Why Fever-Lynx doubleheader could decide WNBA's No. 1 seed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Lynx have spent most of the 2026 season looking like the WNBA's team to beat. Finishing the job will not be simple. Minnesota returns from the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup break with a league-best 31-9 record. The Lynx have already clinched a playoff berth, but they have not secured the No. 1 seed or home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
Golden State sits only two games behind Minnesota at 29-11. The Lynx own the head-to-head tiebreaker, giving them control of the race, but their final four games are considerably more difficult than the Valkyries' remaining schedule.
Minnesota hosts the New York Liberty on Friday before visiting the eliminated Connecticut Sun. The season then could be decided by two games against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever over three days. The Lynx visit Indiana on Sept. 22 and host the Fever in the regular-season finale Sept. 24.
The playoff math is straightforward.

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