Minnesota Lynx vs New York Liberty: 2026 WNBA Playoffs First-Round Schedule, TV Info, Dates, Times, Series Preview
The No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx will face the No. 8 New York Liberty in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs.
The best-of-three series is a rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals, which the Liberty won in five games.
Minnesota finished the regular season with a league-best 33-11 record, earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. New York finished 26-18 and secured the final playoff spot.
The Liberty also won the 2026 regular-season series 2-1 against the Lynx.
2026 WNBA Playoffs First-Round Schedule: Lynx vs Liberty
All times are listed in Central Time.
Game 1
Date: Sunday, September 27
Time: 1:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis
TV: ABC
Game 2
Date: Tuesday, September 29
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
TV: USA Network / CNBC
Game 3, If Necessary
Date: Thursday, October 1
Time: TBD
Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis
TV: TBD
The first-round series uses a 1-1-1 format. Minnesota, as the higher seed, hosts Games 1 and 3 if a deciding third game is required.
Lynx vs Liberty Series Preview
This matchup has added significance because it is a rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals.
New York has already shown it can challenge Minnesota this season. The Liberty won two of the three regular-season meetings, including a 93-81 victory in Minneapolis on September 18.
Minnesota enters the playoffs after posting the league's best regular-season record. Napheesa Collier will be one of the team's key players as the Lynx look to advance.
New York brings championship experience into the series. Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones headline the Liberty lineup.
Key Storylines for Lynx vs Liberty
Minnesota Has Home-Court Advantage
The Lynx finished 33-11 and will host Game 1. They will also host Game 3 if the series goes the distance.
Liberty Won the Regular-Season Series
New York won two of three meetings with Minnesota during the regular season, including its 93-81 road victory on September 18.
2024 Finals Rematch
The series renews the matchup from the 2024 WNBA Finals, when the Liberty defeated the Lynx in five games.
How to Watch Lynx vs Liberty
Game 1: ABC
Game 2: USA Network and CNBC
Game 3: TV information TBD
Streaming options are expected to include the respective network apps and services, with exact availability to be confirmed closer to tip-off.
Fans can also follow live scores and updates through official WNBA platforms and major sports outlets.
What Happens After the First Round?
The winner of the Lynx vs Liberty series will advance to the best-of-five WNBA semifinals, which begin in early October.
The 2026 WNBA Finals will be played as a best-of-seven series starting October 17.
Minnesota Lynx vs New York Liberty Quick Facts
- Series: 2026 WNBA Playoffs First Round
- Format: Best of three
- No. 1 seed: Minnesota Lynx
- No. 8 seed: New York Liberty
- Minnesota record: 33-11
- New York record: 26-18
- Regular-season series: Liberty lead 2-1
- Game 1: September 27
- Game 1 TV: ABC
- Game 2: September 29
- Game 2 TV: USA Network / CNBC
- Game 3: October 1, if necessary
The series tips off Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, with Minnesota holding home-court advantage and New York entering the playoffs after winning the regular-season matchup 2-1.
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