The final month of the WNBA regular season has arrived, signaling the start of a crucial playoff push. Each team has between 12-14 games left, with 10 out of 13 teams vying for a playoff position. While the Minnesota Lynx have established a significant lead for the top seed, the remaining slots are still highly competitive.

Playoff Structure

The playoffs feature the top eight teams, irrespective of conference standings. They will enter a standard eight-team bracket:

• First round: Best-of-three
• Semifinals: Best-of-five
• Finals: Best-of-seven

The regular season ends on September 11, with playoffs commencing on September 14.

Current Standings

1. Minnesota Lynx (27-5)
2. New York Liberty (20-11)
3. Atlanta Dream (20-11)
4. Phoenix Mercury (19-12)
5. Indiana Fever (18-14)
6. Las Vegas Aces (18-14)
7. Seattle Storm (16-16)
8. Golden State Valkyries (15-15)
9. Los Angeles Sparks (15-16)
10. Washington Mystics (14-17)
11. Chicago Sky (8-23)
12. Dallas Wings (8-24)
13. Connecticut Sun (5-25)

Note: Ties are resolved first by head-to-head records.

Lynx Dominance

The Lynx have been formidable, recently defeating the Liberty without star player Napheesa Collier, who is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury. Collier, anticipated to return post-recovery, allows the team to maintain a commanding lead.

Intense Competition for Second Place

The competition for second place involves the Liberty, Dream, and Mercury, each grappling with injuries, complicating their playoff strategies.

Fever vs. Aces for Fifth

Both the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces are striving for the fifth position. Although plagued by injuries, the Fever currently holds the spot over the winning Aces, buoyed by the performances of A’ja Wilson.

Conclusion

The coming weeks will be pivotal in determining which teams secure their playoff spots as the regular season draws to a close.