Lower than two weeks stay within the 2024 WNBA common season, and the playoff image is taking form. Seven groups have clinched a postseason berth, whereas on Sunday the Dallas Wings joined the Los Angeles Sparks as groups formally heading to the lottery. That leaves three groups — the Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics — battling for the ultimate spot.
There have been 5 video games on a busy Sunday throughout the league. Early on, the Lynx dealt the Mystics a severe blow of their late playoff push, whereas the Fever did the same to the Dream with a 16-point second-half comeback and the Liberty completed the regular-season sweep of the Aces. Afterward, the Sky acquired an enormous win within the battle for eighth and eradicated the Wings within the course of, and the Solar took down the Sparks to maintain tempo within the race for the No. 2 seed.
As a refresher, the highest eight groups, no matter convention affiliation, make the playoffs within the WNBA. Underneath the present playoff format, the groups are positioned into a regular bracket with the No. 1 seed enjoying No. 8 within the first spherical, No. 2 vs. No. 7 and so forth. Groups will play a best-of-three collection within the first spherical and best-of-five collection within the semifinals and finals. Notably, the primary spherical is a 2-1 format, which implies the upper seed will get the primary two video games at residence, whereas the decrease seed will get the deciding Sport 3 at residence ought to the collection go that far. Within the semifinals and finals, it’s a customary 2-2-1 format, with the upper seed internet hosting Video games 1, 2 and 5, if vital.
This is every thing it’s good to know concerning the present playoff image, together with the standings and key tiebreakers:
Standings
- New York Liberty (29-6) — Playoff spot clinched
- Minnesota Lynx (26-9) — Playoff spot clinched
- Connecticut Sun (25-10) — Playoff spot clinched
- Las Vegas Aces (22-13) — Playoff spot clinched
- Seattle Storm (21-14) — Playoff spot clinched
- Indiana Fever (19-17) — Playoff spot clinched
- Phoenix Mercury (17-19) — Playoff spot clinched
- Chicago Sky (13-22)
- Atlanta Dream (12-23)
- Washington Mystics (11-24)
- Dallas Wings (9-26) — Eradicated
- Los Angeles Sparks (7-28) — Eradicated
Be aware: Two-team ties are determined first by head-to-head document after which, if vital, higher document in opposition to .500+ groups. Ties between greater than two groups are decided by mixed head-to-head document in opposition to the opposite groups.
Liberty alone on the prime
1. New York Liberty (29-6)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Lynx (1-1); vs. Solar (3-1)
The Liberty gained once more on Sunday, as they held off the Aces to finish a regular-season sweep of the reigning champions. They continue to be three video games forward of the Lynx and 4 video games up on the Solar. With simply 5 video games remaining, it might take a significant collapse for the Liberty to overlook out on the No. 1 seed.
Key remaining video games: vs. Lynx, Sept. 15
Lynx leapfrog Solar for second
2. Minnesota Lynx (26-9)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Liberty (1-1); vs. Solar (0-2); vs. Storm (3-1); vs. Aces (3-1)
The Lynx prolonged their successful streak to a few video games by beating the red-hot Mystics on Sunday. They’re now 9-1 post-Olympic break, the very best document within the league in that span, and stay a full sport up on the Solar within the race for the No. 2 seed.
Key remaining video games: at Liberty, Sept. 15; at Solar, Sept. 17
3. Connecticut Solar (25-10)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Liberty (1-3); vs. Lynx (2-0); vs. Storm (1-2); vs. Aces (0-2)
The Solar acquired again within the win column on Sunday in opposition to the last-place Sparks, however their latest struggles have seen them drop down to 3rd place. They’re a sport again of the Lynx, who’ve been the very best workforce within the league post-Olympic break. Chasing them down will not be straightforward.
Key remaining video games: at Aces, Sept. 15; vs. Lynx, Sept. 17
Aces’ lead in race for fourth shrinks
4. Las Vegas Aces (22-12)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Solar (2-0); vs. Lynx (1-3); vs. Storm (2-1)
The Aces had gained 4 in a row heading into Sunday’s showdown with the Liberty, however their momentum was halted by a defeat that got here with out MVP favourite A’ja Wilson. She is day-to-day with an ankle damage, and whereas there isn’t any long-term issues, it could be tough for the Aces to carry on to fourth if she misses just a few extra video games.
Key remaining video games: vs. Solar, Sept. 15; at Storm, Sept. 17
5. Seattle Storm (21-14)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Solar (2-0); vs. Lynx (1-3); vs. Aces (1-2)
The Storm acquired again within the win column in emphatic vogue on Saturday with a 24-point thumping of the Mercury. This has been a tricky few weeks for the Storm, who’re nonetheless solely 4-6 for the reason that Olympic break. They’re nonetheless only one sport again of the Aces for fourth with a sport to play between them, although, in order that they have an opportunity to maneuver up.
Key remaining video games: vs. Aces, Sept. 17
Surging Fever solidify maintain on sixth
6. Indiana Fever (19-17)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Mercury (3-0); vs. Sky (3-1); vs. Dream (3-0)
The Fever prevented back-to-back losses with a shocking 16-point comeback on Sunday to beat the Dream in extra time. They’re now two video games up on the Mercury within the race for sixth, and personal the tiebreaker, with simply 4 video games to play for each groups
Key remaining video games: vs. Dream, Sept. 8
7. Phoenix Mercury (17-19)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Fever (0-3); vs. Sky (2-0)
It is wanting increasingly just like the Mercury will wind up with the No. 7 seed. They have been overwhelmed soundly by the Storm on Saturday and have now dropped 5 of their final six. They’re two video games again of the Fever, who maintain the tiebreaker between the groups, which basically makes it a three-game hole with 4 to play.
Key remaining video games: N/A
Sky, Dream, Mystics battling for last spot
8. Chicago Sky (13-22)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Dream (2-1); vs. Mystics (1-2)
Regardless of Angel Reese’s absence as a consequence of a season-ending wrist damage, the Sky performed certainly one of their greatest video games of the season to get rid of the Wings from playoff rivalry. They’ve now gained two in a row and are a full sport up on the Dream for the eighth and last playoff spot.
Key remaining video games: vs. Mystics, Sept. 11; at Dream, Sept. 17
9. Atlanta Dream (12-23)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Sky (1-2); vs. Mystics (1-1)
The Dream’s playoff hopes took a significant hit on Sunday once they blew a 16-point second-half result in the Fever earlier than dropping in extra time. They’re now a full sport again of the Sky within the race for eighth, although there’s nonetheless one sport to be performed between the golf equipment.
Key remaining video games: vs. Mystics, Sept. 13; at Mystics, Sept. 15; vs. Sky, Sept. 17
10. Washington Mystics (11-24)
- Tiebreakers: vs. Sky (2-1); vs. Dream (1-1)
The Mystics could not pull off one other upset on Sunday, as they fell to the second-place Lynx in a aggressive contest. Now two video games again of the Sky, they’re going to have to win their matchup in Chicago on Wednesday to have any hope of stealing the ultimate playoff spot.
Key remaining video games: at Sky, Sept. 11; at Dream, Sept. 13; vs. Dream, Sept. 15
Wings and Sparks lottery sure
11. Dallas Wings (9-26)
The Wings have been formally eradicated from playoff rivalry on Sunday with a loss to the Sky, their fourth in a row. They’d horrible damage luck within the pre-Olympics portion of the season, however in addition they did not play nicely lately even as soon as everybody had returned. With simply three gamers on assured offers for subsequent season, an enormous winter is in retailer in Dallas
12. Los Angeles Sparks (7-28)
The Sparks have been the primary workforce eradicated from playoff rivalry this season. That is the fourth consecutive lottery look for the Sparks, the longest such streak in franchise historical past.
