Minnesota Clinches WNBA Playoff Berth as Seattle Eliminated in 2026 Season
ESPN power rankings highlight the widening gap between contenders and struggling franchises, with the Lynx securing their spot while the Storm become the first team officially out of postseason contention.
The Minnesota Lynx have officially secured a playoff berth in the 2026 WNBA season, while the Seattle Storm have become the first team eliminated from the postseason. With ten to thirteen games remaining in the regular season, the league is experiencing a significant separation between top contenders and struggling teams, according to the latest power rankings published by ESPN.
The Lynx lead the rankings, followed closely by the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever, who are battling for seeding positions. The Golden State Valkyries have won four consecutive games and sit in the middle of the playoff hunt, while the Washington Mystics hold the league's longest active winning streak at seven games.
Conversely, the Dallas Wings and Portland Fire face difficult odds, with Dallas suffering key injuries to Jessica Shepard and Azzi Fudd. The Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury are effectively out of contention, while the Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky remain in the mix but face tough schedules.
The Los Angeles Sparks are attempting a comeback from six games back, and the expansion Tempo continue their losing streak. The structural divide in the league is becoming increasingly apparent as teams navigate the final quarter of the 44-game season.
