Lynx clinch No. 1 seed despite 96-77 loss to Fever
The short version
- Lynx lost to the Fever 96-77 after trailing by 23 at halftime.
- Cheryl Reeve benched her starters, including Napheesa Collier, for the second half.
- Minnesota still clinched the No. 1 seed when Golden State lost in overtime to Portland.
- The Lynx hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Valkyries via a 3-1 season series win.
- Minnesota is 18-4 on the road, the best mark in the WNBA.
Minnesota rested its starters in the second half of a lopsided defeat, then locked up home-court advantage when Golden State fell to Portland in overtime.
The Minnesota Lynx dropped a 96-77 decision to the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night, a game in which they trailed by 23 points at halftime. With the top seed in the 2026 WNBA playoffs on the line, head coach Cheryl Reeve chose to sit her key players, including Napheesa Collier, for the entire second half.
The decision proved harmless to Minnesota's standing. The Golden State Valkyries lost 90-82 in overtime to the Portland Fire later in the night, handing the Lynx the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Golden State could still match Minnesota's record with one game remaining, but the Lynx hold the tiebreaker after winning the season series 3-1.
Speaking to reporters after the loss, via Andrew Dukowitz of OnSI, Reeve said seeding was not a major concern for her group. "We're a damn good road team," she said.
The numbers back her up. Minnesota owns the WNBA's best road record this season at 18-4, compared with a 14-7 mark at home at Target Center.