Five burning questions for the WNBA playoffs: Can the Lynx win first title since 2017? Will Liberty, Dream vanquish first-round demons?

Key Points:

• The WNBA playoffs begin Sunday amid a tightly contested regular season where seeding was only finalized in the final days, signaling a chaotic and competitive postseason with potential early upsets due to the 1-1-1 best-of-three format.
• Minnesota Lynx, leading the league in net rating and featuring key players like Napheesa Collier and Olivia Miles, aim to break their recent Finals heartbreaks and capture a record fifth championship, fueled by a strong "F-you" attitude toward rivals.
• The recent World Cup break provided teams rest and a chance to recalibrate, contributing to a wide-open playoff field with no clear favorite and closely contested games, reminiscent of the 2021 Olympics break that saw lower seeds reach the Finals.
• The 2026 season has seen a historic offensive surge, with record-setting scoring and three-point shooting across multiple teams, raising questions about whether defense or just timely stops will determine the champion in this high-powered environment.
• Teams like the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty are focused on overcoming first-round playoff exits, with the Dream bolstered by key acquisitions aiming for their first-ever title, while the Liberty seek to avoid a deeper rebuild after recent postseason disappointments.