What's better than a tight race to the finish line in the WNBA playoff standings? There's less than a week left in the regular season, and there's still one postseason spot up for grabs.
The Sky are in the No. 8 spot, but luck hasn't been on their side. Chennedy Carter missed several games with an illness, and after she returned, Angel Reese announced she'll miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury. Chicago can't catch a break.
If the Sky secure the final spot, their reward will be a first-round matchup against the best team in the W. Chicago would need a miracle to upset New York.
Updated WNBA playoff standings as of Friday, Sept. 13
Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
1 | New York Liberty* | 31-6 |
2 | Minnesota Lynx* | 27-9 |
3 | Connecticut Sun* | 26-10 |
4 | Las Vegas Aces* | 23-13 |
5 | Seattle Storm* | 22-14 |
6 | Indiana Fever* | 19-18 |
7 | Phoenix Mercury* | 17-19 |
8 | Chicago Sky | 13-23 |
9 | Atlanta Dream | 12-24 |
10 | Washington Mystics | 12-24 |
11 | Dallas Wings | 9-28 |
12 | Los Angeles Sparks | 7-30 |
* = clinched playoff berth
WNBA playoff bracket if the 2024 season ended today
No. 1 Liberty vs. No. 8 Sky
No. 2 Lynx vs. No. 7 Mercury
No. 3 Sun vs. No. 6 Fever
No. 4 Aces vs. No. 5 Storm
Sky's remaining regular-season schedule
Friday, Sept. 13: Sky at Lynx (6:30 p.m. CT)
Sunday, Sept. 15: Mercury at Sky (5 p.m. CT)
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Sky at Dream (6:30 p.m. CT)
Thursday, Sept. 19: Sky at Sun (6 p.m. CT)
Three of Chicago's final four regular-season games are against opponents who have clinched playoff berths, and the only game that isn't is against the team fighting to push the Sky out of the No. 8 spot.
It's not reassuring that Chicago is coming off a massive 89-58 loss to Washington (subscription required) and will play Minnesota on the road on Friday. The Sky are 0-2 against the Lynx. The result of Tuesday's game against the Dream could determine the final playoff bracket.
Dream's remaining regular-season schedule
Friday, Sept. 13: Mystics at Dream (7:30 p.m. ET)
Sunday, Sept. 15: Dream at Mystics (3 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Sky at Dream (7:30 p.m. ET)
Thursday, Sept. 19: Dream at Liberty (7 p.m. ET)
Atlanta's advantage is that it has an "easier" remaining regular-season schedule than Chicago. However, three of the Dream's final games are against teams fighting for the final playoff berth, and the other is against the best team in the league.
Atlanta is 1-1 against the Mystics this season. Washington's coming off a big win over Chicago, so the vibes are high for a team fighting to extend its season. The Sky could enter Tuesday's game on a three-game losing streak, benefiting the Dream.
Mystics' remaining regular-season schedule
Friday, Sept. 13: Mystics at Dream (7:30 p.m. ET)
Sunday, Sept. 15: Dream at Mystics (3 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Liberty at Mystics (7 p.m. ET)
Thursday, Sept. 19: Fever at Mystics (7 p.m. ET)
Washington's postseason hopes are still alive, but time isn't on the team's side. It will be challenging for the Mystics to beat the Dream two games in a row, but they are coming off a huge win over the Sky. Don't count Washington out yet.