8 seeds to beat a 1 seed in WNBA: Complete history of biggest first-round playoff upsets

8 seeds to beat a 1 seed in WNBA: Complete history of biggest first-round playoff upsets originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Based on the way the 2026 WNBA playoff bracket shook out, the Liberty were able to make history.

While New York is an eighth seed in this year’s bracket, the pedigree and star talent of the Liberty roster make them one of the more dangerous lower-seed teams the WNBA playoffs have ever seen.

The 2024 champs, still led by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, were able to knock off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round. In the NBA, a No. 8 seed has beaten a No. 1 seed on only six occasions. In the WNBA, it’s an even rarer feat.

Here’s a look at the history of No. 8 seeds taking down a No. 1 in WNBA history and some more of the top upsets in league history. 

MORE:The Sporting News’ staff predictions for 2026 WNBA playoffs

How many times has an 8 seed beat a 1 seed in WNBA playoffs?

The first time a No. 8 seed beat a No. 1 seed in WNBA history came in 2026, when the Liberty beat the Lynx.

The league returned to a best-of-three series for the No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed in 2022. Afterward, it wasn’t until the Liberty’s 91-75 victory over the Lynx in the 2026 playoffs that a top seed even dropped one game of a series against an eighth seed. According to The Athletic, over the first four postseasons with the 1 vs. 8 matchup prior to 2026, the average margin in those games had been 19.5 points.

With a chance to take down the Lynx at home, New York dominated Game 2 by a score of 87-71 behind Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, who combined for 60 points.

Part of the reason that there hasn’t been many chances for a No. 8 vs. No. 1 upset in WNBA history is the playoff format. It wasn’t until 2000 that eight teams even made the playoffs, and from 2016-21, despite being seeded 1-through-8 regardless of conference, the top two teams received byes to the semifinals.

MORE: Full WNBA playoff picture, matchups

Biggest WNBA playoff upsets 

On top of the lack of a No. 8 vs. No. 1 upset, there has never been a No. 2 seed to lose to a No. 7 seed.

Here’s a look at some of the more notable upsets in WNBA playoff history:

2001: No. 4 Sting beat No. 1 Rockers in first round

The changing playoff formats over the years has meant there aren’t many No. 1 seeds who even had to play in the first round. But one of the closest things to a major first-round upset in WNBA history came in 2001, when fourth-seeded Charlotte took down the top-seeded Rockers in three games.

After finishing the regular season at 18-14, the Sting took down the 22-win Rockers with a seven-point Game 1 victory, then an eight-point road win in Game 3. Charlotte went on to upset the Liberty in Round 2 before losing to the Sparks in the Finals.

2006: Sun, Sparks both fall as No. 1 seed in conference finals

The 2006 WNBA playoffs saw both No. 1 seeds fail to make the Finals in a conference-based format. The Sun claimed the Eastern Conference’s top seed after going 26-8, while the Sparks led the Western Conference at 25-9.

However, in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Shock pulled off a three-game upset over Connecticut, while the Sacramento Monarchs upset the Sparks in two games in the Western Conference Finals.

Detroit ultimately won the Finals in a decisive Game 5 over Sacramento.

2011: No. 3 Dream beat No. 1 Fever in Conference Finals

While the top-seeded Fever did reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011, Indiana ultimately was upset by the Dream with the Finals on the line.

Izi Castro Marques and Angel McCoughtry helped guide Atlanta to the WNBA Finals, where the squad then fell to Minnesota.

2021: Sky upset Lynx, Sun, Mercury en route to title

One of the rare “Cinderella” runs in WNBA playoff history came in 2021, when Chicago, as a No. 6 seed, made a run to the title.

Led by Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper, the Sky won a one-game playoff against the No. 7-seeded Wings, upset the third-seeded Lynx in Round 2, won the series 3-1 over the top-seeded Sun in the semifinals, then took down the No. 5 Mercury in four games to win it all.

Copper was named Finals MVP as Chicago completed one of the greatest underdog runs in league history.

2025: No. 6 Fever take down No. 3 Dream

Last year, the Fever became the first WNBA team to win a first-round series as the lower-seeded squad since the league changed its playoff format in 2022. 

Indiana, the No. 6 seed, took down third-seeded Atlanta in three games; while the Dream took Game behind 20 points each from Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, the Fever, who were without Caitlin Clark due to injury, bounced back to claim Games 2 and 3 behind Kelsey Mitchell.

2026: No. 8 Liberty make history over No.1 Lynx

The Liberty executed the biggest upset in WNBA history by becoming the first ever No.8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed.

New York was not your typical No. 8 seed, as they employed Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu, making for a dangerous low seed. Minnesota, meanwhile, was led by rookie Olivia Miles, who showed her lack of experience with an underwhelming series. New York took Game 1, then returned home to sweep Minnesota and make history in the process.