WNBA News Today: Playoff Race Tightens as Records Fall and Final Week Heats Up
September 22, 2026
The 2026 WNBA regular season is entering its final stretch, and there is still plenty to decide before the playoffs begin Sunday.
All eight postseason teams have been determined, but the final seeding remains unsettled. Minnesota, Golden State, Las Vegas and Atlanta are currently occupying the top four spots, while Indiana, Washington, New York and Dallas have also secured playoff berths.
With home-court advantage, first-round matchups and momentum still hanging in the balance, the final games of the regular season carry considerable weight.
Atlanta Dream Strengthen Position With Win Over Liberty
The Atlanta Dream picked up one of the biggest victories of the week Monday night, defeating the New York Liberty 95-84 at Barclays Center.
The victory improved Atlanta to 29-14 and extended the Dream's winning streak to four games. Five Atlanta players scored in double figures as the team moved closer to securing home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
Rhyne Howard added another milestone to an already impressive career. With her second 3-pointer of the game, Howard became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 500 career 3-pointers.
The loss was costly for New York.
The Liberty fell to 26-17, meaning they will begin the postseason on the road. New York can now finish no higher than fifth in the final standings.
The Dream and Liberty meet again Wednesday in New York to close their regular-season series.
Kahleah Copper Delivers Dramatic Game-Winner Against Dallas
Phoenix may not be headed to the postseason, but the Mercury delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the final week.
Kahleah Copper scored 31 points Monday as Phoenix defeated the Dallas Wings 87-86.
With just two seconds remaining, Alyssa Thomas found Copper for the go-ahead layup that ultimately decided the game. The loss dropped Dallas to 26-17 and knocked the Wings out of the fifth seed at that point in the playoff race.
Paige Bueckers scored 30 points with seven assists for Dallas, but her potential game-winning shot at the buzzer did not fall.
Dallas closes the regular season Wednesday against Seattle.
Kelsey Mitchell Breaks WNBA Single-Season Scoring Record
One of the biggest individual stories of the season belongs to Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell.
Mitchell scored 33 points in Indiana's 103-85 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Friday and broke the WNBA single-season scoring record.
Her 3-pointer in the third quarter pushed her past A'ja Wilson's previous mark of 1,021 points, set during the 2024 season. Mitchell finished the game with 1,034 points for the season.
Mitchell also extended another league record by scoring at least 20 points for the 25th consecutive game.
Caitlin Clark added 28 points and 14 assists in the victory, producing her 14th double-double of the season.
Indiana enters Tuesday's matchup with Minnesota at 27-15 and remains in the battle for postseason positioning.
Minnesota and Indiana Meet in Major Playoff-Seeding Game
One of Tuesday night's biggest games features the Minnesota Lynx against the Indiana Fever.
Minnesota enters the day at 32-10, sitting atop the WNBA standings, while Golden State remains close behind at 31-11.
Minnesota is trying to secure the league's No. 1 seed, while Indiana continues to fight within a tightly packed group of teams competing for playoff position.
The matchup also provides another major stage for Minnesota star Napheesa Collier and Indiana's high-powered backcourt of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
With the postseason beginning September 27, games like this could determine not only seeding but who receives home-court advantage in the first round.
The 2026 WNBA Playoff Field Is Set
The eight teams that have qualified for the 2026 postseason are:
Minnesota Lynx
Golden State Valkyries
Las Vegas Aces
Atlanta Dream
Indiana Fever
Washington Mystics
New York Liberty
Dallas Wings
Final seeding is still to be determined.
The playoffs begin Sunday, September 27.
The opening round will use a best-of-three format. The semifinals move to best-of-five, and the WNBA Finals will again be a best-of-seven series.
Golden State Continues Remarkable Second Season
The Golden State Valkyries enter Tuesday at 31-11, trailing Minnesota by just one game in the win column.
The franchise has quickly established itself as one of the league's top teams in only its second season.
Golden State faces fellow expansion franchise Portland on Tuesday before finishing the regular season against the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.
Point guard Veronica Burton has become an important part of Golden State's rise, combining playmaking, defense and efficient decision-making as the Valkyries prepare for another postseason appearance.
Lisa Leslie Honored With Statue in Los Angeles
The final week of the regular season also included a historic celebration.
Los Angeles Sparks legend Lisa Leslie was honored with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena.
Leslie played her entire WNBA career with the Sparks from 1997 through 2009 and helped lead Los Angeles to consecutive championships in 2001 and 2002.
She won three WNBA MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards and four Olympic gold medals and became the first player to dunk during a WNBA game.
Leslie joins Sue Bird as one of the WNBA players honored with a statue by her franchise. She is the first Sparks player to receive the honor outside Crypto.com Arena.
Connecticut Sun Preparing for Final Game Before Houston Move
The Connecticut Sun are approaching the end of an era.
The franchise will relocate to Houston following the 2026 season after the WNBA and NBA approved the sale of the team to Tilman J. Fertitta earlier this year.
Beginning in 2027, the franchise will play in Houston, reviving the Houston Comets identity.
The original Comets were one of the defining franchises of the early WNBA, winning the league's first four championships from 1997 through 2000.
Connecticut's final regular-season game at Mohegan Sun Arena is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, against the Toronto Tempo.
Team president Jennifer Rizzotti and general manager Morgan Tuck are expected to remain with the organization as it moves to Houston.
Atlanta Loses Brionna Jones for the Season
The Dream will enter the playoffs without veteran center Brionna Jones.
Jones will miss the remainder of the season because of a left leg injury. She appeared in only nine games this year after previously undergoing meniscus surgery.
Atlanta still possesses considerable frontcourt depth behind Angel Reese, Naz Hillmon, DeWanna Bonner and rookie Madina Okot.
Reese has been one of Atlanta's biggest producers this season, including a league-record 30th double-double earlier this month.
Jones' absence nevertheless removes an experienced interior presence just as the Dream prepares for postseason basketball.
What to Watch Next
The next several days will determine exactly what the 2026 WNBA playoff bracket looks like.
Minnesota and Golden State remain locked near the top of the standings. Las Vegas and Atlanta are fighting for premium positioning, while Indiana, Washington, New York and Dallas remain crowded together further down the playoff field.
Tuesday's schedule includes Minnesota at Indiana, Los Angeles at Las Vegas, Golden State at Portland, Connecticut at Washington and Toronto at Chicago.
Atlanta and New York meet again Wednesday, while Dallas visits Seattle.
The regular season concludes Thursday, September 24, followed by just two days without games before the postseason begins Sunday.
After months of basketball, the bracket is finally about to stop moving.
Then the real race begins.
Sources & Further Reading
WNBA — 2026 WNBA Postseason FAQ and Playoff Format
https://www.wnba.com/news/2026-wnba-postseason-faq
WNBA — Official League News, Scores and Standings
https://www.wnba.com/
WNBA — Atlanta Dream 95, New York Liberty 84 Game Recap
https://www.wnba.com/watch/video/game-recap-atlanta-dream-95-new-york-liberty-84-09-21-2026
Atlanta Dream — Balanced Attack Propels Dream to Important Road Win
https://dream.wnba.com/news/balanced-attack-propels-dream-to-important-road-win
WNBA — Phoenix Mercury 87, Dallas Wings 86 Game Recap
https://www.wnba.com/watch/video/game-recap-phoenix-mercury-87-dallas-wings-86-09-21-2026
WNBA — Kelsey Mitchell Sets WNBA Single-Season Scoring Record
https://www.wnba.com/news/kelsey-mitchell-sets-wnba-season-mark
ABC News / Associated Press — Kelsey Mitchell Breaks WNBA Single-Season Scoring Record
https://abcnews.com/Sports/wireStory/kelsey-mitchell-scores-33-points-set-wnba-season-136578586
WNBA — Lisa Leslie Honored With Statue in Los Angeles
https://www.wnba.com/news/los-angeles-sparks-honor-lisa-leslie-with-statue
Los Angeles Sparks — Lisa Leslie Statue Announcement
https://www.wnba.com/news/sparks-to-honor-lisa-leslie-with-statue
WNBA — Connecticut Sun Sale and Relocation to Houston Approved
https://www.wnba.com/webview/news/wnba-nba-approve-connecticut-sun-sale
NBA Communications — WNBA and NBA Approve Sale of Connecticut Sun
https://pr.nba.com/wnba-nba-approve-sale-sun/
Connecticut Sun — Houston Relocation Frequently Asked Questions
https://sun.wnba.com/frequently-asked-questions
ESPN — 2026 WNBA Playoff Picture and Final-Week Race
https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49944388/wnba-playoffs-2026-picture-postseason-race-berth-seeds
WNBA — Official 2026 Playoffs Hub
https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2026/news