The 2026 WNBA playoffs opened with a shocker: the eighth-seeded New York Liberty beat the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, 91-75, in Game 1. The Liberty are now one win away from becoming the first No. 8 seed to ever eliminate a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Breanna Stewart carried them there, and A’ja Wilson delivered another historic performance for the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
The final tally for Stewart read 34 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks on 11 of 18 shooting. It stands as the fourth 30-point, 10-rebound, five-assist game in WNBA playoff history, and it brings her total to three such outings across her career, second only to Wilson. Coach Chris DeMarco of the Liberty spoke of her versatility and leadership.
“She’s just everywhere. We talk a lot about putting out fires as coaches and where’s the threat. She’s just constantly putting it out,” DeMarco said. “We can feel when she’s out there, it gives us confidence.”
“If you don’t get up for these big moments, then you gotta rethink why you’re playing basketball.”
Stewart answered with those words when questioned about the victory, saying her teammates located her and supplied her with solid views of the rim.
Wilson’s Game 1 was even more dominant, with a stat line that showed she was nearly impossible to stop on both ends of the floor. She scored 38 points while grabbing 16 rebounds, adding two assists, two steals and four blocks, shooting 15 of 19 from the floor. Her night included tying her playoff career highs in scoring and rebounding, recording her sixth 30-point, 10-rebound playoff game (the most by any player), and her second 35-point, 15-rebound game in the playoffs — as many as every other player in WNBA history combined.
“I mean, defense is what’s gonna win us championships,” Wilson said. “I felt like if I could come out and be an anchor for our team in that situation, it allows everyone else to do their job. I can’t hold my teammates accountable if I’m not doing my job.”
Her shot chart showed the full range of her game: scoring underneath, on the block, at the elbow and from the wing. The Fever had no answer for any of it, not even Aliyah Boston, who has historically defended Wilson as well as anyone.
Mitchell Struggles for the Fever
Kelsey Mitchell had the best scoring season by a guard in WNBA history this year. Her 24.7 points per game were the fifth-highest single-season average, her 1,086 points were the most in a single season, and her 64.2% true shooting was tied for the second-highest among 20-point scorers in WNBA history.
But Mitchell’s season ended on a low note. In the Fever’s regular-season finale on Thursday, she was held to a season-low 10 points on 3 of 12 shooting, snapping her record streak of 27 consecutive 20-point games. In Game 1 against the Aces, she managed just 12 points on 4 of 16 shooting. That was her second-lowest scoring performance and tied for her worst shooting mark.
Despite the Aces already being locked in, it was Mitchell’s poor night that changed things. This marks the sixth occasion, across both the regular season and the playoffs, that Mitchell has shot below 40%. The Fever sit at 1-5 in those games, with three defeats by 15 or more points. She’ll need to produce a far better performance if the team hopes to avoid elimination on Tuesday.
Bonner’s Third Quarter Surge
After being let go by the Phoenix Mercury, DeWanna Bonner came aboard the Atlanta Dream in late August. She inked with the team on Aug. 27, right before the World Cup break. Across five regular-season contests with the Dream, she reached double digits in scoring just once.
Bonner went without a point through the opening half of Game 1. She then came back into the action early in the third quarter and found success right away, taking advantage of a mismatch against Georgia Amoore. Her performance turned the game around entirely, with Bonner scoring 11 of her 13 points during that period. She was close to matching the Mystics’ entire output by herself in that single frame.
Bonner’s performance gave the Dream momentum as they pulled away for a 92-77 win. The Dream are now up 1-0 in their series against the Mystics.
What Comes Next
The schedule gives every team a break on Monday before Tuesday’s opening round of Game 2s resumes. In one matchup, the Lynx face the Liberty in Game 2, where the Liberty hold a 1-0 advantage. In the other, the Aces take on the Fever in Game 2, with the Aces also ahead 1-0.
The playoffs are still young, but Stewart and Wilson have already stamped their series with performances for the record books. Stewart’s win against the Lynx was a reminder that she is one of the greatest winners in the game, no matter the stage. Wilson’s efficiency in Game 1 was the most efficient 30-point playoff game in WNBA history.
Whether Mitchell can bounce back for the Fever and whether Bonner can keep delivering in the third quarter for the Dream remains the issue. Both players will need to perform at the level they showed on Sunday if either team hopes to move forward.
See the video the story is built around at CBS Sports.
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