With lower than per week left within the 2024 WNBA common season, a single postseason seed stays up for grabs. The Chicago Sky (13-25) and Atlanta Dream (13-25) are two groups which can be nonetheless within the hunt for that playoff berth; they’ll meet for the fourth and ultimate time this Tuesday, Sept. 17, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Neither the Sky (2-8 of their final 10 video games) nor the Dream (3-7) have performed on the stage they’d have preferred in current weeks, and whereas the 2 groups have been proper up towards one another within the standings for fairly a while now, neither one has been capable of make a definitive transfer. This units up a must-win state of affairs on Tuesday, notably for the Dream. They presently path the Sky of their season collection, two video games to at least one, they usually’ll must even that as much as have an opportunity within the occasion of a tiebreaker.
It’s additionally essential to notice that the Sky look considerably completely different than they did after they final performed the Dream on July 10. Chicago has since despatched beginning guard Marina Mabrey to Connecticut through commerce and misplaced star rookie Angel Reese—whose 13.1 rebounds per sport lead the WNBA—to a season-ending wrist harm.
The Sky have one win since Reese’s harm and have fallen into an eighth-place tie with the Washington Mystics, who personal the tiebreaker (3-1 head-to-head document), and whereas Chicago head coach Teresa Weatherspoon insists that her workforce “ain’t performed but,” they now discover themselves in a do-or-die scenario on the street.
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The Dream have additionally misplaced their beginning energy ahead, with Cheyenne Parker-Tyus recovering from an ankle harm that can preserve her out via the remainder of the season. Veteran middle Tina Charles, whose 7,670 profession factors ranks second all-time in WNBA historical past, has picked up the slack, averaging 17.6 factors and 11.8 rebounds per sport because the All-Star break.
Charles’ matchup towards Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso might be considered one of a number of that would decide the end result of Tuesday’s sport—and even the playoff destiny of these gamers’ respective groups. The Dream might want to discover a solution for Sky guard Chennedy Carter, who averaged 16.3 factors on 50 p.c capturing in her three prior video games towards Atlanta; Chicago, in the meantime, must take care of Allisha Grey (17.7 factors per sport towards the Sky this season) in addition to Rhyne Howard, who missed two of the Dream’s earlier three video games towards the Sky however must be good to go on Tuesday.
Mystics stay in playoff hunt regardless of poor begin
Whereas the matchup between the Sky and Dream will carry the heaviest playoff implications of any sport on Tuesday’s slate, the Mystics nonetheless have one thing to play for, too. Washington, regardless of beginning the 2024 season 0-12, finds itself combating with Atlanta and Chicago for the eighth seed within the playoffs, and a win over the New York Liberty (31-7) on Tuesday would additional strengthen the Mystics’ possibilities.
The league-leading Liberty have all however clinched the highest total seed within the WNBA playoffs, so it’s attainable they take it straightforward for the remainder of the common season and relaxation their high gamers in anticipation of a deep playoff run. New York did, nevertheless, lose to fellow championship contender Minnesota final weekend, so head coach Sandy Brondello may wish to deal with Tuesday’s sport as extra of a tune-up. The Mystics could also be favored to return away with the eighth seed in the meanwhile, however they’ve a tall activity in entrance of them in arguably the WNBA’s greatest workforce.
Recreation info
Minnesota Lynx (29-9) vs. Connecticut Solar (27-11)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. ET
The place: Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Uncasville, CT
Learn how to watch: WNBA League Move, NBC Sports activities Boston, Bally Sports activities North Additional
Lynx harm report: Dorka Juhász (questionable; foot)
Solar harm report: Tiffany Mitchell (out; sickness)
New York Liberty (31-7) vs. Washington Mystics (13-25)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. ET
The place: Leisure and Sports activities Enviornment in Washington, DC
Learn how to watch: WNBA League Move, Monumental Sports activities Community, WWOR-My9, Liberty Reside (Reside stream)
Liberty harm report: none
Mystics harm report: Aaliyah Edwards (uncertain; ankle), Shakira Austin (out; ankle)
Chicago Sky (13-25) vs. Atlanta Dream (13-25)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Gateway Middle Enviornment at School Park in Atlanta, GA
Learn how to watch: WNBA League Move, PeachtreeTV, Peachtree Sports activities Community, The U
Sky harm report: Kamilla Cardoso (questionable; shoulder), Angel Reese (out; wrist), Elizabeth Williams (out; knee), Diamond DeShields (out; ankle)
Dream harm report: Cheyenne Parker (out; ankle), Aerial Powers (out; calf)
Las Vegas Aces (25-13) vs. Seattle Storm (24-14)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 10 p.m. ET
The place: Local weather Pledge Enviornment in Seattle, WA
Learn how to watch: WNBA League Move, FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video , Silver State Sports activities & Leisure Community
Aces harm report: none
Storm harm report: Ezi Magbegor (out; concussion), Jewell Loyd (out; knee)
Phoenix Mercury (18-20) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (7-31)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 10 p.m. ET
The place: Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles, CA
Learn how to watch: CBS Sports activities Community, Spectrum SportsNet, Arizona’s Household Sports activities, Mercury Reside (Reside stream)
Mercury harm report: Charisma Osborne (uncertain; leg), Kahleah Copper (out; again), Rebecca Allen (out; hamstring)
Sparks harm report: Odyssey Sims (possible; hand), Aari McDonald (out; ankle), Layshia Clarendon (out; private), Lexie Brown (out; sickness), Cameron Brink (out; knee)
