All good issues come to an finish, and we now have reached the ultimate weekend of standard season WNBA motion.
Friday has 5 video games on deck, with 4 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. All video games might be on ION. So, you’ll have to select between the Washington Mystics heading south to tackle the Atlanta Dream, the Indiana Fever going through the Las Vegas Aces, the Minnesota Lynx at dwelling in opposition to the Chicago Sky and the Dallas Wings internet hosting the Seattle Storm. The ultimate matchup might be at 10 p.m. ET, that includes the Phoenix Mercury at dwelling in opposition to the Connecticut Solar.
With all video games having some playoff implications, there are many nice choices on what to look at, however the must-see recreation must be the Aces versus the Fever.
Are the Fever cooling down?
Indiana has been on an absolute tear since coming back from the Olympic break, however not too long ago, they’ve began to return again all the way down to earth. They misplaced a tough recreation in opposition to Minnesota, wanted time beyond regulation to beat Atlanta and are coming off a defeat by the hands of Las Vegas.
It seems that the Fever, whereas being a enjoyable crew to look at, are in sixth place for a cause. When they’re at their finest, they seem like a sleeper crew that might upset the next seed within the playoffs. At their worst, they seem like a non-playoff crew. Add it up, and also you get —however not nice—crew that appears destined for a two-game stint within the postseason.
In the event that they wish to show that evaluation incorrect, a win in opposition to the No. 4 seed Aces would assist. That’s simpler mentioned than accomplished. Once they performed on Wednesday, A’ja Wilson was as dominant as ever, scoring 27 and pulling 12 boards within the Vegas victory. No participant on both crew had extra factors or grabbed as many rebounds.
To drag off the upset, the Fever want extra from Caitlin Clark. That shouldn’t be too laborious to perform, as she had an terrible recreation in Wednesday’s loss, scoring 16 factors, however on 6-for-22 capturing, together with going 1-for-10 from 3-point vary. Such a poor capturing night time is unlikely to happen once more. If she will play as much as her normal, whereas Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell additionally carry it, Indiana can get the assertion win and all however formally safe the No. 6 seed.
The remainder of Friday’s video games
The Dream and Mystics have the identical report and are preventing to knock off the Sky and earn the eighth and closing playoff spot. These groups will face one another twice in back-to-back video games, so if one crew can sweep these matchups, it simply would possibly resolve who goes to the playoffs and who enters the lottery.
Seattle versus Dallas gained’t be as thrilling standings-wise, provided that the Wings are eradicated and the Storm appear just about locked in on the No. 5 spot. The Storm can try to push to catch the Aces at No. 4, but it surely’s unlikely, given how effectively Las Vegas has been taking part in not too long ago. The Lynx in opposition to the Sky is a enjoyable recreation on paper. Sure, Chicago is struggling massively with Angel Reese out for the remainder of the season, however they’re preventing for his or her playoff lives, and Minnesota needs to maintain their No. 2 spot; anticipate fireworks.
If that is Diana Taurasi’s closing season, then the White Mamba goes out swinging, preventing for an additional title. The Mercury will compete in opposition to the Solar and, in the event that they wish to have an opportunity of passing the Fever for the No. 6 seed, they have to put a W on the board.
Recreation data
Atlanta Dream (12-24) vs. Washington Mystics (12-24)
When: Friday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Gateway Heart @ School Park in Atlanta, GA
Easy methods to watch: ION
Dream harm report: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (out; ankle), Ariel Powers (out; calf)
Mystics harm report: Shakira Austin (out; left ankle)
Indiana Fever (19-18) vs. Las Vegas Aces (23-13)
When: Friday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
Easy methods to watch: ION
Fever harm report: none
Aces harm report: none
Dallas Wings (9-28) vs. Seattle Storm (22-14)
When: Friday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: School Park Heart in Arlington, TX
Easy methods to watch: ION
Wings harm report: Stephanie Soares (out; knee)
Storm harm report: none
Minnesota Lynx (27-9) vs. Chicago Sky (13-23)
When: Friday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Goal Heart in Minnesota, MN
Easy methods to watch: ION
Lynx harm report: none
Sky harm report: Elizabeth Williams (out; knee), Angel Reese (out; wrist), Diamond DeShields (out; ankle)
Phoenix Mercury (17-19) vs. Connecticut Solar (26-10)
When: Friday, September 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET
The place: Footprint Heart in Phoenix, AZ
Easy methods to watch: ION
Mercury harm report: Kahleah Copper (questionable; again), Rebecca Allen (out; proper hamstring), Charisma Osborne (out; left decrease leg)
Solar harm report: Tiffany Mitchell (out; sickness)
