WNBA: Fever, Valkyries and Storm look to stay in playoff picture

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We have three WNBA games on the schedule for this ION Friday.

With the playoff race being as tight as ever, each game has postseason implications. We begin with the Minnesota Lynx taking on the Indiana Fever (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Seattle Storm facing the Dallas Wings (7:30 p.m. ET). Then, the final game for the night is the Phoenix Mercury taking on the Golden State Valkyries (10 p.m. ET).

How will the Fever keep up?

So much is still up in the air with this WNBA season, but one thing is clear: The Lynx are the cream of the crop.

The Fever playing them right now isn’t good for Indiana. Sophie Cunningham is out for the year, along with Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald, and Caitlin Clark’s return is anyone’s guess. In addition to her ongoing groin injury, it was revealed earlier this week that Clark is also dealing with a bone bruise in her left ankle. With the Fever losing four of their last six, only a pair of defeats could drop them out of the playoff picture.

The good news for Indiana is that they did beat Minnesota in the Commissioner’s Cup, but now they have to play them in three of their final nine games. This closing stretch will be a great time for Eastern Conference Player of the Week Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston to play their best.

For the Lynx, the only question is when Napheesa Collier will return. Their MVP candidate hasn’t played since Aug. 2. They’ve remained at the top of the league, but to get to where they want to go, they need Collier back and playing well.

Will the Storm make the playoffs?

While Paige Bueckers decided to go Incredible Hulk on the Los Angeles Sparks, scoring a WNBA rookie-record 44 points on Wednesday, it wasn’t enough for the Wings to earn the win.

The loss means they will officially not make the playoffs and are essentially just playing out the season. The Storm, on the other hand, still have plenty to play for. They are a half-game ahead of Los Angeles and will have to win as much as possible the rest of the way to stay in the eighth and final postseason spot.

Luckily for Seattle, they are essentially fully healthy and with Dallas not having anything but pride to play for, Nneka Ogwumike and company should be able to take care of the Wings on Friday night.

Golden State playing Phoenix should be the best game of the night. The Valkyries are 18-17 and aiming to make the playoffs as an expansion team.

The Mercury currently are in the No. 5 seed, but can jump up as high as No. 2 if they can start stacking wins. Neither team can take its foot off the gas at this point, so expect to see a playoff-like atmosphere on Friday at PHX arena.

MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas will be leading the charge for Phoenix, while Most Improved Player of the Year candidate Veronica Burton will be doing the same for Golden State.