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Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-24 · by Doug Feinberg The Associated Press
The WNBA playoff picture has become clearer as the regular season nears its end, with Minnesota securing the top seed and New York clinching eighth place. Atlanta will face either Indiana or Washington as the four-seed based on Wednesday's results. The article highlights uncertainties in the postseason matchups due to teams' close win records; for instance, all playoff teams have won at least 59% of their games, a rare occurrence even among top-tier sports leagues.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The WNBA playoff picture has crystallized as the regular season nears its end, with half of the postseason positions now set. On Wednesday night, the Atlanta Dream clinched the fourth seed in the playoffs with an 83-65 victory over the New York Liberty. This secured Atlanta's place for the first round games beginning Sunday. The Liberty, missing star player Breanna Stewart due to left knee soreness, locked into the eighth seed and will face the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.
Additionally, on Thursday, Indiana plays at Minnesota while Washington hosts Chicago, with Dallas already locked in as the seventh seed and set to play either Golden State or Las Vegas. Atlanta awaits confirmation of their first-round opponent—either Indiana or Washington—whoever wins between them on Thursday night will face the Dream. The playoff atmosphere underscores a tightly contested season where even top teams like Minnesota have struggled recently; the Lynx dropped four of their last five games before clinching the top seed, indicating that any team can win in the playoffs regardless of seeding.
Written for “WNBA Playoffs Positions” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
The WNBA playoff picture is sharpening as the regular season enters its final day.
asserted
season → sharpen → day
The Minnesota Lynx have clinched the top seed and will face eighth-seeded New York in the opening round that begins Sunday.
asserted
that → clinch → round
The Atlanta Dream will be the four seed after beating New York on Wednesday night.
asserted
Dream → beat → night
They will play either Indiana or Washington.
asserted
They → play → Indiana
“Everybody in the playoffs are capable of winning on the road and stealing a series,” Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said.
asserted
Smesko → win → series
“I definitely think it’s an advantage to have to play in front of your home crowd.”
asserted
it → think → crowd
Indiana plays at Minnesota and Washington hosts Chicago on Thursday.
asserted
Washington → play → Thursday
Dallas is locked into the seventh seed and will face either Golden State or Las Vegas.
asserted
Dallas → lock → State
The Valkyries visit Los Angeles and the Aces play at Phoenix.
asserted
Aces → visit → Phoenix
The Lynx clinched the top spot in the playoffs on Tuesday after Golden State lost to Portland in overtime.
asserted
State → clinch → overtime
Minnesota benched its starters after an awful first half against Indiana.
asserted
Minnesota → bench → Indiana
The Lynx reserves battled back, but fell short.
asserted
reserves → battle → ?
Minnesota has dropped four of its past five games and has one game left at home against the Fever on Thursday.
asserted
Minnesota → drop → Thursday
“The margin for error throughout this regular season is incredibly small and you’ll see that in the playoffs,” said New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart.
asserted
Stewart → see → playoffs
“Like one through eight you don’t know who will be playing at the end of October, which is exciting.
asserted
which → know → October
I feel like for us we’re going to get a fresh start when it comes Sunday.”
asserted
it → feel → start
Stewart missed Wednesday’s game with knee soreness.
asserted
Stewart → miss → soreness
New York also lost Jonquel Jones to an ankle injury in the third quarter.
asserted
York → lose → quarter
With New York finishing at 26-18, this is only the second time in league history that all the playoff teams have won at least 59% of their games.
asserted
teams → finish → games
The 1998 playoffs, which only had four teams, had all four teams at 60% or better.
asserted
which → have → %
In the four major sports it’s rare to find the last place team in the playoffs with such a high win rate.
asserted
it → ’ → rate
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