The 2026 WNBA season is barreling toward the playoffs, and with the schedule paused in early September for the FIBA World Cup, the contenders and award favorites have come into sharp focus.
Minnesota Sets the Standard
The Minnesota Lynx own the league's best record at 31-9, with all eight playoff berths across the league now clinched. Their combination of depth, defense and star power has made them the clear championship front-runner heading into the postseason.
The Standings Behind Them
The race for seeding remains tight. The expansion Golden State Valkyries have been the surprise of the season at 29-11, with the Las Vegas Aces (27-13) right behind. The Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever (both 26-14), plus the New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings (all 24-16), round out a crowded playoff field.
Wilson Leads the MVP Race
Las Vegas superstar A'ja Wilson is chasing a fifth MVP and once again setting the benchmark, averaging 26.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and a league-leading 2.0 blocks per game. Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles has emerged as her top challenger by steering the Lynx to the league's best record, while Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark stay firmly in the awards conversation. Mitchell earlier set a WNBA record by scoring 20+ points in 23 consecutive games.
A Break, Then the Sprint
The league paused in early September for the FIBA World Cup before resuming for the final stretch, with the regular season set to end September 24. Playoffs are scheduled to tip off September 27, setting up a dramatic finish to a season brimming with star power and parity.
*Reported by the Urban City Podcast Sports newsroom — urbancitypodcastsports.com. Standings and statistics verified as of September 6, 2026.*