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The start of the WNBA playoffs is just a week away and the postseason picture is starting to come together.
Here’s a look at the updated standings and bracket scenarios following the win.
1. Minnesota Lynx, 33-9**
2. Las Vegas Aces, 28-14 (5 GB)*
3. Atlanta Dream, 28-14 (5 GB)*
4. Phoenix Mercury, 27-15 (6 GB)*
5. New York Liberty, 25-17 (8 GB)*
6. Golden State Valkyries, 23-19 (10 GB)*
7. Indiana Fever, 23-20 (10.5 GB)*
8. Seattle Storm, 22-21 (11.5 GB)
9. Los Angeles Sparks, 20-22 (13 GB)
*Â Denotes clinched playoff spot
** Denotes clinched best record in league
The Las Vegas Aces improved their chances of earning the No. 3 seed with a win over the Chicago Sky on Sunday. Sky star Angel Reese, who was already suspended for the first half of Sunday’s game, ended up not playing at all due to a back injury, which made things much easier for Las Vegas.
A 31-point outing from A’ja Wilson didn’t hurt either.
Seven of eight playoff teams have officially punched their ticket to the postseason, leaving the Seattle Storm and Los Angeles Sparks to battle it out for the final spot.
The Sparks, who picked up a win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday, will face the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday before finishing the regular season off against the Aces. Had Los Angeles lost on Sunday, it would have been eliminated from postseason contention.
The Storm have just one game left, a contest against the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday.
Regardless of who ends up with the eighth seed, they’ll have a tough first-round matchup against the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx have been by far and away the best team in the WNBA this season thanks to MVP-caliber play from Napheesa Collier, and it’s hard to imagine they’ll have any trouble with the No. 8 seed.
Heading into the final week of play, one of the biggest storylines is the battle for the second seed. The Aces and Dream have the same record right now, but Las Vegas holds the tiebreaker thanks to a 3-0 record against Atlanta in the regular season.
For the Dream to secure the No. 2 seed, they will have to do it by ending with a better record than the Aces rather than the same record.
Earning the No. 2 seed would be big because, as it stands now, that would mean a first-round matchup against the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever. While the Fever have had a solid season without Clark for most of the year, it’s hard to imagine they’re capable of a first-round upset without their star.
