WNBA playoffs 2026: How the Liberty swept the Lynx and the Fever stayed alive
Fever Stay Alive as Liberty Eliminate Top-Seeded Lynx in WNBA Playoffs
The 2026 WNBA playoffs delivered another dramatic night Tuesday as the Indiana Fever avoided elimination while the New York Liberty completed a historic first-round upset of the Minnesota Lynx.
Playing at home at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever defeated the Las Vegas Aces 99-89 to even their first-round series and force a decisive Game 3. The final game of the series is scheduled to be played in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the No. 8-seeded Liberty ended the postseason run of the No. 1-seeded Lynx with an 87-71 victory at Barclays Center. New York had already taken Game 1 in Minnesota and followed it with another convincing performance at home to complete the sweep.
Caitlin Clark Leads Indiana's Fightback
Caitlin Clark delivered a major performance for Indiana, recording 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds. She shot 9-for-18 from the field and connected on five of her 11 attempts from three-point range.
Clark fouled out with 2:45 remaining while Indiana held a 92-83 advantage, but the Fever maintained control and closed out the 10-point victory. Her 15 assists helped Indiana generate consistent offensive opportunities throughout the game.
Kelsey Mitchell also played a major role, scoring 26 points, while Aliyah Boston contributed 22 points. The three players combined for 75 of Indiana's 99 points.
Las Vegas received 31 points from Jackie Young, while A'ja Wilson added 22 points and nine rebounds. Despite those individual performances, the Aces could not overcome Indiana's offensive production.
Fever Force a Decisive Game 3
The victory keeps Indiana's playoff campaign alive. After losing the opening game of the series, the Fever needed a win at home to extend the matchup, and they responded with one of their strongest offensive performances of the postseason.
Game 3 will now move to Las Vegas, giving the Aces home-court advantage in the deciding contest. The winner will advance while the losing team will see its season come to an end.
Liberty Make WNBA Playoff History
The Liberty produced the night's biggest surprise by eliminating the top-seeded Lynx.
New York won 87-71 behind 21 points from Jonquel Jones and 21 from Breanna Stewart. Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points as the Liberty controlled the game and completed the series sweep.
The result marked a historic moment in the WNBA playoffs, with New York becoming the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed.
The Lynx struggled to generate enough offense against the Liberty's defense. Olivia Miles, who was unanimously named WNBA Rookie of the Year on Monday, finished the game with five points.
A Night of Dramatic Playoff Results
Tuesday's results highlighted the unpredictable nature of the 2026 WNBA postseason. Indiana kept its season alive with a strong home performance, while New York completed one of the most notable first-round upsets in league playoff history.
For the Fever, attention now turns to Thursday's decisive Game 3 in Las Vegas. For the Liberty, the reward is a place in the WNBA semifinals, making New York the first team to advance to that round in the 2026 playoffs.
With Indiana and Las Vegas preparing for a winner-take-all matchup and New York moving forward, the postseason has already produced compelling storylines and historic results.
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