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The WNBA is going into the final week of the season and there is only one playoff spot remaining. Let’s take a few moments to get you caught up on the league as they enter the final stretch of games:
The Scenarios:
The league’s best team, the Seattle Storm, are one game away from clinching the top overall seed and a double bye in the playoffs. Their 16-3 record has them 1.5 games ahead of Las Vegas Aces (14-4) and two games ahead of Los Angeles Sparks (14-5). Led by the potential league MVP Breanna Stewart, the Storm are looking to clinch this spot as early as possible to be able to get some much needed rest.
Las Vegas and Los Angeles are fighting for the second place spot in the standings, which will also give that team a double bye in the playoffs. The Aces have one makeup game to be played on Sunday against Seattle but the game on Saturday against the Sparks will determine who gets the round off. The Sparks have an easier schedule prior to Saturday’s game because they play the New York Liberty (2-16) and Washington Mystics (5-13).
The Minnesota Lynx (13-6) have a stronghold on the fourth spot in the standings, which will allow them to get the opening round off. With the Phoenix Mercury (12-8) losing on Sunday night, they are 1.5 games behind with two remaining games on the schedule. If Minnesota beats Washington on Tuesday night, they will clinch the fourth spot in the standings.
Phoenix is in fifth place and as long as they beat Connecticut Sun (10-10) on Wednesday, they can clinch the fifth spot. Losing on Wednesday opens things up for not only Connecticut but the sixth place Chicago Sky (11-9) are just a game behind Phoenix. A Phoenix win on Wednesday and one Chicago victory in the final two games will lock in teams in spots five, six and seven.
Dallas needs one win in their final three games to clinch the final playoff spot. But Dallas has to play Seattle and Chicago before playing New York to end the season. A victory in any of those games will eliminate Washington, Indiana (5-14) and Atlanta (5-14), unless any of those teams lose a game, eliminating themselves from playoff contention.
Let’s see how it all plays out!
