Updated WNBA Playoff Bracket Picture 2026 After Liberty Eliminate Lynx, Fever Beat Aces

Elimination was on the table Tuesday during a pair of Game 2s in the 2026 WNBA playoffs.

First, the reigning-champion Las Vegas Aces had an opportunity to eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever after winning the first contest at home. Then, the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx had their backs against the wall after dropping the first game to the New York Liberty.

Indiana Fever def. Las Vegas Aces, 99-89 (Series tied, 1-1)

New York Liberty def. Minnesota Lynx, 87-71 (NY wins series, 2-0)

The three-time All-Star was unstoppable and led the Fever to a 99-89 victory over A'ja Wilson and the Aces to even the series at a game apiece. She made history as the first WNBA player to record a double-double with points and assists in a playoff half and finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds.

While she was the star, Kelsey Mitchell (26 points) and Aliyah Boston (22 points) provided important support and helped counter an incredible performance from Jackie Young (31 points, five assists and four rebounds) and a near double-double from Wilson (22 points and nine rebounds).

Indiana figured to be the more desperate team out of the gates with its season on the line, but it was actually Las Vegas that seized early momentum and built a double-digit lead with Wilson getting to the line, Chelsea Gray hitting from deep and Young doing a little bit of everything.

The frustration was apparent for the home team when Clark picked up a technical foul, but she also responded in superstar fashion.

The Fever stormed back to take a five-point halftime lead with Clark putting on a show. She connected from deep as usual but also didn't hesitate to attack the lane and get out in transition. That created open looks for her teammates when the Aces collapsed, and Mitchell provided a scoring burst as the dynamic backcourt duo took over for stretches.

Raven Johnson hit a buzzer-beater off Clark's 11th assist in the first half in a fitting finish for a guard-led flurry.

Indiana extended its lead to double digits in the third quarter with Clark continuing to play brilliantly and Boston establishing herself as a scorer to give the home team more of a frontcourt presence.

Of course, having Clark dishing dimes to her made life easier for Boston as she cut into the space created by all the attention the guard drew.

The Aces didn't go down without a fight, though, as Young caught fire and aggressively sought out her shot while cutting the deficit to as low as three in the fourth quarter. While Clark responded with two massive threes to create more breathing room again, she fouled out with fewer than three minutes remaining.

Fortunately for the Fever, they had enough breathing room to put the game away.

The Liberty completed a two-game sweep of the Lynx with a blowout 87-71 victory behind stifling defense and an excellent performance from their three stars. Jonquel Jones (21 points and 13 rebounds), Sabrina Ionescu (18 points and seven assists) and Breanna Stewart (21 points, five rebounds and four assists) were unstoppable and in full control throughout the contest.

Napheesa Collier (14 points and seven rebounds) and Courtney Williams (18 points, eight rebounds and five assists) did what they could for the Lynx, but it was to no avail.

If the Game 1 victory wasn't all the proof fans needed, the start of Tuesday's contest further drove home the point that the Liberty are far from a typical No. 8 seed with so much star power.

It was Stewart who dominated Game 1 with 34 points, but New York used a balanced approach to build a commanding 12-point halftime lead right out of the gates in Game 2. Jones was unguardable inside as a matchup problem for the Lynx frontcourt, while Ionescu hit from deep and facilitated as the lead guard.

Stewart, of course, was also quite involved and did a little bit of everything.

She attacked the basket as a scorer, contributed on the glass, mixed in some assists and even protected the rim as a shot-blocker. The blocks were part of a stout defensive approach for New York, as Minnesota struggled to generate any type of offensive momentum as its season seemed to be slipping away.

It was more of the same in the third quarter, as everything was difficult for the Lynx on the offensive side with Liberty defenders swarming shooters and cutting off driving lanes.

Throw in Ionescu's three-pointers in front of a raucous home crowd, and all the momentum and a 12-point lead was on New York's side heading into the fourth. Suddenly, a Minnesota team that finished with more wins than anyone else in the league this season was staring at a stunning exit without a single playoff victory.

Things went from bad to worse for the Lynx for much of the fourth as well with star guard Olivia Miles on the bench amid a rough shooting performance (1-of-8 from the field) and an offense desperately looking for answers.

Even when it found a temporary one with Aari McDonald and Collier hitting back-to-back jumpers, Ionescu was ready with an answer with an assist to Jones and a driving layup. It reached a point that the final minutes were nothing more than a formality with the Liberty in full control.