WNBA Preview | Playoffs Begin, September 27, 2026
The 2026 postseason opens today with four Game 1s across all four first-round series. We already broke down how we see each series playing out start to finish in our separate series predictions piece — these are today's specific game picks, with lines from DraftKings. Liberty at Lynx tips at 2:00, Fever at Aces follows at 4:00, Mystics at Dream at 7:00, and Wings at Valkyries closes the day at 9:00.
A 2024 Finals Rematch Opens the Postseason
New York Liberty @ Minnesota Lynx | Game 1 | 2:00 PM ET | ABC
This is a rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals, which New York won in five games. Minnesota enters at 33-11 and the No. 1 overall seed, with rookie Olivia Miles (19.8 points, 6.0 assists) and a healthy Napheesa Collier (17.5 points a game since returning from injury) leading one of the league's best defenses.
New York is 26-18 and the No. 8 seed, but the Liberty won the regular-season series 2-1, including a 93-81 road win at Target Center just over a week ago. Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have had this team's number lately.
DraftKings has Minnesota -6.5, with the total at 173.5. A shaky Lynx finish against a Liberty team that's already beaten them twice this season points to a tighter Game 1 than the number suggests. We're picking Minnesota to win the series in three, and a series that goes the distance usually starts with a competitive Game 1. Lean New York +6.5, and lean the under.
New York wins if Stewart and Ionescu continue the recent run of success against Minnesota and steal home-court advantage.
Minnesota wins if Collier and Miles set the tone early and the Lynx look like the No. 1 seed from the opening tip.
PICK
NY +6.5
O/U 173.5
Under ↓
The Liberty have already beaten Minnesota twice this season; take the points in the opener of a series we expect to go three.
Clark and the Fever Open Against the Defending Champs
Indiana Fever @ Las Vegas Aces | Game 1 | 4:00 PM ET | ABC
Las Vegas is 31-13 and enters on a seven-game winning streak, with A'ja Wilson averaging a league-leading 26.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. The Aces are the defending champions and DraftKings' -170 series favorites.
Indiana is 28-16 and brings a real card to play: the Fever won this year's regular-season series 2-1, giving Caitlin Clark (22.8 points, 8.5 assists) and Kelsey Mitchell (25.0 points) a track record of success against this specific opponent.
DraftKings has Las Vegas -3.5, with the total at 183.5, the highest of the day. Two explosive offenses and a season series that's gone Indiana's way suggests this stays competitive rather than a coronation for the champs — we picked Las Vegas to need three games to close this series, and Game 1 should reflect that. Lean Indiana +3.5, and lean the over.
Las Vegas wins if Wilson's two-way dominance takes over in a series opener at home.
Indiana wins if Clark and Mitchell's offense does what it did twice already this season and the Fever steal Game 1 on the road.
PICK
IND +3.5
O/U 183.5
Over ↑
Indiana already won this season series 2-1; take the points in a high-scoring opener.
Dream Host the League's Hottest Team to Open the Postseason
Washington Mystics @ Atlanta Dream | Game 1 | 7:00 PM ET | Prime Video
KEY STAT
7
Las Vegas's active winning streak entering Game 1 against Indiana, the longest of any team in the field.
Atlanta locked up the No. 4 seed weeks ago and enters red-hot, having won its final five games while averaging 95.2 points. Angel Reese leads the league in rebounding, Allisha Gray is having her best scoring season (19.0 points, 46.2% shooting), and Rhyne Howard adds 17.7 points and 2.3 steals.
Washington is 28-16 with Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron both fresh off Team USA gold, and the Mystics allow just 82.5 points a game, the second-lowest mark in the league.
DraftKings has Atlanta -6.5, with the total at 164.5. A home team playing its best basketball of the season against a Mystics group that ranked 12th in offensive rating points to a competitive, low-scoring Game 1. We picked Atlanta to win this series 2-1, and a tight opener would fit that shape. Lean Atlanta -6.5, and lean the under.
Washington wins if Iriafen and Citron's playoff experience from this summer translates immediately and the Mystics steal Game 1.
Atlanta wins if Reese and Howard carry the momentum from the regular season's closing kick straight into the postseason.
PICK
ATL -6.5
O/U 164.5
Under ↓
The league's hottest team at home, in a game that should tighten up with playoff intensity.
Bueckers and the Wings Make Their Return to the Postseason
Dallas Wings @ Golden State Valkyries | Game 1 | 9:00 PM ET | USA Network
Golden State is 32-12 and enters as the league's best defense by a wide margin, allowing just 78.8 points a game. This is the Valkyries' second postseason appearance in franchise history, and they swept Dallas in the regular season.
Dallas is 27-17 and back in the playoffs for the first time since 2023, powered by Paige Bueckers and a double-double machine in Jessica Shepard (14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds). It's a feel-good story for the Wings, but they're drawing a tough first-round test.
DraftKings has Golden State -7.5, with the total at 154.5, the lowest of the day. We picked the Valkyries to win this series in two, and a defense this good against an offense that finished outside the league's top 10 fits a fast start to that sweep. Lean Golden State -7.5, and lean the under.
Dallas wins if Bueckers plays like the star she's been all season and the Wings' first playoff trip since 2023 starts with a road statement.
Golden State wins if the league's best defense sets the tone in Game 1 and the Valkyries protect home court.
PICK
GSV -7.5
O/U 154.5
Under ↓
The league's best defense against a team making its first playoff trip since 2023.
What to Watch For Today.
All four Game 1s tip today, and our series predictions piece has the full breakdown of how we see each matchup finishing: Minnesota in 3, Las Vegas in 3, Atlanta in 3, and Golden State in 2. Today's results are the opening chapter in each of those stories. Four games today, on ABC, Prime Video, and USA Network.