2026 WNBA Playoffs: Multiple Huskies Set for First-Round Matchups
The 2026 WNBA postseason begins this Sunday, September 27th. All first-round series will be best-of-three, with the home teams alternating each game. The best-of-five semifinals will begin on October 4th-October 14th, while the best-of-seven WNBA Finals will run from October 17th through October 31st, if necessary.
NO.1 MINNESOTA LYNX vs NO. 8 NEW YORK LIBERTY
- Liberty won season series 2-1
- Lynx last season in the postseason: Swept the Golden State Valkyries 2-0 during the first round, then lost to the Phoenix Mercury 3-1 in the semifinals.
- Liberty last season in the postseason: Lost in first round to Phoenix Mercury in 3 games.
- Lynx WNBA Championship(s): 4 (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
- Liberty WNBA Championship(s): 1 (2024)
- Naphessa Collier: Seeking first career WNBA Championship
- Dorka Juhasz: Seeking first career WNBA Championship
- Breanna Stewart Postseason Accolades: 3x WNBA Finals Champion (2018, 2020 with Seattle Storm, 2024 with New York Liberty), 2x WNBA Finals MVP (2018, 2020 with Seattle Storm)
In the first matchup of the season back on July 3rd, Breanna Stewart erupted for a season-high 36 points in a 99-86 Liberty home victory against the Lynx. Stewie was on fire to start both halves, making her first seven shots of the game and scoring 11 of the Liberty’s first 13 points of the second half. The 36-point game marked the 33rd 30-plus-point game of her career, the third-most in WNBA history.
Neither Naphessa Collier (recovering from offseason surgery on both of her ankles) and Dorka Juhasz (foot injury) were available for the Lynx.
Eight days later, the Lynx got their revenge in a 90-85 victory over the Liberty in Minnesota. Stewart scored 17 points with seven rebounds and one block. Juhász grabbed three rebounds and blocked one shot, while Collier did not play as she continued to recover from offseason surgery on both ankles.
All three former Huskies were on the court last week for the final head-to-head matchup of the season with the Liberty coming out on top 93-81 in Minnesota. Stewart recorded her 12th double-double of the season after pouring in 24 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists and three steals. Collier posted 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and blocked two shots, but she also turned it over a season-high six times. Juhasz hauled in four rebounds and dished out two assists in 15 minutes off the bench.
The Liberty are one of two teams to defeat Minnesota twice this season, with the Atlanta Dream being the other. It was also the first time since 2023 that the Liberty won at the Lynx. They had lost the previous four matchups in Minnesota.
NO. 2 GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES VS NO. 7 DALLAS WINGS
- Valkyries swept the season series 3-0
- Valkyries last season in the postseason: Swept by the Minnesota Lynx in the first round 2-0 (First postseason appearance in the franchise's inaugural season).
- Wings WNBA Championships: 3 (2003, 2006, 2008 as the Detroit Shock)
- Valkyries WNBA Championship(s): 0
- Paige Bueckers Postseason Accolades: Making her WNBA postseason debut
- Kiah Stokes Postseason Accolades: 3x WNBA Champion (2022-2023, 2025 with Las Vegas Aces)
- Gabby Williams Postseason Accolades: Seeking first career WNBA Championship
- Tiffany Hayes Postseason Accolades: Seeking first career WNBA Championship
- Kaitlyn Chen Postseason Accolades: Seeking first career WNBA Championship
In the first head-to-head regular season meeting on June 17th, five Huskies scored in double-digits in a 91-80 Valkyries victory as Gabby Williams scored a season-high 25 points with four assists. Both Kaitlyn Chen and Paige Bueckers netted 15 points each, while Tiffany Hayes and Azzi Fudd both posted 10 points. Fudd also had a career-high five steals. Kiah Stokes posted two points and seven rebounds. Chen and Williams scored 10 of the team’s first 12 points to open the fourth quarter to help lead Golden State to the 11-point victory.
In the lone regular season meeting in Dallas, the Valkyries took care of business as the visitors, taking down the Wings 94-76 on August 7th. Williams scored 19 points while Bueckers posted 17, but it was the Golden State assist total that was the story of the game. The Valkyries dished out a franchise record 27 assists in the 18-point victory. 14 of those dimes came from former Huskies as Chen (5), Williams (4), Stokes (3) and Hayes (2) all contributed.
Azzi Fudd did not play due to right knee soreness.
10 days later, the two teams clashed back in San Francisco where the Valkyries finished off the season-sweep of the Wings, 78-70. Williams posted her sixth 20-plus point game of the season by scoring 23 points. Hayes (10 points), Chen (two points, one assist), and Stokes (five rebounds, one block) all helped in the eight-point victory. Bueckers dropped 21 points but turned it over a career-high seven times. Fudd did not play as she had undergone season-ending surgery on her right knee a few days before.
EDWARDS LEADS SUN TO VICTORY IN FRANCHISE’S FINAL GAME IN CONNECTICUT
Before the Mohegan Sun Arena closed its doors on the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night, Aaliyah Edwards and Kia Nurse both showed out infront of their Connecticut fans by each scoring in double-digits in the final game of the season for both teams. Edwards scored 16 points in the 95-81 victory. Nurse contributed 10 points for the Tempo as they closed out their inaugural season.
After 24 seasons, including 16 playoff appearances and four WNBA Finals appearances, the franchise will relocate to Houston starting next season.
An emotional Aaliyah Edwards after the game, but also had one last final message:
KAY HELPS WHITE SOX KEEP PACE IN AL CENTRAL RACE
On Tuesday, Anthony Kay allowed four earned runs on seven hits, one walk, while striking four across four innings of work in a 14-11 Chicago White Sox victory over the Kansas City Royals. The win kept the White Sox one game behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians, who defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2 on the same night.
Before Kay threw a pitch, he led 2-0 after Chicago put across two runs in the top of the first inning. The left-hander allowed two hits in the bottom of the first but did not allow any runs to cross the board after striking out Jac Caglianone and getting Maikel Garcia to fly out to left field to end the inning.
Leading 3-0 going into the bottom of the second, Kay retired the Royals in order on 14 pitches.
Kay’s lead grew once again after the White Sox put three more runs on the board in the third inning for a 6-0 lead. The southpaw allowed a leadoff home run in the bottom of the inning to Nick Loftin, but then settled back in after striking out the next to Royals hitters. Two batters later, Caglianone grounded out to second base to end the inning.
The White Sox offense put up another three-spot to take a 9-1 lead after three and a half innings. But Kay ran into his own trouble in the bottom of the fourth after allowing two runs to cross the plate on an RBI single from Salavador Perez and an RBI ground out by Loftin to trim the White Sox lead to 9-3.
Kay was sent back out for a fifth inning of work, but he did not record an out after allowing the first two Royals batters to reach base. Kay was charged with his fourth and final run of the game after Garcia drove in a run with an RBI groundout against White Sox reliever Noah Schultz.
The White Sox won the regular-season series against the Guardians, so if both teams finish with the same record after Sunday, the White Sox will clinch the number two seed in the American League postseason.
According to the White Sox schedule on ESPN.com, Kay is scheduled to start in the White Sox regular season finale on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. A game that just might decide the division.
After Friday night’s games, the White Sox remain one game back of the Guardians in the AL Central.
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