Overtime Drama to Open the Playoffs

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Liberty Steal Game 1 in Overtime 🗽

The first round of the WNBA Playoffs tipped off Sunday! The 5-seed Liberty upset the 4-seed Mercury in Phoenix, winning in overtime to snatch home-court advantage.

Elsewhere, the higher seeds came out on top — the Lynx, Dream, and Aces all grabbed Game 1 wins to take 1-0 series leads. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: In a best-of-three, Game 1 is everything. Historically, 71% of teams that win it advance. That means Phoenix, Indiana, Golden State, and Seattle are now facing elimination.

👉 Game 2s are Tuesday (Dream vs Fever, Aces vs Storm) and Wednesday (Mercury vs Liberty, Lynx vs Valkyries). See the schedule.

2. Dallas Wings Hold Top Draft Odds 🎯 

The regular season is done, and the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery picture is coming into focus. Five teams are in the running for the top overall pick, but the Dallas Wings have the highest odds of winning the lottery. (CBS Sports)

• Dallas Wings: 40% chance

• Chicago Sky (pick owed to Lynx): 25%

• LA Sparks (pick owed to Storm): 17%

• Washington Mystics: 11%

• Connecticut Sun (pick owed to Sky): 7% 

WHY IT MATTERS: The lottery decides the order for the first five picks. Odds are based on a team’s combined record over the past two seasons. Trades have shaken up the picture: the Sky, Sparks, and Sun have given away their first-round pick rights in previous trade agreements.

👉 Remember: the team with the best odds doesn’t always win — LA had them last year, but Dallas landed the pick and drafted Paige Bueckers.

3. A’ja Wilson Wins Top AP Honors 👑

The Associated Press handed out their awards on Friday — and A’ja Wilson took home both Player of the Year (2nd straight) and Defensive Player of the Year (her 3rd in four years).

Other winners:

• Rookie of the Year: Paige Bueckers

• Coach of the Year: Natalie Nakase

• Comeback Player: Shakira Austin

• Most Improved: Veronica Burton

• Sixth Woman: Naz Hillmon

WHY IT MATTERS: The AP awards are prestigious, voted on by a national media panel, but they’re not the official WNBA awards, which will be announced over the course of the next few weeks. Still, Wilson’s clinch of the top two awards underscores her impressive season.

👉 See the complete list of winners — including All-WNBA and All-Rookie teams