WNBA: Will the Dream, Sky or Mystics make the WNBA playoffs?

Two sport days stay within the 2024 WNBA common season, with 10 groups in motion on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and all 12 groups taking the courts on Thursday, Sept. 19.

With 11 whole video games remaining, right here’s the place issues stand:

1. New York Liberty (31-7)
2. Minnesota Lynx (29-9)
3. Connecticut Solar (27-11)
4. Las Vegas Aces (25-13)
5. Seattle Storm (24-14)
6. Indiana Fever (20-19)
7. Phoenix Mercury
8. Washington Mystics (13-25)
9. Chicago Sky (13-25)
10. Atlanta Dream (13-25)
11. Dallas Wings (9-30)
12. Los Angeles Sparks (7-31)

The Lynx are ensuring the Liberty earn the No. 1 seed. With Sunday’s win over New York, Minnesota is 2 video games again with two video games to go, and the Lynx personal the tiebreaker after successful the season sequence 2-1. Nevertheless, with remaining video games towards the Mystics and Dream, the Liberty shouldn’t fumble the No. 1 seed, except they select to take action deliberately.

The Solar likewise can nonetheless push the Lynx for the No. 2 seed. Though Connecticut misplaced in Vegas on Sunday, they at present maintain a 2-0 season sequence lead over Minnesota coming into Tuesday’s matchup between the 2 groups. But, for the reason that Lynx shut out the season at dwelling towards the Sparks, it’s unlikely they drop to the No. 3 seed, even when they lose in Uncasville.

The Aces and Storm are set for a first-round matchup. It’s simply undetermined which group will take the No. 4 seed—and homecourt benefit—and which group will slot into the No. 5 seed. Tuesday will present a preview, when Vegas travels to Seattle. With a win, the Storm may tie the Aces for the No. 4 seed. A Seattle victory additionally would imply the season sequence can be tied at 2-2. Presuming a win for each groups of their ultimate video games, season-long level differential would function the tiebreaker. Presently, the Aces have outscored opponents by 192 factors, whereas the Storm has a scoring margin of 173; Seattle’s lack of ability to place away Los Angeles on Sunday didn’t assist their trigger.

After their win over the Wings on Sunday, the Fever are settled within the No. 6 spot. The Mercury couldn’t reap the benefits of Indiana’s prior two losses to Vegas on account of three-straight losses of their very own, which they snapped on Sunday with a win in Chicago. That also leaves Phoenix, in what seems to be like it will likely be Diana Taurasi’s ultimate postseason, within the No. 7 seed, making troublesome one final, lengthy playoff run for franchise legend.

The No. 8 seed is the place issues get actually fascinating. On Sunday, Atlanta averted elimination by escaping Washington with an extra time win. Chicago, with the aforementioned loss to Phoenix, did not seize management of the eighth spot. That leaves all three groups with matching 13-25 data, with the Mystics, house owners of one of the best level differential among the many trio at -104, briefly claiming the No. 8 seed. The Dream’s present level differential is -137, with the Sky at -156. So, if the three groups finish the season with the identical data, Washington seemingly has the benefit, however a lot may change over the remaining video games.

The Dream and Sky meet for the ultimate time on Tuesday in Atlanta, whereas the Mystics will host the Liberty in DC. On Thursday, Atlanta heads to New York and Chicago to Connecticut; Washington has a ultimate dwelling sport towards Indiana. For groups which might be a mixed 36 video games beneath .500, that’s a troublesome ending slate the place wins may be sparse, suggesting the winner of Tuesday’s Dream-Sky matchup may need the sting in incomes within the No. 8 seed.