WNBA standings, playoff picture, schedule: Fever win again; Mystics continue surge ; WNBA standings
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WNBA standings, playoff picture, schedule: Fever win again; Mystics continue surge
The 2024 WNBA regular season is winding down to the final two weeks, and the playoff picture is taking shape. The Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury joined the party on Tuesday, which means just one playoff berth remains. No teams have officially been eliminated yet, but it's essentially a four-team race for the final seed.
There was just one game on Wednesday, as the Fever held off the last-place Sparks to run their winning streak to five games thanks to a triple-double performance from Caitlin Clark. With the victory, they maintained their one-game lead on the Mercury.
There are two games in store for Thursday, with the Liberty hosting the Storm and the Mercury facing the Mystics. Both games will have major seeding implications.
As a refresher, the top eight teams, regardless of conference affiliation, make the playoffs in the WNBA. Under the current playoff format, the teams are placed into a standard bracket with the No. 1 seed playing No. 8 in the first round, No. 2 vs. No. 7 and so on. Teams will play a best-of-three series in the first round and best-of-five series in the semifinals and finals. Notably, the first round is a 2-1 format, which means the higher seed gets the first two games at home, while the lower seed gets the deciding Game 3 at home should the series go that far. In the semifinals and finals, it is a standard 2-2-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2 and 5, if necessary.
Here's everything you need to know about the current playoff picture, including the standings and key tiebreakers:
Standings
New York Liberty (27-6) -- Playoff spot clinched
Connecticut Sun (24-9) -- Playoff spot clinched
Minnesota Lynx (24-9) -- Playoff spot clinched
Las Vegas Aces (21-12) -- Playoff spot clinched
Seattle Storm (20-13) -- Playoff spot clinched
Indiana Fever (18-16) -- Playoff spot clinched
Phoenix Mercury (17-17) -- Playoff spot clinched
Chicago Sky (11-22)
Atlanta Dream (11-22)
Washington Mystics (10-23)
Dallas Wings (9-24)
Los Angeles Sparks (7-26)
Note: Two-team ties are decided first by head-to-head record and then, if necessary, better record against .500+ teams. Ties between more than two teams are determined by combined head-to-head record against the other teams.
Liberty alone at the top
1. New York Liberty (27-6)
Tiebreakers: vs. Lynx (1-1); vs. Sun (3-1)
All is well again for the Liberty, who used a big second half to pull away from the Storm and get back in the win column on Friday. They remain three games ahead of the Sun and Lynx, and own the tiebreaker against the former. With just seven games remaining, it would take a major collapse for the Liberty to miss out on the No. 1 seed.
Key remaining games: vs. Lynx, Sept. 15
Sun and Lynx locked in duel for second
2. Connecticut Sun (24-9)
Tiebreakers: vs. Liberty (1-3); vs. Lynx (2-0); vs. Storm (1-2); vs. Aces (0-1)
The Sun were defeated by the Storm on Tuesday in the second consecutive game between those teams. As a result, they now have the exact same record as the Lynx, and are only in second due to the tiebreaker. The Sept. 17 meeting looms as a potential decider in the race for the No. 2 seed.
Key remaining games: vs. Aces, Sept. 6; at Aces, Sept. 15; vs. Lynx, Sept. 17
3. Minnesota Lynx (24-9)
Tiebreakers: vs. Liberty (1-1); vs. Sun (0-2); vs. Storm (3-1); vs. Aces (3-1)
The Lynx's seven-game winning streak came to an end on Friday with a surprise defeat to the Wings, who are suddenly playing terrific basketball. They were able to bounce back and defeat the Sky on Sunday despite Alanna Smith's absence, and now have the same record as the Sun.
Key remaining games: at Liberty, Sept. 15; at Sun, Sept. 17
Aces and Storm fighting over fourth
4. Las Vegas Aces (21-12)
Tiebreakers: vs. Sun (1-0); vs. Lynx (1-3); vs. Storm (2-1)
Key remaining games: at Sun, Sept. 6; at Liberty, Sept. 8; vs. Sun, Sept. 15; at Storm, Sept. 17
5. Seattle Storm (20-13)
Tiebreakers: vs. Sun (2-0); vs. Lynx (1-3); vs. Aces (1-2)
Key remaining games: at Liberty, Sept. 5; vs. Aces, Sept. 17
Surging Fever solidify hold on sixth
6. Indiana Fever (18-16)
Tiebreakers: vs. Mercury (3-0); vs. Sky (3-1); vs. Dream (3-0)
Key remaining games: vs. Dream, Sept. 8
7. Phoenix Mercury (17-17)
Tiebreakers: vs. Fever (0-3); vs. Sky (2-0)
Sky, Dream, Mystics, Wings battling for final spot
8. Chicago Sky (11-22)
Key remaining games: vs. Mystics, Sept. 11; vs. Mercury, Sept. 15; at Dream, Sept. 17
9. Atlanta Dream (11-22)
10. Washington Mystics (10-23)
11. Dallas Wings (9-24)
12. Los Angeles Sparks (7-26)
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