Minnesota Lynx clinch No. 1 seed for WNBA playoffs, despite loss to Fever

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Monique Billings #25 of the Indiana Fever drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Lynx on September 22, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images / Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Lynx have officially locked in the first-overall seed for the WNBA playoffs.

Lynx lock in top seed

What we know:

The Lynx needed a win or a Golden State Valkyries loss Tuesday night to clinch the top spot. Unfortunately, the Lynx didn’t get it done for themselves.

Rookie guard Olivia Miles was out with a calf injury for Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Fever. The Lynx struggled from the start, with the Fever leading by as much as 29 points in the first half.

Indiana’s fast start led head coach Cheryl Reeve to pull the starters to avoid any injuries.

The Lynx eventually lost to the Fever 96-77.

What they’re saying:

“I’m old enough to know that chasing wins is a really bad idea when you play every other day and start in playoffs on Sunday. That’s really at this point what it’s about,” Reeve said after the game. “I think the players you know like seeding for us … that’s all the conversation that everybody’s into right now. I really could care less about seeding and wherever it lands, it lands. Whatever it is, it’ll be what we deserve.”