The ultimate month of the WNBA common season has arrived, which implies it is formally time for the playoff push. Every group has fewer than 12 video games remaining, and 10 of the league’s 13 groups are inside attain of a playoff spot. And whereas the Minnesota Lynx — who formally clinched a playoff spot Tuesday — have opened up an enormous lead within the race for the No. 1 seed, each different seed stays up for grabs.
There have been no video games on Monday, however the motion will return in a severe means Tuesday night time with an enormous five-game slate. The entire contests, together with one other playoff rematch between the Lynx and New York Liberty, have playoff implications.
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Jack Maloney
As a reminder, the highest eight groups make the playoffs, no matter convention standings. From there, they’re positioned into a normal eight-team bracket. The primary spherical of the playoffs is a best-of-three, whereas the semifinals are a best-of-five and the Finals, as of this season, are a best-of-seven.
The common season will conclude on Sept. 11 and the playoffs start on Sept. 14. The final doable Finals date is Oct. 19.
Standings
- Minnesota Lynx (28-5) — Clinched playoff berth
- Atlanta Dream (22-12)
- New York Liberty (21-13)
- Phoenix Mercury (20-13)
- Las Vegas Aces (21-14)
- Indiana Fever (19-16)
- Golden State Valkyries (18-16)
- Seattle Storm (17-18)
- Los Angeles Sparks (16-18)
- Washington Mystics (16-18)
- Dallas Wings (9-26)
- Chicago Sky (8-25)
- Connecticut Solar (6-27)
Word: Two-team ties are determined first by head-to-head report after which, if mandatory, higher report in opposition to .500+ groups. Ties between greater than two groups are decided by mixed head-to-head report in opposition to the opposite groups.
Lynx operating away with No. 1 seed
The Lynx pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback Saturday to beat the Liberty for the third time this season. As soon as once more, they did so with out Napheesa Collier. The MVP frontrunner went down with a sprained ankle on Aug. 2 and was anticipated to overlook no less than two weeks. The Lynx’s huge lead within the race for the No. 1 seed will permit them to provide Collier on a regular basis she must recuperate. They’ve now gained six video games in a row and have a 6½-game lead over the second-place Dream.
Aces be part of the battle for No. 2
- 2. Atlanta Dream (22-12)
- 3. New York Liberty (21-13)
- 4. Phoenix Mercury (20-13)
- 5. Las Vegas Aces (21-14)
The Aces’ outstanding turnaround continued Sunday with their seventh consecutive win, and they’re now firmly within the battle for the No. 2 seed. The Dream and Mercury each obtained huge wins themselves Sunday, whereas the Liberty misplaced to the Lynx on Saturday to fall down to 3rd. The reigning champs desperately want Breanna Stewart again.
Fever use historic comeback to leap again into sixth
- 6. Indiana Fever (19-16)
- 7. Golden State Valkyries (18-16)
The Fever regarded like they’d lose their third in a row to a lottery-bound opponent on Sunday till they pulled off a 21-point comeback — the biggest in franchise historical past — to beat the Solar in extra time. In the meantime, the Valkyries’ four-game profitable streak was snapped by the Dream. These two outcomes meant the Fever jumped again into sixth.
Battle for ultimate spot will get extra fascinating
- 8. Seattle Storm (17-18)
- 9. Los Angeles Sparks (16-18)
- 10. Washington Mystics (16-18)
The Storm misplaced one other nail-biter Sunday and have now dropped seven of their final eight video games. The Mystics, in the meantime, have immediately gained three of their final 4 after beating the Sparks on Sunday. Rapidly, simply ½ a sport separates these three groups within the battle for the ultimate playoff spot.
Lottery sure
- 11. Dallas Wings (9-26)
- 12. Chicago Sky (8-25)
- 13. Connecticut Solar (6-27)
This season has been a catastrophe for all three of those groups. The Sky have been beset by accidents, the Wings’ offseason strikes did not pan out and the Solar have been by no means going to be good after their offseason departures. All of them are lottery sure, however solely the Wings management their very own choose.
The Sky owe their first to the Lynx, whereas the Solar owe the Sky swap rights to their first rounder. The Sky additionally personal Mercury’s first rounder, so the Sky will get the extra favorable of the Solar/Mercury picks, whereas the Solar will get the least favorable of these alternatives.
