ESPN Experts Pick WNBA Playoff First Round, Champion and Finals MVP
ESPN's panel breaks down every first-round series of the 2026 WNBA playoffs, along with picks for the eventual champion and Finals MVP.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.

ESPN has published a first-round predictions package for the 2026 WNBA playoffs, with its panel of experts weighing in on every series in the opening round.
Beyond the first-round matchups, the analysis extends to picking an eventual WNBA champion and a Finals MVP for the postseason, offering a broad look at how the bracket could play out.
The piece frames its predictions around which teams hold the edge in each series, reflecting the range of storylines and matchups that have emerged heading into this year's playoffs.
As the postseason unfolds, such predictions will be tested against the results on the court, providing a point of comparison for how closely pre-playoff expectations match the eventual outcome.
Sources
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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