The Dallas Wings and Los Angeles Sparks have been eliminated from WNBA playoff contention. Who will join them on the postseason sidelines, and who will take the No. 8 seed?
The seven teams that already have playoff spots continue to jockey for position and home-court advantage -- including the first-place New York Liberty, who are No. 1 again in this week's ESPN WNBA Power Rankings -- but we're focused on the other end, where the Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics are trying to make the postseason.
With two weeks left in the regular season, the Mystics will face the Sky and the Dream (twice) this week; Atlanta and Chicago still have a matchup left against each other the following week. All three have faced challenges due to injuries this season.
Let's start with the Sky, who are in eighth place in the standings but got stunning news Saturday: forward Angel Reese is out for the rest of the season with a wrist injury. As a rookie, she established herself as a consistent double-double threat and one of the top rebounders in the league. It's a shame we won't get to see her finish this season.
Fellow rookie Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever said Sunday of Reese, "She's had a historic year, and she's done some incredible things. She came to the league and really did what she's done well her entire career, as long as I've known her."
Coach Teresa Weatherspoon didn't give any details about Reese's injury, saying Reese could disclose that if she chooses to.
Even without Reese, the Sky ended Dallas' playoff hopes with a 92-77 victory Sunday. Chicago guard Chennedy Carter had 28 points, and veteran forward Isabelle Harrison made the most of her first start of 2024 with 21 points and nine rebounds.
"It's unfortunate we're in this situation," Weatherspoon said, "but we're excited about what we can do."
The ninth-place Dream almost had a big win Sunday. They led Indiana by as much as 16 points -- which turned into a 104-100 overtime loss. Atlanta has lost forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (ankle) for the remainder of the season, and there's no timetable for guard Aerial Powers (calf) to return.
Add in the games missed earlier this season due to injury by guards Rhyne Howard (11) and Jordin Canada (21). That's what the Dream have been up against, despite the strong play of Allisha Gray and Tina Charles all summer.
"The resiliency of the team, the grittiness -- they're continuing to fight," Dream coach Tanisha Wright said. "Even in those games we're losing, we're in every single one of them. But you have to be able to win some of those tight games."
Washington, which also has been beset with injuries, started the season 0-12. No one would have imagined back then that we would be talking in September about the Mystics contending for the playoffs. But they kept plugging away, and the return of guard Brittney Sykes from injury has really helped.
Whichever team gets the last spot will be a big underdog, of course, in the first round of the playoffs. But the Sky, Dream and Mystics wouldn't mind that; they just want the chance.
Previous rankings: Preseason | May 20 | May 27 | June 3 | June 10 | June 17 | June 24 | July 1 | July 8 | July 15 | Aug. 19 | Aug. 26 | Sept. 2
1. New York Liberty (29-6)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: @ DAL (Sept. 10), @ DAL (Sept. 12), vs. MIN (Sept. 15)
The Liberty continued on the path to what could end up being their best record in franchise history; they were 32-8 in the regular season last year. This past week, New York defeated the Seattle Storm and the Las Vegas Aces -- sweeping both season series -- but the Liberty can't be happy about being outscored by the Aces 20-11 in the fourth period Sunday. There's also concern about Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who left the game with a knee injury.
The Liberty get clutch buckets from Sabrina Ionescu to thwart the Aces' comeback and complete the season sweep over Las Vegas.
2. Minnesota Lynx (26-9)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: @ ATL (Sept. 10), vs. CHI (Sept. 13), @ NY (Sept. 15)
The Lynx have the best record in the league (9-1) since play resumed after the Olympic break. Their cohesion was evident in Friday's 99-88 victory at Indiana. The Lynx trailed by eight after the first quarter and by five at halftime but took over the game in the third quarter. Napheesa Collier had 26 points and 10 rebounds against Indiana, then 19 and 12 in the 78-71 win over Washington on Sunday. The upcoming Lynx-Liberty showdown this week seems like it could be a WNBA Finals preview.
Napheesa Collier delivers a standout performance with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the game against the Mystics.
3. Las Vegas Aces (22-13)
Previous: 5
This week: @ IND (Sept. 11), @ IND (Sept. 13), vs. CON (Sept. 15)
The Aces went 2-1, with victories over Chicago and the Connecticut Sun before a loss to New York. Coach Becky Hammon said A'ja Wilson (ankle) missing Sunday's game against the Liberty was mostly precautionary, so we'll see how much the MVP favorite plays this week. The Aces are 6-5 since play resumed following the Olympic break. However, they've won four of their past five. They clearly need Wilson back as soon as possible, but Hammon is most concerned with making sure her star is ready to go for the playoffs.
4. Connecticut Sun (25-10)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: @ LA (Sept. 10), @ PHO (Sept. 13), @ LV (Sept. 15)
After losses to Seattle and Las Vegas last week, the Sun really needed to get things back on track at Los Angeles on Sunday. They did with a 79-67 victory that included the third triple-double this season -- and 11th in the regular season in her career -- by Alyssa Thomas (12 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds). The Sun drop a couple of notches in the Power Rankings, but they remain in third place in the WNBA standings.
Check out the best of Alyssa Thomas' night as she puts up a triple-double to help the Sun take down the Sparks.
5. Indiana Fever (19-17)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: vs. LV (Sept. 11), vs. LV (Sept. 13), vs. DAL (Sept. 15)
The Fever are 8-2 since the Olympic break and both losses came against Minnesota, including on Friday. The past week was big overall, though, as Indiana went 2-1 and clinched its first playoff berth since 2016. Clark got her second triple-double of the season in the victory over Los Angeles last Wednesday, then she and fellow former No. 1 draft pick Aliyah Boston combined for 56 points in Sunday's overtime win over Atlanta. The only team Indiana hasn't defeated this season is Las Vegas -- they meet twice this week.
6. Seattle Storm (21-14)
Previous ranking: 6
This week: @ LA (Sept. 11), @ DAL (Sept. 13), vs. LA (Sept. 15)
The Storm bounced back, going 2-1 with victories against Connecticut and the Phoenix Mercury and a loss to New York. It was a much-needed boost after going 1-3 the previous week. Skylar Diggins-Smith had her second double-double of the season (12 points, 11 assists) in the blowout win over the Mercury. Either Jewell Loyd or Diggins-Smith have led the Storm in scoring in nine of Seattle's 10 games since play resumed after the Olympic break.
7. Phoenix Mercury (17-19)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: This week: vs. CON (Sept. 13), @ CHI (Sept. 15)
Phoenix beat Atlanta but lost to Washington and Seattle. The Mercury are in the playoffs but there's not much else positive about their past two weeks: They're 1-5 since Aug. 26 and all the losses were by double digits, four of them at home. They have four games left in which to try to build some momentum heading into the postseason.
8. Chicago Sky (13-22)
Previous ranking: 11
This week: vs. WAS (Sept. 11), @ MIN (Sept. 13), vs. PHO (Sept. 15)
With Reese out, it might be time for the Sky's No. 3 pick, center Kamilla Cardoso, to step forward even more. She averaged 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks as Chicago went 2-1, losing to Las Vegas and then beating Los Angeles and Dallas. Carter, who returned to the Sky lineup Friday after missing four games because of health and safety protocols, also will be key if the Sky are to make the playoffs.
Watch the Game Highlights from Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings, 09/08/2024
9. Washington Mystics (11-24)
Previous ranking: 10
This week: @ CHI (Sept. 11), @ ATL (Sept. 13), vs. ATL (Sept. 15)
The Mystics beat Dallas and Phoenix last week before falling to Minnesota but have now won five of their past seven games. During that stretch, Washington has had five different players lead in scoring. Coming back from being winless for almost the first full month of the season to having at least a shot at the playoffs says something about this team's resilience.
10. Atlanta Dream (12-23)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: vs. MIN (Sept. 10), vs. WAS (Sept. 13), @ WAS (Sept. 15)
Atlanta went 1-2 this past week, beating Dallas but losing to Phoenix and Indiana. Rhyne Howard had a very strong week individually, scoring a combined 100 points. Tina Charles is also doing her part; she averaged 16.3 points and 12.3 rebounds. But the Dream have to be disappointed Sunday's game against the Fever got away. Atlanta has lost six of its past eight.
11. Dallas Wings (9-26)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: vs. NY (Sept. 10), vs. NY (Sept. 12), vs. SEA (Sept. 13), @ IND (Sept. 15)
It seemed like the Wings might make a run for the playoffs when Satou Sabally returned after being with the German national team for the Paris Olympics. Indeed, on Aug. 27 and 30, Dallas beat both Las Vegas and Minnesota. Then they lost four in a row, and their postseason hopes evaporated. The Wings -- who made the WNBA semifinals last year -- must now figure out what they want to do for 2025, which is the last season star guard Arike Ogunbowale is under contract.
12. Los Angeles Sparks (7-28)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: vs. CON (Sept. 10), vs. SEA (Sept. 11), @ SEA (Sept. 15)
The Sparks went 0-3 and have missed the playoffs for a fourth season in a row. We don't know how Los Angeles would have fared had No. 2 draft pick Cameron Brink not been lost to a knee injury in June. The bright side is that another draft lottery pick is on the way next season to join Brink and No. 4 pick Rickea Jackson as a youthful core for the Sparks. It could be UConn guard Paige Bueckers.