Simply two weeks stay within the WNBA common season and the playoff push has produced some thrilling motion. Every staff has fewer than 10 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 earlier this month — have opened up an enormous lead within the race for the No. 1 seed, each different seed stays up for grabs.
On Wednesday, the Las Vegas Aces held off a late comeback try from the Atlanta Dream to run their successful streak to 12 video games and take sole possession of second place. Las Vegas has now tied the seventh-longest successful streak in WNBA historical past.
The motion will proceed Thursday with three extra video games, all of which have playoff implications:
- Washington Mystics at New York Liberty, 7 p.m. ET — Amazon
- Seattle Storm at Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m. ET — League Move
- Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury, 10 p.m. ET — Amazon
As a reminder, the highest eight groups make the playoffs, no matter convention. From there, they’re positioned into a typical 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 potential Finals date is Oct. 19.
Standings
- Minnesota Lynx (30-7) — Clinched playoff berth
- Las Vegas Aces (26-14) — Clinched playoff berth
- Atlanta Dream (24-14)
- Phoenix Mercury (23-14)
- New York Liberty (23-15)
- Indiana Fever (20-18)
- Golden State Valkyries (19-18)
- Seattle Storm (20-19)
- Los Angeles Sparks (17-19)
- Washington Mystics (16-22)
- Connecticut Solar (10-28) — Eradicated from playoff rivalry
- Chicago Sky (9-28) — Eradicated from playoff rivalry
- Dallas Wings (9-30) — Eradicated from playoff rivalry
Notice: Two-team ties are determined first by head-to-head document after which, if essential, by higher document towards .500+ groups. Ties between greater than two groups are decided by the mixed head-to-head document towards the opposite groups.
Lynx operating away with No. 1 seed
Napheesa Collier returned to motion Sunday and picked up proper the place she left off with a 32-point effort in a snug win over the Fever. The Lynx turned the primary staff to achieve 30 wins this season and tied the franchise document for wins in a season.
Napheesa Collier harm replace: Lynx star, WNBA MVP favourite goes off for 32 factors in return
Jack Maloney
Aces beat Dream to take management of second place
- 2. Las Vegas Aces (26-14)
- 3. Atlanta Dream (24-14)
- 4. Phoenix Mercury (23-14)
- 5. New York Liberty (23-15)
The Aces continued their unimaginable sizzling streak Wednesday by beating the Dream in Atlanta to win their twelfth consecutive recreation and take management of second place. They now have a one-game lead on the opposite three groups on this group, however nonetheless have some work to do. Simply two video games separate these 4 groups
Mystics fading as 4 groups battle for closing three spots
- 6. Indiana Fever (20-18)
- 7. Golden State Valkyries (19-18)
- 8. Seattle Storm (20-19)
- 9. Los Angeles Sparks (17-19)
- 10. Washington Mystics (16-22)
The underside half of the playoff image has tightened, and there at the moment are simply two video games separating the Fever in sixth from the Sparks in ninth. The Fever picked up an enormous win Tuesday after they crushed the Storm to vault again into sixth and ship the Storm down into ninth. The Sparks had an opportunity to realize floor on the Valkyries and Storm, however had been unable to take action in a loss to the Mercury.
The Mystics had been proper within the combine per week in the past, however have now misplaced 4 video games in a row to fall 3½ video games behind the eighth-place Storm. That is most likely too large of a spot for them to make up at this level.
Lottery certain
- 11. Connecticut Solar (10-28)
- 12. Chicago Sky (9-28)
- 13. Dallas Wings (9-30)
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 had been by no means going to be good after their offseason departures. All of them at the moment are formally lottery certain, 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.
