Washington wins if the Mystics' recent form continues and the size advantage inside overwhelms a thin Connecticut roster early.
PICK
WAS -14.5
O/U 158.5
Under ↓
A hot Mystics team with playoff stakes against the league's worst record is a clean, low-scoring cover.
Sky Try to Stay Ahead of a Reeling Tempo Team
Toronto Tempo @ Chicago Sky | 8:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
Chicago is 15-27 and eliminated, but the Sky have been the better team all season against tonight's opponent and get one more shot to close out the season series at home.
Toronto is 11-31 and mired in a brutal first season, sitting at 1-9 over its last 10 games with little separating it from the bottom of the league.
The line sits at Chicago -6.5, with the total at 179.5. Both teams are eliminated, but the Sky have simply had more talent in this matchup all year, and Toronto's issues have only compounded down the stretch. Lean Chicago -6.5, and lean the under.
Toronto wins if the Tempo's shooters find a rhythm and the Sky come out flat in a game with nothing on the line for either side.
Chicago wins if the Sky's edge in talent shows up early against a Tempo team that's lost nine of its last 10.
PICK
CHI -6.5
O/U 179.5
Under ↓
Chicago has simply had more talent in this series all year, even with both teams eliminated.
Indiana's Playoff Fate Is on the Line on ESPN
Minnesota Lynx @ Indiana Fever | 8:00 PM ET | ESPN
KEY STAT
8
The seed Indiana could fall to if it loses both remaining games to Minnesota while New York, Washington, and Dallas all win out.
This is the first of two straight meetings between these teams closing out the regular season, and the stakes are real: Indiana is 27-15 and fifth, but a swoon down the stretch has put its seeding in real jeopardy heading into the finale. Minnesota (32-10) already beat the Fever 108-100 back on Aug. 2 and holds the league's best scoring defense at 83.7 points allowed a game.
Indiana counters with the league's best offense at 97.1 points a game, led by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, and gets the benefit of a home crowd desperate to avoid the seeding nightmare scenario.
The line sits at Indiana -1.5, with the total at 187.5. Minnesota's defensive identity is the sharpest thing on the floor in this matchup, and a near-even number against a team playing with the league's stingiest defense points toward a lower-scoring, tighter game than the total suggests. Lean Minnesota +1.5, and lean the under.
Indiana wins if Clark and Mitchell's offense overwhelms Minnesota's defense at home and the Fever protect their seeding with a signature win.
Minnesota wins if the league's best defense controls the pace again, same as it did in the first meeting, and the Lynx tighten their grip on the No. 1 seed.
PICK
MIN +1.5
O/U 187.5
Under ↓
The league's best defense against a near-even number, with a bigger prize on the line for Minnesota.
A Locked-In Aces Team Looks to Stay Sharp Before the Playoffs
Los Angeles Sparks @ Las Vegas Aces | 10:00 PM ET | ESPN
Las Vegas is locked into the No. 3 seed at 29-13 and gets a national ESPN window to keep its rotation sharp heading into the postseason.
Los Angeles is 16-26 and eliminated, closing out a difficult season on the road against a team with plenty of motivation to stay sharp.
The line sits at Las Vegas -15.5, with the total at 178.5. A national TV window and a Sparks team with nothing to play for is the profile of a game that gets away from the underdog early. Lean Las Vegas -15.5, and lean the over.
Los Angeles wins if the Sparks play spoiler on a night full of distractions for the home team and keep this respectable.
Las Vegas wins if the Aces treat this as a tune-up and put on a show in front of the ESPN cameras.
PICK
LV -15.5
O/U 178.5
Over ↑
A locked-in Aces team with a national TV stage against an eliminated opponent points to a comfortable, high-scoring win.
Golden State Closes the Season Series With Its Stingiest Defense
Golden State Valkyries @ Portland Fire | 10:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
Golden State is 31-11 and locked into a top-two seed, closing out the season series against Portland having already won all three previous meetings this year, including an 86-69 win on Aug. 30. This is the last time these two teams meet before the playoffs.
Portland is 16-27 and eliminated, leaning on Carla Leite, who played alongside Golden State's Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün on France's World Cup silver-medal run this month.
The line sits at Golden State -14.5, with the total at 157.5, the lowest of the night. The Valkyries have owned this matchup all season, and their defense has been the league's stingiest for weeks now. Lean Golden State -14.5, and lean the under.
Portland wins if Leite carries the offense and the Fire finally solve a Valkyries defense that's beaten them three times already.
Golden State wins if the same formula that's worked all season — suffocating defense, size on the glass — completes a season sweep of Portland.
PICK
GSV -14.5
O/U 157.5
Under ↓
Golden State has owned this matchup all year behind the league's stingiest defense.
What to Watch For Tonight.
Nothing on the board tonight matters more than Indiana's seeding fate in Indianapolis — a loss puts the Fever's stretch run on the brink with only Thursday's rematch left to fix it. Keep an eye on the late window too, where Las Vegas gets a tune-up on ESPN and Golden State tries to keep pace with Minnesota atop the standings. Five games tonight, on ESPN and WNBA League Pass, with the regular season finale set for Thursday, September 24.

