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Lynx Become First WNBA Team to Secure Playoff Berth
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. After defeating the Las Vegas Aces 98-87 on Saturday, the Minnesota Lynx became the first WNBA team to secure a playoff berth this season. The Lynx are 27-7 and have a 3.5 game lead over the Golden State Valkyries for first place in the league.
In the win over the Aces, rookie guard Olivia Miles led the team with 26 points and tied guard Courtney Williams with a team-leading seven assists. Miles was the only rookie to be named a 2026 WNBA All-Star after the Lynx drafted her with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Veteran forward Napheesa Collier also contributed 22 points, while center Natasha Howard led the team with eight rebounds.
Minnesota added a 27th victory to its record on Sunday against the Dallas Wings. During that game, guard Kayla McBride set the WNBA single-game record with 10 made 3-pointers.
Eight teams will make the WNBA playoffs, which means there are seven playoff spots still up for grabs this season.
As of Sunday, the Wings are in eighth place and 5.5 games ahead of the ninth-place Portland Fire. With 11 regular season games remaining, including one against the Fire on Aug. 25, Dallas has a strong chance of holding onto a playoff spot.
The biggest question is which seed the current top eight teams will clinch. The top eight teams are the Lynx, Valkyries, Aces, Indiana Fever, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty and the Wings.
Other than the Lynx's dominant lead for first place, just four games separate the next top seven teams. Five of those teams are within 1.5 games of each other, which means these final weeks of the regular season will be crucial in determining seeding for the playoffs.
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