WNBA Playoff Race Intensifies
With only five weeks left in the regular season, the fight for the playoffs in the WNBA is in full swing. The two teams leading the league face significant challenges: both the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty must deal with the absence of their stars and the integration of new players. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota’s MVP candidate, will be out for at least two weeks due to a right ankle sprain. Fortunately for the Lynx, the injury is not serious and they have a 5.5-game lead over the Liberty while Collier recovers. In addition, the Lynx have incorporated DiJonai Carrington, acquired from the Wings in a recent trade, with the hope of reinforcing the defense, adding depth on the wings, and bringing playoff experience. Meanwhile, the Liberty are struggling without Breanna Stewart, losing their first four games without her before securing a win in Connecticut on Sunday. The good news for New York is the return of Emma Meesseman, who made her season debut for the reigning champions, after signing as a free agent in July. The Lynx and the Liberty aren’t the only teams dealing with injuries, which makes the race for the postseason even more exciting.Current Standings and Upcoming Matches
- Minnesota Lynx (24-5)
Previous: 1
Next 7 days: @ SEA (August 5), vs. WAS (August 8), @ NY (August 10) The Lynx defeated New York 100-93 in the first of four matchups in three weeks, although the final score does not reflect the large lead the Lynx had built before the final minutes. The Lynx then achieved the largest away win in WNBA history, surpassing the Aces by 53 points on Saturday. Napheesa Collier suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of that game, so the Lynx will have to play without their MVP candidate for at least the next two weeks.- Atlanta Dream (18-11)
Previous: 3
Next 7 days: @ CHI (August 7), @ PHX (August 10) Atlanta continues to climb in the rankings after securing victories over Dallas, Phoenix, and Washington last week. What’s most impressive is that the Dream achieved this without Rhyne Howard, who is still recovering from a knee injury, and Brittney Griner, who missed two of those games due to a neck injury. Jordin Canada also missed a game due to illness. If the Dream can stay healthy, they could be a pleasant surprise at the top of the standings as we head into the postseason.- New York Liberty (18-10)
Previous: 2
Next 7 days: vs. DAL (August 5), @ DAL (August 8), vs. MIN (August 10) Although Emma Meesseman made her debut and Sabrina Ionescu scored 36 points, her season best, in Sunday’s 87-78 victory over Connecticut to break a four-game losing streak, that was the only positive for New York in the last seven days. The Liberty lost to the same Sun team, which has the worst record in the league, and against the Lynx in the first of four matchups. With teams like Atlanta and Indiana finding their rhythm despite also losing key players, it doesn’t seem like New York has the momentum to get out of the hole until Breanna Stewart, Kennedy Burke, and Nyara Sabally return.- Indiana Fever (17-12)
Previous: 5
Next 7 days: @ LA (August 5), @ PHX (August 7), vs. CHI (August 9) With five consecutive wins, including six-point victories over the Mercury and Storm, and a 10-point win over the Wings last week, the Fever are on the longest winning streak in the league and the longest in franchise history since 2015. They are achieving this without Caitlin Clark, who continues to recover from a right groin strain, while Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald keep the offense afloat in Clark’s absence.- Phoenix Mercury (17-11)
Previous: 4
Next 7 days: vs. CON (August 5), vs. IND (August 7), vs. ATL (August 10) Phoenix lost two crucial games for the classification, in Indiana and Atlanta, before securing their only victory of the week against Chicago on Sunday to close out a five-game road trip. The Mercury now hope to get back on track with a four-game home series that begins Tuesday against the Sun, the worst team in the league.- Seattle Storm (16-13)
Previous: 6
Next 7 days: vs. MIN (August 5), @ LV (August 7), @ LA (August 10) The Storm are recovering from two painful defeats: an exciting double-overtime game against Los Angeles (108-106) and a 78-74 loss to Indiana. Seattle continues to struggle with inconsistency, having not strung together more than two consecutive wins since mid-July, and their schedule doesn’t get any easier from here: the Storm have one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league.- Los Angeles Sparks (12-15)
Previous: 7
Next 7 days: vs. IND (August 5), vs. CON (August 7), @ GS (August 9), vs. SEA (August 10) The Sparks welcomed Cameron Brink last week after she missed the last 13 months due to an ACL tear. It will take time for the No. 2 pick of the 2024 draft to regain her rhythm, but she recorded a total of 26 minutes with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks between last Tuesday’s 89-74 loss to the Aces and Friday’s 108-106 double-overtime victory over the Storm.- Las Vegas Aces (15-14)
Previous: 8
Next 7 days: @ GS (August 6), vs. SEA (August 8), vs. CON (August 10) It’s hard to know what to think of the Aces. After securing a convincing 89-74 victory in Los Angeles, Las Vegas recorded the largest increase in point differential between games, beating Golden State by 24 after losing to Minnesota by 53.- Golden State Valkyries (14-14)
Previous: 10
Next 7 days: vs. LV (August 6), vs. LA (August 9), vs. CON (August 11) Golden State secured victories in Atlanta, Washington, and Chicago last week before losing to Las Vegas by 24 points, placing the Valkyries right at .500. Availability is their biggest issue heading into the final stretch of the regular season: Kayla Thornton is out for the year, while Monique Billings is sidelined for at least three weeks due to a right ankle injury.- Washington Mystics (13-15)
Previous: 9
Next 7 days: @ CHI (August 5th), @ MIN (August 8th), @ DAL (August 10th) After defeating Chicago, Washington lost two games to Atlanta and Golden State. The Mystics are the team to watch as the WNBA approaches its August 7 trade deadline: ESPN reported that the team was in talks to potentially trade Aaliyah Edwards, while Stefanie Dolson and Brittney Sykes would make sense as trade assets if Washington wanted to enter a complete rebuild.- Dallas Wings (8-21)
Previous: 11
Next 7 days: @ NY (August 5), vs. NY (August 8), vs. WAS (August 10) Dallas was close to beating Atlanta on the road before ultimately losing 88-85, then lost Friday’s home game against Indiana 88-78. The Wings also lost DiJonai Carrington, who is heading to Minnesota in a trade that sends Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round pick to Dallas.- Chicago Sky (7-21)
Previous: 12
Next 7 days: vs. WAS (August 5), vs. ALT (August 7), @ IND (August 9) Chicago’s losing streak has already reached eight games. Angel Reese returned from a back injury that kept her out of two games to record 22 points and 13 rebounds in last Tuesday’s 103-86 loss in Washington, but then missed the next two games with the same ailment. The All-Star is now considered day-to-day. Ariel Atkins and Hailey Van Lith also missed time last week, leaving the short-handed Sky searching for answers.- Connecticut Sun (5-22)
Previous: 13
Next 7 days: @ PHX (August 5), @ LA (August 7), @ LV (August 10), @ GS (August 11) The Sun split the games with the Liberty last week, winning the first by 16 and losing the second by nine. But while the victory offered a bright spot, it’s impossible to say the team has turned the corner. The most important news surrounding Connecticut is an imminent sale that could move the franchise to Boston in 2027. While the deal has not yet been finalized, a new investment could give the team some life in the coming years.
