The WNBA playoff picture sharpens as half the postseason positions are set

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA playoff picture is sharpening as the regular season enters its final day.

The Minnesota Lynx have clinched the top seed and will face eighth-seeded New York in the opening round that begins Sunday. The Atlanta Dream will be the four seed after beating New York on Wednesday night. They will play either Indiana or Washington.

“Everybody in the playoffs are capable of winning on the road and stealing a series,” Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said. “I definitely think it's an advantage to have to play in front of your home crowd.”

Indiana plays at Minnesota and Washington hosts Chicago on Thursday.

Dallas is locked into the seventh seed and will face either Golden State or Las Vegas. The Valkyries visit Los Angeles and the Aces play at Phoenix.

The Lynx clinched the top spot in the playoffs on Tuesday after Golden State lost to Portland in overtime. Minnesota benched its starters after an awful first half against Indiana. The Lynx reserves battled back, but fell short. Minnesota has dropped four of its past five games and has one game left at home against the Fever on 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. “Like one through eight you don’t know who will be playing at the end of October, which is exciting. I feel like for us we’re going to get a fresh start when it comes Sunday.”

Stewart missed Wednesday's game with knee soreness. New York also lost Jonquel Jones to an ankle injury in the third 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. The 1998 playoffs, which only had four teams, had all four teams at 60% or better.

In the four major sports it's rare to find the last place team in the playoffs with such a high win rate.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) shoots over Minnesota Lynx forward Dorka Juhasz (14) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives past Minnesota Lynx guard Maya Caldwell (3) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Stowers homered and the Miami Marlins prevented the Chicago Cubs from clinching a playoff berth for the second straight night with a 3-2 victory Wednesday.

Dansby Swanson drove in both runs for the Cubs, who needed a win or an Arizona loss to Colorado to secure an NL wild-card berth. The Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 5-3.

Joe Mack’s groundout brought home Augustin Ramirez with the go-ahead run in the seventh and the Marlins retired the next nine Chicago batters to win their second straight game after dropping three in San Diego.

Stowers hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot, off Kevin Gausman in the top of the sixth to break a scoreless tie. The Cubs evened things in the bottom of the inning when Swanson laced a broken-bat single into left field to bring home a pair of runs.

Cade Gibson (6-2), the second of four Miami relievers, struck out two in the seventh and Sandy Alcantara worked the ninth for his second save.

Reliever Ryan Rolison (9-2) took the loss.

Gausman struck out seven and allowed two runs, six hits and a walk in the first 5 2/3 innings. Miami’s Ryan Gusto allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.

Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong needed a stolen base to become the seventh player to join the 40-40 club but went 0 for 3 with a walk and remained at 45 home runs and 39 steals.

The Cubs have not named a starter for Thursday afternoon’s home finale. RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Marlins.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers celebrates his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson breaks his bat hitting a two RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong watches Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)