Updated 2026 WNBA Playoffs Schedule: Liberty Sweep Lynx, Fever Force Game 3

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September 30, 2026September 30, 2026By Admin
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Updated 2026 WNBA Playoffs Schedule: Liberty Sweep Lynx, Fever Force Game 3

The first semifinal spot in the updated 2026 WNBA playoffs schedule belongs to the New York Liberty. The No. 8 seed defeated the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 87-71 at Barclays Center to finish a two-game sweep. On Tuesday night, New York became the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history.

Fever-Aces, 2026 WNBA Playoffs
Photo: Courtesy of Alex Coleman/Ballislife

Earlier Tuesday in Indianapolis, the Indiana Fever beat the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 99-89 to even their first-round series at 1-1. Game 3 is Thursday in Las Vegas.

Two other series are still open. The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries each lead 1-0 going into Wednesday’s Game 2 matchups in Washington and Dallas.

Liberty End Minnesota’s Season

Jonquel Jones had 21 points and 13 rebounds on 9-of-14 shooting. Breanna Stewart also scored 21 and went 9-of-9 at the free-throw line, two days after putting up 34 points and 12 rebounds in the Game 1 win in Minneapolis. Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and 7 assists and made 4 3-pointers.

New York never trailed. The Liberty led 26-21 after one quarter and scored 9 of the last 11 points of the second quarter to go up 49-37 at halftime.

With 6:26 left in the third quarter and New York ahead 52-39, Olivia Miles hit Stewart in the face while contesting a drive. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded it to a Flagrant 1 foul. Stewart made both free throws.

Miles was named the unanimous Rookie of the Year on Monday. She finished Tuesday with 5 points on 1-of-8 shooting in 17 minutes.

Courtney Williams led Minnesota with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Napheesa Collier scored 14 on 6-of-14 shooting, and Kayla McBride also had 14.

The Lynx shot 38.2% from the field. New York outscored them 44-28 in the paint and went 13-of-13 at the line.

Minnesota finished the regular season 33-11. New York went 26-18.

Fever Force Game 3 Against Aces

Caitlin Clark had 27 points, 15 assists, and 7 rebounds before fouling out with 2:45 left and Indiana ahead 92-83. She shot 9-of-18 from the field and 5-of-11 from 3-point range. Her points-and-assists double-double before halftime was the first in WNBA playoff history.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 26 points and went 9-of-11 at the line. Aliyah Boston added 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting with 5 assists. The three combined for 75 of Indiana’s 99 points.

Las Vegas led 26-18 after one quarter and by as many as 11 in the first half. Indiana won the second quarter 30-17 to lead 48-43 at the break, then took a 72-60 lead into the fourth.

After Clark’s sixth foul, the Aces got within 92-87 with 2:11 left. Boston scored on the next possession, and Indiana closed it out at the free-throw line.

Jackie Young led Las Vegas with 31 points and went 13-of-13 at the line. A’ja Wilson had 22 points and 9 rebounds. The Aces made 30 of 34 free throws. Indiana outscored them 58-26 in the paint.

Las Vegas won Game 1 102-85 on Sunday.

Updated WNBA Playoffs Schedule: First Round

Atlanta beat Washington 92-77 in Game 1 on Sunday. Golden State beat Dallas 104-80 the same night.

Wednesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN (Atlanta leads 1-0)
Game 2: Golden State Valkyries at Dallas Wings, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN (Golden State leads 1-0)

Thursday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. ET, USA (series tied 1-1)

Friday, Oct. 2
Game 3*: Washington Mystics at Atlanta Dream, time TBD
Game 3*: Dallas Wings at Golden State Valkyries, time TBD

*If necessary

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Semifinals and WNBA Finals Dates

The best-of-five semifinals start Sunday, Oct. 4, in a 2-2-1 format. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, and 5.

New York will play the Atlanta-Washington winner and will open on the road, since both teams are higher seeds than the Liberty. The other semifinal pairs the Golden State-Dallas winner with the Indiana-Las Vegas winner.

Tip times and series-by-series network assignments for the semifinals have not been announced. The league has set these dates:

Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 4 (ABC; NBC/Peacock)
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 7 (ESPN; Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 9 (ESPN2; Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 4*: Sunday, Oct. 11 (ABC; NBC/Peacock)
Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 14 (ESPN; Peacock/NBCSN)

The best-of-seven WNBA Finals start Saturday, Oct. 17, in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 19, 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock
Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
Game 5*: Monday, Oct. 26, 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock
Game 6*: Thursday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock
Game 7*: Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock

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