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Sun. Sep 15th, 2024
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Angel Reese and Chicago Sky battle for final spot in WNBA playoffs

By meerna
Angel Reese and Chicago Sky battle for final spot in WNBA playoffs

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The WNBA playoffs are just around the corner. Which eight teams will play? That’s a good question.

There are two weeks left in the regular season, which ends on September 19. The playoffs will begin on September 22, with three games played by the top-seeded teams. Seven of the league’s 12 teams have already secured their playoff spots. And yes, the Indiana Fever, home to WNBA Rookie of the Year favorite Caitlin Clark, are among them.

The remaining six teams are: New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Seattle and Phoenix. But the final playoff spot is very much in the balance.

Here’s everything you need to know:

How do the WNBA playoffs work?

In the WNBA, which has only 12 teams, the top eight teams advance to the playoffs regardless of conference. Once all the spots are decided, the top seed will play the top eight in a three-game series, the second seed will play the seventh, and so on. The first round is a three-game series, with the higher seeded team playing the first two games. The semifinals and finals are five-game series, with the higher seeded team hosting Games 1, 2, and 5.

The last possible date for Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, if necessary, is October 20

WNBA Standings

On Thursday evening:

  • 1. X-New York (27-6)
  • 2. X-Connecticut (24-9)
  • 3. X-Minnesota (24-9)
  • 4. X-Las Vegas (21-12)
  • 5. X-Seattle (20-13)
  • 6. X-Indiana (18-16)
  • 7. X-Phoenix (17-17)
  • 8. Chicago (11-22)
  • 9. Atlanta (11-22)
  • 10. Washington (10-23)
  • 11. Dallas (9-24)
  • 12. Los Angeles (7-26)
  • (teams marked with “X” have already secured a spot in the play-offs)

Candidates for the last spot in the WNBA playoffs

As you can see, it will be a close fight for the last playoff spot. Let’s take a look at the candidates.

Chicago Sky

Chicago has lost seven games in a row and is 2-8 in its last 10 games. While the team boasts two of the league’s best rookies, rebounding machine Angel Reese and interior powerhouse Kamilla Cardoso, the roster lacks a seasoned point guard with big-game experience. They often look scattered and lack an offensive identity. First-year coach Teresa Weatherspoon is known for her ability to motivate, but can she come up with the plays that lead to Chicago’s points in must-win situations?

The Sky are hanging on to eighth place with both hands. If there’s a silver lining heading into the season finale, it’s that four of Chicago’s last seven games have come against the bottom third of the league. The Sky have a slim 2-1 lead over Atlanta this season, with their final matchup scheduled for Sept. 17. This is a must-win game for Chicago.

Atlanta’s Dream

Atlanta has no shortage of talent on its roster, with the Dream having Rhyne Howard, the 2022 rookie of the year, Allisha Gray, a 3×3 gold medalist, and Tina Charles, one of the league’s all-time leading scorers and rebounders. But things haven’t been going well (Howard missed several games before the Olympic break due to injury, which hasn’t helped).

The Dream lost their last game to Phoenix and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Five of Atlanta’s last seven games have been at home, which should give the Dream an edge. The September 17 game against Chicago is a must-win game, but perhaps more important are their two games in a row with the Mystics. Win both and the Dream will enter the Chicago game with some momentum. That could help them steal a win from either Minnesota or New York.

Mystics of Washington

The Mystics are 4-6 in their last 10 games, meaning they are not tanking in hopes of landing likely future No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers. While it seemed impossible at the beginning of the season for Washington to make the playoffs, it is now possible.

Four of their last seven games will be against teams that have already clinched a playoff spot, so beating any of them seems unlikely. On the other hand, Washington winning back-to-back games in Seattle and Chicago seemed unlikely in late August, and the Mystics pulled it off. For Washington to earn that final eighth spot, stars Ariel Atkinson and Brittney Sykes will need to play well in every game.

Dallas Wings

Dallas is easily the most intriguing team on this list. Wings star Arike Ogunbowale is the league’s best one-on-one player and the WNBA’s second-leading scorer (22.6 points per game) this season. But her team has been plagued by injuries — Natasha Howard, Maddy Siegrist and Satou Sabally have all missed extended stretches.

But now that everyone is finally healthy, Dallas seems determined to prove that its 9-24 record doesn’t reflect its talent. How else to explain the Wings’ dominant 94-76 victory over championship contender Minnesota? Dallas has had a brutal past few weeks, with two games against New York and trips to Indiana and Las Vegas. But if anyone can step up and pull off a few surprises, it’s Ogunbowale & Co.

Los Angeles Sparks

No one is more excited about the end of the 2024 WNBA season than the extremely battered Sparks, who will be lucky to win 10 games this season. They are not serious candidates for the final playoff spot.

Email Lindsay Schnell at [email protected] and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

By meerna

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