Three WNBA Teams Clinch 2026 Playoff Berths
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- Minnesota Lynx became the first team to clinch a 2026 WNBA playoff spot on Aug. 9, reaching 27-7; guard Kayla McBride set a WNBA single-game record with 10 made three-pointers and scored a career-high 43 points in that clinching win over Dallas.
- Las Vegas Aces clinched the second berth on Aug. 13 at 24-11; reigning four-time MVP A'ja Wilson leads the league at 26.1 PPG and has already set a new single-season high with 33 made three-pointers (her previous high was 31 in 2022).
- Golden State Valkyries became the third team to clinch with a Monday home win over Dallas, improving to 25-9 with 10 games left; they are chasing back-to-back playoff appearances after becoming the first WNBA expansion franchise to reach the postseason in their inaugural season.
- Napheesa Collier made her season debut on July 22 after offseason surgery on both ankles; the Lynx went 21-6 without her and are 8-1 since her return, with the perennial MVP candidate averaging 19.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.
- Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft, is averaging 19.9 PPG and 6.1 APG — a performance the source calls one of the most impressive rookie seasons in WNBA history.
- The 2026 WNBA regular season wraps up Sept. 24; Golden State holds the league's longest current win streak at six straight and gives up the fewest points per game in the WNBA.
Why it matters: With the regular season still running through Sept. 24 and most of the playoff field unsettled, these three clinchings give the Lynx, Aces, and Valkyries early seeding control and home-court leverage. The Lynx's 27-7 mark leads the league despite Collier missing the first two-thirds of the schedule; A'ja Wilson's continued dominance keeps the defending champion Aces squarely in title contention; and Golden State's quick expansion-to-playoffs arc gives the league a rare early success story for a new franchise.
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