The Minnesota Lynx secured the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the 2026 WNBA playoffs after the Portland Fire handed the Golden State Valkyries an overtime loss on Tuesday night. The Valkyries’ defeat ended their six-game winning streak and confirmed the Lynx’s position atop the standings despite Minnesota’s own loss earlier that evening.
The Lynx fell 96-79 to the Indiana Fever in a game where MVP candidate Olivia Miles sat out due to a calf injury. Minnesota trailed by as many as 29 points in the first half, prompting coach Cheryl Reeve to rest her starters at halftime. The reserves made a brief push to cut the deficit but ultimately couldn’t overcome the gap. Meanwhile, Golden State’s early dominance over Portland had suggested a tight race for the top seed would continue into the final day of the regular season. That changed when the Valkyries collapsed in overtime, handing the Lynx the top seed for the second year running.
Minnesota currently faces the New York Liberty in the first round, though the bottom half of the playoff bracket remains unsettled with the final games still to be played. The Lynx’s final regular-season game, a rematch with the Fever on Thursday, carries no impact on their seeding. Reeve may see it as an opportunity to prepare for the postseason, especially with her starters rested in Indianapolis and Miles’ availability still uncertain.
This marks the first time since the 2016-17 seasons that the Lynx have captured the No. 1 seed in back-to-back campaigns. Their last championship came in 2017, and Minnesota will be aiming to return to that level after a disappointing playoff exit last year. Despite leading the league in offensive, defensive, and net rating during the 2025 season, the Lynx were eliminated in the semifinals following multiple blown double-digit leads against the Phoenix Mercury and the loss of star forward Napheesa Collier to a season-ending ankle injury.
Collier underwent surgery on both ankles during an active offseason that saw the Lynx lose six rotation players to expansion drafts and free agency. The arrival of Miles, the No. 2 overall pick, alongside veterans Natasha Howard and Nia Brodie, tempered expectations in Minneapolis ahead of the summer. Yet the Lynx defied that outlook by starting the season 10-2 and maintaining first place since July 12. Collier returned from injury on July 22, by which time Minnesota was 21-6.
The Lynx have posted two significant winning streaks this season: an eight-game run and a 10-game stretch, the longest of any team in 2026. They rank third in offensive rating at 112.3, fourth in defensive rating at 104, and second in net rating at plus-8.2. These numbers place them as strong favorites heading into the playoffs, which begin on Sunday.
Miles has quickly become one of the league’s standout players and appears on course to be a unanimous Rookie of the Year. While she is unlikely to unseat A’ja Wilson as MVP—Wilson holds odds of -7000 at FanDuel compared to Miles’ +2700—Miles is expected to earn first-place votes and possibly a spot on the All-WNBA First Team.
Howard stepped up in Collier’s absence to nearly match her production and earned her first All-Star selection since 2022. Although her numbers have dipped slightly with Collier back, Howard still delivers one of her best seasons. Veteran guards Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams have also contributed consistently, rounding out a roster that has benefited from Reeve’s experienced coaching.
With the No. 1 seed locked in and home-court advantage secured, the Lynx have positioned themselves to make a strong push in the playoffs despite recent setbacks and injuries.
According to CBS.