The WNBA regular season is coming to a close with the playoffs on the horizon. With the timeline looming large, teams are giving their all to secure that final spot and vying for home court advantage. After a down week, the Las Vegas Aces are back at the table thanks to A’Ja Wilson and her plain white T’s.
Elsewhere, Caitlin Clark has snatched up a handful of accolades and led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. While the number one team in the league, the New York Liberty, continues to tower above the competition.
But how do those teams stack up against each other? And what about the rest of the league?
Here is what the WNBA landscape looks like with two weeks left in the season.
12. Chicago Sky (11-22)
Last week: 10 | Upcoming: DAL (9/9), WAS (9/11), MIN (9/14)
Chicago’s lack of offense outside of Angel Reese’s efforts on the boards is really starting to hurt the Sky. The team was firmly in position to take the 8th seed, but thanks to a dragging 7-game losing streak after the break, they found themselves in a heated battle for the final spot in the playoffs against the Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics.
If a playoff push amid that long skid wasn’t enough pressure, the Sky were without leading scorer Chennedy Carter for four games, including a narrow loss to Minnesota.
11. Los Angeles Sparks (7-26)
Last week: 12 | Upcoming: CON (9/8), CON (9/10), SEA (9/11)
The depleted L.A. Sparks may have had to endure another tough season this year, but the team has plenty to look forward to in the future. Although they have had subpar showings lately, Rickea Jackson and Dearica Hamby are doing everything in their power to keep games close and they played a key role in the Sparks’ win over the Liberty, though New York was without Jonquel Jones at the time.
10. Dallas Wings (9-24)
Last week: 7 | Upcoming: CHI (9/8), NYL (9/10), NYL (9/12), SEA (9/13)
Despite looking all but out of the playoff picture thanks to an unrelenting spate of injuries, Dallas seemed to be soaring with victories over the Las Vegas Aces and Minnesota Lynx.
The flight, however, was grounded quickly after narrow loses to Indiana and Washington. With the Chicago Sky free-falling and the Mystics and Dream surging, Dallas can only hope that their talent can match up with the top-tier teams they have to face through the end of the season if they want to snag that last spot. Arike Ogunbowale is a supernova with the ball in her hands, and with her shotmaking, the Wings always have a chance.
9. Atlanta Dream (11-22)
Last week: 11 | Upcoming: IND (9/8), MIN (9/10), WAS (9/13)
Rhyne Howard and the squad in Atlanta are dreaming about that 8th seed.
Despite a rough stretch, the Dream are still in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs that they desperately crave. Missing key players Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Aerial Powers, though, may make that a considerable undertaking for a team lacking an extra scorer. In a tight loss to the Phoenix Mercury, Howard accounted for 31 of the team’s 66 points which won’t help playoff aspirations if they can’t deploy a more balanced attack.
8. Phoenix Mercury (17-18)
Last week: 9 | Upcoming: CON (9/13),
Phoenix continues to be the definition of “up-and-down” as seen by their near .500 record this late in the season. While Phoenix looks impressive on paper with Kahleah Copper and Natasha Cloud having astounding seasons coming in at third in scoring and assists, respectively, the team just can’t break into that top rung of teams. Britney Griner has been a highlight for the Mercury with her presence on defense and scoring efficiency, with her consistency helping to secure a playoff run for the Merc.
Phoenix will have to keep their tempers low as the season winds down as the team currently has 32 technicals, a league record, and just saw Natasha Cloud suspended for a game after securing her seventh tech of the season. Copper and Diana Taurasi are also on the verge of losing a game to suspension with six technicals of their own.
7. Washington Mystics (11-23)
Last week: 6 | Upcoming: MIN (9/11), ATL (9/13)
The magic in Washington has grown powerful. After a tumultuous rebuilding season, the Washington Mystics have picked it up in the second half of the season and have suddenly found themselves in the mix for a playoff spot.
The ‘Stics’ game plan revolves around making the right pass and knocking down threes, which they’re finally doing at the end of games to solve their clutch-game woes. The Mystics have the second-most made threes behind the New York Liberty and are shooting them at one of the best clips in the league. In the matchup against the Mercury, Washington buried Phoenix with the long ball, led by Karlie Samuelson, who was a perfect 5-for-5 from deep.
6. Seattle Storm (20-14)
Last week: 5 | Upcoming: LAS (9/11), DAL (9/13),
Seattle has clinched a playoff spot just a year after retooling the entire team. While the “superteam” had high expectations going into its first year, growing pains and roster concerns have somewhat stunted the team’s ceiling.
The West Coast club has one of the best starting fives in the league, but with a soft bench, Seattle may have a problem matching up with some of the deeper teams in the playoffs. At the same time, though, as long as Jewell Loyd is there to save the day like with her late three against Connecticut, the Storm have a chance to rain on anyone’s parade.
5. Connecticut Sun (24-9)
Last week: 3 | Upcoming: LAS (9/8), LAS (9/10), PHX (9/13)
The Connecticut Sun is beaming. After years of being so close to the WNBA Finals, 2024 could finally be their year. Connecticut has added back Bri Jones, a stellar two-way player, and Marina Mabrey, a threat from deep, to finally create what feels like a perfect roster.
The Sun has always leaned on defense, but with growth from DiJonai Carrington and Ty Harris, Connecticut’s offense finally looks ready. They were even able to match Washington in threes with 14 against the second-best three-point-shooting team in the league.
4. Las Vegas Aces (21-12)
Last week: 8 | Upcoming: NYL (9/8), IND (9/11), IND (9/13)
You know what they say, “Look good, feel good,” and nothing looks better than a crispy white T, at least that’s what the presumptive MVP A’ja Wilson thinks. A recent wardrobe change to simple white T-shirts has implausibly elevated A’ja’s game to an even higher level, with the star telling an Aces reporter, “I have to want to put on clothes. Right now, where I am, I don’t feel like I deserve to put on clothes.”
That singular focus on wins has A’ja playing at an otherworldly level, averaging 32 points over the past three games and securing double-digit victories in each contest. A’ja can’t do it all alone, however, with the rest of the Aces finally shaking off the rust of the past few weeks to sharpen up for the playoff push, especially Tiffany Hayes, who has had a magnificent stretch off the bench.
3. Minnesota Lynx (24-9)
Last week: 1 | Upcoming: WAS (9/8), ATL (9/10), CHI (9/13)
Minnesota had their seven-game winning streak ended lately, but the Lynx are still one of the league’s most dangerous teams. They are probably the deepest team in the W with the skills and firepower to match up with even the most prolific teams. Minnesota’s depth means that on any given night, any of their players could have a special game, which is a nightmare for opponents.
The Lynx lead the league in assists and three-point percentage, with several of their players seeing career highs in both categories. On one of the deepest rosters in the league is the reigning Player of the Month and MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, who received the award for the first time in her career after leading the squad’s win streak.
2. Indiana Fever (18-16)
Last week: 4 | Upcoming: ATL (9/8), LVA (9/11), LVA (9/13)
Indiana is in the zone. Caitlin Clark is deftly leading this surging team to the tune of securing Rookie of the Month, Player of the Week and Eastern Conference Player of the Month at the same time. The phenom has averaged a blistering 24 points, 5 boards and nearly 9 assists a game during the Fever’s 5-game win streak to help clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.
While Clark is the engine, every player on the Fever has excelled in their role, especially Kelsey Mitchell, whose preternatural ability to get a bucket perfectly pairs with Caitlin’s passing making one of the most fearsome backcourt duos in the league.
1. New York Liberty (28-6)
Last week: 2 | Upcoming: LVA (9/8), DAL (9/10), DAL (9/12)
The New York Liberty have one thing on their mind and that is a return to the WNBA Finals. The Libs have one of the most versatile offensive schemes in the WNBA and can get a bucket from literally anywhere on the court. The team’s MVP talents in Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones provide steady scoring in the post but can stretch the floor as well.
The Liberty’s three-point barrage has been such a boon this season that Stewie has found herself taking fewer threes than ever in her career in exchange for a massive spike in paint scoring. When you have Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich and Kayla Thorton dropping shots from deep and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, one of the game’s premiere cutters attacking the rim, the Liberty have an answer for any style of play.
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