WNBA Wrap — Week Ending Sunday 9 August 2026 · Minnesota Lynx become first team to clinch a playoff berth. Golden State Valkyries prove they’re for real. Alanna Smith’s Dallas competing. Ezi Magbegor’s Seattle in freefall. Australian storylines everywhere.
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The 30th WNBA season is producing genuine storylines everywhere. The Minnesota Lynx have become the first team to clinch a playoff berth. The Golden State Valkyries — an expansion team in their first-ever season — sit second in the West at 22-9. Australian storylines are also everywhere: Alanna Smith’s Dallas Wings are competing at 19-14, Georgia Amoore’s Washington Mystics are 19-12 and firmly in the East race. But Ezi Magbegor’s Seattle Storm sit at 6-28 and have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. Here’s the state of the WNBA as August unfolds.
The Minnesota Lynx are the first team to clinch
The Minnesota Lynx at 27-7 (.794 win percentage) have become the first team to clinch a playoff berth in the 2026 WNBA season. Head coach Cheryl Reeve has built a genuinely dominant roster. Napheesa Collier has been the front-runner for MVP. Kayla McBride has been an All-Star. And the Lynx are on pace for one of the best regular seasons in league history. Any Minnesota game is now appointment viewing.
Golden State Valkyries — expansion team is for real
The Golden State Valkyries at 22-9 sit second in the Western Conference. In their first-ever WNBA season. It’s one of the most impressive expansion team debuts in professional sports history. The Valkyries have built a genuinely competitive roster from scratch, and Australian development player Miela Sowah is part of that project. Watching Golden State this year is watching how you launch a franchise the right way.
Las Vegas Aces defending — but chasing
The defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces at 22-11 sit third in the West. Australia’s Stephanie Talbot continues to play meaningful minutes for the champions. A’ja Wilson remains one of the league’s premier players. The Aces are still very much in the title conversation, but they’ll enter the playoffs as challengers rather than favourites this year — the Lynx have set a pace few teams can match.
The Aussie players — mid-season report
Alanna Smith (Dallas Wings) — Dallas at 19-14 remain in the Western Conference playoff race. Smith has settled after early-season struggles and is showing the form that earned her USD $1.25 million per season. Any Dallas game is worth Australian eyes.
Georgia Amoore (Washington Mystics) — Washington at 19-12 sit tied for second in the East. Amoore has been one of the WNBA’s best rookies of 2026, leading the Mystics in assists and shooting elite from the free-throw line. Her All-Star Game selection was well-deserved.
Isobel Borlase (Atlanta Dream) — Atlanta at 19-12 also sit tied for second in the East. Borlase continues to develop in her rookie season on one of the WNBA’s better teams, averaging around 5 points per game in a bench role with elite free-throw shooting.
Ezi Magbegor and Jade Melbourne (Seattle Storm) — the news is not good. Seattle at 6-28 has been officially eliminated from playoff contention. It’s one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. Magbegor’s return from injury hasn’t reversed the team’s trajectory. Melbourne continues to develop but on a roster that’s fundamentally struggling. Both players will look to the offseason with real questions about how the Storm’s rebuild progresses.
Elsewhere in the WNBA: Rebecca Allen (New York Liberty), Sami Whitcomb (Phoenix, injured), Nyadiew Puoch (Portland Fire), and Ally Wilson (Washington) continue their seasons. Chloe Bibby was signed by the Chicago Sky as a development player on 1 July.
Playoff picture forming
Western Conference clear order: Minnesota clinched, Golden State and Las Vegas in strong positions, Dallas competitive, Portland Fire fading. Seattle and Los Angeles eliminated.
Eastern Conference tighter: Indiana Fever (20-12) lead the East slightly. Atlanta (19-12), Washington (19-12) and New York (20-13) all within a game of each other. Chicago Sky at 12-20 unlikely to make the playoffs.
The WNBA Playoffs tip off in late September. The Finals — hosted by NBC in the US in 2026 — run through mid-October.
This week’s must-watch on Kayo
WNBA continues on Kayo Sports (via ESPN Australia) with several marquee matchups:
- Minnesota Lynx — any game — watching the league’s clear best team is appointment viewing
- Golden State Valkyries — any game — the expansion team’s improbable ride
- Washington Mystics vs Atlanta Dream — Amoore and Borlase in an Aussie-on-Aussie matchup
For the full weekly schedule with AEST times and confirmed broadcasters, use our live TV Guide.
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Storylines to follow into August
Can anyone catch Minnesota? The Lynx at 27-7 have set a pace no other team can match. Their remaining schedule stiffens through August but a top seed looks locked in.
How far can the Valkyries go? An expansion team making a deep playoff run would be historic. Golden State’s development bears watching.
Australian playoff scenarios. Washington and Atlanta both making the playoffs would see Amoore and Borlase get postseason experience in their rookie years. Dallas making it would give Smith a real chance to show her value in high-stakes basketball.
What’s next?
Standings accurate as of Sunday 9 August 2026 US time. All times AEST. Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.
