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Posts tagged as “WNBA Playoff”

Aces Eliminate Fever in Game 3, Advance to Semifinals (94-83 )

The Las Vegas Aces beat the Indiana Fever 94-83 on Thursday night to win their first-round series 2-1.

The teams were tied 31-31 after one quarter. Las Vegas then outscored Indiana 23-17 in the second and 24-18 in the fourth. The Aces went 28-of-35 at the free-throw line, while the Fever shot just 38.5% from the field.

A’ja Wilson scored 36 points on 11-of-18 shooting, made 12 of 15 free throws, and grabbed 10 rebounds. Chelsea Gray added 23 points, and Jackie Young had 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. For Indiana, Kelsey Mitchell scored 23, and Aliyah Boston had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Caitlin Clark scored 18 but committed six turnovers.

Full game highlights;

The Aces open the semifinals against the winner of the Dallas Wings-Golden State Valkyries series, which was tied 1-1 as of this posting.

Caitlin Clark Leads Indiana Past Las Vegas to Set Up Game 3 Showdown (99 – 89)

The sixth-seeded Indiana Fever evened their first-round series with the third-seeded Las Vegas Aces at 1-1, winning Game 2 by 99-89 at home on Tuesday night after a sluggish start.

Las Vegas led 26-18 after the first quarter, but Indiana flipped the script with a 30-17 second quarter and added a 24-17 third to take control of the game.

Caitlin Clark was the top performer, finishing with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds, including five three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points, and Aliyah Boston scored 22 on 10-of-15 shooting. Indiana outscored Las Vegas 58-26 in the paint.

Jackie Young led all scorers with 31 points for the Aces, going 13-of-13 at the free-throw line, and A’ja Wilson added 22 points and nine rebounds. But Las Vegas shot just 42 percent from the field.

Full game higlights;

The best-of-three series now comes down to a decisive Game 3 in Las Vegas on Thursday, October 1, at 9 p.m. ET (4 a.m. Friday in Riyadh). The Aces carry a 61.5 percent win probability, but Indiana has the momentum. The winner advances to the semifinals.

Unpacking the 2026 WNBA Playoff Matchups and Stretch Run

The 2026 WNBA regular season field has officially locked in its eight postseason contenders. With the Minnesota Lynx leading the pack and the Dallas Wings clinching the final spot, the stretch run is entirely focused on home-court advantage and matchup control.

The eight teams heading to the 2026 WNBA Playoffs are set:

  • Minnesota Lynx (31–8) – League leaders with top seed control.
  • Golden State Valkyries (26–11) – Expansion powerhouse holding the 2-seed.
  • Las Vegas Aces (26–13) – Holding steady in top-three position.
  • Atlanta Dream (25–13) – Surged into fourth behind strong two-way play.
  • Indiana Fever (25–14) – Fast-paced offense battling for top-four seeding.
  • New York Liberty (23–15) – Dangerous mid-table squad looking to move up.
  • Washington Mystics (23–15) – Tied with New York heading down the stretch.
  • Dallas Wings (23–16) – Punched the final postseason ticket.

Seeding Implications & Matchup Breakdown

Seed Range Teams Involved Key Regular Season Implications
Top Seed (#1) Minnesota Lynx Minnesota has established clear distance. The main goal down the stretch is managing player workload while locking up home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
First-Round Home-Court (#2 – #5) Golden State, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Indiana Golden State, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Indiana are locked in a tight battle. Earning a top-four seed guarantees host status for the first round, making head-to-head tiebreakers crucial.
Middle-Tier Threat (#6 – #7) New York Liberty, Washington Mystics Both squads sit side-by-side. Finishing 6th avoids a first-round series against Minnesota, making every remaining game against playoff-bound opposition vital.
Underdog Slot (#8) Dallas Wings Dallas clinched the final berth and will likely draw a tough first-round matchup against Minnesota or Golden State.

With 5 to 6 games left in the regular season, seeding and playoff matchups could still change significantly before the postseason begins on September 27, 2026.