WNBA standings, playoff picture, schedule: Mystics, Sky, Dream have identical records with two games to play

After a very busy Sunday with all 12 teams in action, the final weekend of the 2024 WNBA regular season has concluded. As we approach the last few days before the playoffs, the eighth and final spot is still up for grabs, with three teams vying for it. Additionally, there are numerous seeding battles happening throughout the standings.

In early Sunday games, the Fever secured the No. 6 seed by defeating the Wings, the Dream kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Mystics in overtime, and the Lynx took down the league-leading Liberty. In later games, the Aces continued their winning streak with a victory over the Sun, the Storm held off the Sparks, and the Mercury got a win against the Sky.

As a reminder, the top eight teams, regardless of conference, make the playoffs in the WNBA. In the current playoff format, the teams are placed into a standard bracket with the No. 1 seed facing the No. 8 seed in the first round, No. 2 vs. No. 7, and so on. The first round is a best-of-three series, while the semifinals and finals are best-of-five series. The first round features a 2-1 format, where the higher seed hosts the first two games and the lower seed hosts the deciding Game 3, if necessary. In the semifinals and finals, it follows a standard 2-2-1 format.

Here is an overview of the current playoff picture, including the standings and key tiebreakers:

Standings

New York Liberty (31-7) — Playoff spot clinched
Minnesota Lynx (29-9) — Playoff spot clinched
Connecticut Sun (27-11) — Playoff spot clinched
Las Vegas Aces (25-13) — Playoff spot clinched
Seattle Storm (24-14) — Playoff spot clinched
Indiana Fever (20-19) — Playoff spot clinched
Phoenix Mercury (18-20) — Playoff spot clinched
Washington Mystics (13-25)
Chicago Sky (13-25)
Atlanta Dream (13-25)
Dallas Wings (9-30) — Eliminated
Los Angeles Sparks (7-31) — Eliminated

For two-team ties, head-to-head record is considered first, followed by better record against .500+ teams if necessary. Ties between more than two teams are determined by combined head-to-head record against the other teams.

Liberty Holds the Top Spot Alone

1. New York Liberty (31-7)

Tiebreakers: vs. Lynx (1-2); vs. Sun (3-1)

Despite being defeated by the Lynx, the Liberty are on track to secure the No. 1 seed. They only need one more win or one Lynx loss to claim homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

Key remaining games: N/A

Lynx in Second Place, Pulling Away from the Sun

2. Minnesota Lynx (29-9)

Tiebreakers: vs. Liberty (2-1); vs. Sun (0-2); vs. Storm (3-1); vs. Aces (3-1)

The Lynx extended their winning streak to six games and are now two games ahead of the Sun in the race for second place.

Key remaining games: at Sun, Sept. 17

3. Connecticut Sun (27-11)

Tiebreakers: vs. Liberty (1-3); vs. Lynx (2-0); vs. Storm (1-2); vs. Aces (0-3)

The Sun’s three-game winning streak ended against the Aces, putting them two games behind the Lynx in the battle for second place.

Key remaining games: vs. Lynx, Sept. 17

Aces Leading the Storm in the Race for Fourth

4. Las Vegas Aces (25-13)

Tiebreakers: vs. Sun (3-0); vs. Lynx (1-3); vs. Storm (2-1)

A’ja Wilson reached 1,000 points for the season in the Aces’ victory over the Sun. They maintain a one-game lead over the Storm for the fourth seed.

Key remaining games: at Storm, Sept. 17

5. Seattle Storm (24-14)

Tiebreakers: vs. Sun (2-0); vs. Lynx (1-3); vs. Aces (1-2)

The Storm are one game behind the Aces in the battle for the fourth seed, with one game left against each other.

Key remaining games: vs. Aces, Sept. 17

Fever Secure Sixth Seed, Mercury Locked into Seventh

6. Indiana Fever (20-19)

Tiebreakers: vs. Mercury (3-0)

The Fever secured the No. 6 seed by defeating the Wings and reaching the 20-win mark.

7. Phoenix Mercury (18-20)

Tiebreakers: vs. Fever (0-3)

The Mercury are locked into the No. 7 seed after winning against the Sky but falling short in the tiebreaker scenario.

Mystics Holding Off Sky and Dream for Final Playoff Spot

8. Washington Mystics (13-25)

Tiebreakers: vs. Sky (3-1); vs. Dream (2-2); combined (5-3)

The Mystics lost to the Dream but are still holding onto the final playoff spot based on tiebreakers against the Sky and Dream.

Key remaining games: vs. Liberty, Sept. 17; vs. Fever, Sept. 19

9. Chicago Sky (13-25)

Tiebreakers: vs. Dream (2-1); vs. Mystics (1-3); combined (3-4)

The Sky remain in the playoff hunt despite losing to the Mercury and have crucial games ahead against the Dream and Sun.

Key remaining games: at Dream, Sept. 17; at Sun, Sept. 19

10. Atlanta Dream (13-25)

Tiebreakers: vs. Sky (1-2); vs. Mystics (2-2); combined (3-4)

The Dream kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Mystics and have important matchups coming up against the Sky and Liberty.

Key remaining games: vs. Sky, Sept. 17; at Liberty, Sept. 19

Wings and Sparks Set for Lottery

11. Dallas Wings (9-30)

The Wings have been eliminated from playoff contention and are heading to the lottery for the first time since 2020.

12. Los Angeles Sparks (7-31)

The Sparks have also been eliminated from playoff contention and are set for their fourth consecutive lottery appearance.