Sport News Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IISeptember 18, 2024
Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Liberty have clinched the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs after defeating the Washington Mystics 87-71 on Tuesday evening. Breanna Stewart paced the Liberty with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Liberty held off a hard-charging Minnesota Lynx squad, which won its seventh straight game on Tuesday to move to 30-9, good enough for No. 2.
A Bridget Carleton three-pointer with three seconds left gave Minnesota a 78-76 road win over the Connecticut Sun to clinch second.
Here’s a look at the latest WNBA standings after Tuesday’s action, alongside notes on the race for No. 8.
Note that the top eight teams make the playoffs, with 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5 facing off in the quarterfinals to start.
WNBA Standings
1. New York Liberty: 32-7
2. Minnesota Lynx: 30-9
3. Connecticut Sun: 27-12
4. Las Vegas Aces: 26-13
5. Seattle Storm: 24-15
6. Indiana Fever: 20-19
7. Phoenix Mercury: 19-20
8. Atlanta Dream: 14-25
9. Washington Mystics: 13-26
10. Chicago Sky: 13-26
11. Dallas Wings: 9-30
12. Los Angeles Sparks: 7-32
Race for the No. 8 Seed
Through Tuesday, Atlanta is in the driver’s seat for the eighth and final playoff spot thanks to its 14-25 record, a game ahead of the ninth-place Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics at 13-26 apiece.
Atlanta will make the playoffs with a win at New York on Thursday evening. If the Dream lose, then the door is open for Chicago or Washington to walk in.
Washington hosts the Indiana Fever to close the season on Thursday. On that same day, Chicago visits the Connecticut Sun.
The first tiebreaker for WNBA playoffs is head-to-head. Atlanta split both of its season series with Chicago and Washington at 2-2. Washington won its series versus Chicago, 3-1.
Washington will get in if it wins, Chicago wins and Atlanta loses, because that creates a three-way tiebreaker that the Mystics win (5-3).
The second tiebreaker is record against teams who went .500 or better, if it gets that far. That would occur if Atlanta loses, Washington wins and Chicago loses.
Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune ultimately provided a look of what could occur here (click on the post for the full breakdown).
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
okay folks, this is what I’ve got for the Chicago Sky’s playoff picture heading into our final night of the regular season pic.twitter.com/pkRRnh5a45
The Liberty have nothing to play for Thursday, so maybe Atlanta plays a resting squad and catches a break. But ultimately, there’s plenty left at stake on paper as the race for the No. 8 seed reaches its ends soon.
