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The 2026 WNBA playoffs are just 6 days away. The regular season concludes this week with all 8 playoff teams already clinched. The Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever remain tied at 26-14 for the Eastern Conference #1 seed. The Minnesota Lynx at 31-9 have locked in the Western Conference #1 seed. And for Australian fans, this is genuinely a historic moment — three Australians (Alanna Smith of Dallas, Georgia Amoore of Washington, Isobel Borlase of Atlanta) are all playoff-bound, plus Stephanie Talbot (Las Vegas) and Rebecca Allen (New York) on playoff teams. Here’s what to watch as the WNBA regular season closes and the playoffs begin.
The playoff picture is set
Western Conference (all 4 clinched)
- Minnesota Lynx — 31-9, locked in as West #1 seed
- Golden State Valkyries — 29-11, expansion team’s dream season continues
- Las Vegas Aces — 27-13, defending champions
- Dallas Wings — 24-16, Alanna Smith heading to playoffs
Eastern Conference (all 4 clinched)
- Atlanta Dream — 26-14, tied for East #1 seed on tiebreaker
- Indiana Fever — 26-14, tied for East #1 seed
- New York Liberty — 24-16
- Washington Mystics — 24-16, Georgia Amoore heading to playoffs
Atlanta Dream vs Indiana Fever — the East tiebreaker
The Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever are tied at 26-14 for the Eastern Conference lead heading into the season’s final week. Atlanta holds the tiebreaker on head-to-head. If both teams finish the regular season with the same record, Atlanta takes the #1 seed and gets home-court advantage through the East side of the playoff bracket.
For Australian fans, this means Isobel Borlase’s Atlanta Dream is genuinely one of the WNBA’s elite teams heading into the postseason. Any Atlanta game this week is worth watching.
The Aussie playoff contingent
Alanna Smith (Dallas Wings) — Dallas as the West #4 seed likely opens the playoffs on the road against the West #1 (Minnesota Lynx). Smith heads into her first Dallas playoff run.
Georgia Amoore (Washington Mystics) — Washington as the East #4 seed likely opens on the road against the East #1 (either Atlanta or Indiana). Amoore’s rookie playoff experience will be watched closely.
Isobel Borlase (Atlanta Dream) — Atlanta as the potential East #1 seed gets home-court advantage. Borlase in the postseason on one of the WNBA’s best teams is a genuine Aussie basketball moment.
Stephanie Talbot (Las Vegas Aces) — Vegas as the defending champions, playing consistent minutes. Deep playoff run entirely possible.
Rebecca Allen (New York Liberty) — New York as the East #3 seed. Championship experience adds value.
Elsewhere in the WNBA: Sami Whitcomb (Phoenix Mercury) — eliminated. Nyadiew Puoch (Portland Fire) — eliminated. Ezi Magbegor and Jade Melbourne (Seattle Storm) — WNBA’s worst team at 8-32, long since eliminated.
Playoff schedule — this week
| Date (AEST) | Event |
|---|---|
| This week | Regular season concludes — final playoff seeding locked |
| Sat 13 Sept AEST | First Round begins — best-of-3 |
| Late September | Semifinals begin — best-of-5 |
| Mid October | WNBA Finals — best-of-7 |
This week’s must-watch on Kayo
WNBA is on Kayo Sports as the regular season closes and playoffs approach:
- Atlanta Dream vs Indiana Fever — East #1 seeding at stake
- Minnesota Lynx — any game — the class of the WNBA
- Dallas Wings — any game — Alanna Smith in her first Dallas playoff push
- Washington Mystics — any game — Georgia Amoore’s rookie playoff preparation
For the full weekly schedule with AEST times and confirmed broadcasters, use our live TV Guide.
One email per day at 7:00pm AEST. Playoff schedule, matchups, Australian players featured, and pick of the day. Free.
Storylines to follow into the playoffs
Three Aussies in the playoffs. Smith, Amoore and Borlase all in the postseason means genuine Australian representation on the biggest stage in women’s basketball.
Can the Valkyries make a deep run? An expansion team reaching the semifinals would be historic. Their playoff draw will define whether they can.
Rookie of the Year and MVP. Georgia Amoore’s steady rookie campaign and Napheesa Collier’s dominant MVP-caliber season should both feature in the postseason awards conversation.
What’s next?
- Live US Sports TV Guide
- How to Watch WNBA in Australia 2026 — Aussies playing
- Previous WNBA Wrap — 30 August 2026
Standings accurate as of Sunday 6 September 2026 US time. All times AEST. Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.
