After the Las Vegas Aces’ victory on the Golden State Valkyries final Wednesday, A’ja Wilson acknowledged she checks the WNBA standings daily — typically a number of occasions a day with particular person video games typically affecting the 1-13 order.
The Minnesota Lynx sit comfortably atop the league with slightly greater than a month left within the common season, however the remaining playoff hopefuls are battling it out for seeding and for one of many eight playoff berths. Although the New York Liberty, nonetheless with out Breanna Stewart, are hanging on to the No. 2 spot by a thread after the Atlanta Dream tied their 20-11 file, essentially the most attention-grabbing a part of the postseason race is going on additional down the board: solely 2½ video games separate the No. 5 Indiana Fever and the No. 9 Los Angeles Sparks. Wilson’s surging Aces have received six of their previous seven video games to climb as much as the sixth spot only a week after teetering out and in of the postseason image. And the Seattle Storm have hit a bumpy patch, falling to eighth.
With stakes in seemingly each remaining recreation, checking the standings day by day is more likely to develop into widespread observe for greater than solely Wilson.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent seven days: vs. NY (Aug. 16)
Regardless of dropping Napheesa Collier for not less than two weeks, the Lynx have managed to grind out three wins final week over Seattle, Washington and New York. Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith have carried out an excellent job supplementing the scoring Minnesota misplaced when Collier went down in opposition to the Aces on Aug. 2, whereas DiJonai Carrington has discovered her footing by means of her first three video games since she was traded from Dallas.
Take Minnesota’s recreation in opposition to the Liberty: McBride was capable of cross off the defensive project of guarding Sabrina Ionescu to Carrington for stretches, serving to McBride concentrate on her offensive recreation. Carrington has six steals and two blocks by means of three video games and has been a staple participant in crunch time, already proving the belief her new group has in her.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent seven days: @ LA (Aug. 12), @ LV (Aug. 13), @ MIN (Aug. 16)
The Liberty picked up two wins in opposition to Dallas — one by 9 factors and the opposite by 11, however fell to the Lynx by 12. They’re hoping Breanna Stewart will have the ability to return from the bone bruise in her proper knee by the top of the month, however the August schedule is filled with robust video games, and Phoenix and Atlanta are proper on New York’s heels within the standings.
Not solely are all of their video games this week on the highway, however the Liberty face the Sparks and Aces on back-to-back days, play the Lynx twice in 4 days — and nonetheless should play six extra video games in opposition to groups who’re within the tight playoff race. All however two of those video games are on the highway.
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Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent seven days: @ SEA (Aug. 13), vs. SEA in Vancouver (Aug. 15), @ GS (Aug. 17)
The Dream received what could possibly be their most essential win of the season Sunday, beating Phoenix. They now have the identical file (20-11) as New York, and are tied with the Liberty for the No. 2 seed. They’re additionally a full recreation forward of the Mercury. That win moreover noticed the return of Brittney Griner and Rhyne Howard — the latter of whom had been out since July 17. The one piece of dangerous information for the Dream is Jordin Canada went down due to an obvious proper leg harm in that recreation.
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Allisha Grey, Dream high the Mercury on Sunday
Alisha Grey drops 17 factors within the Dream’s 74-66 win over the Mercury.
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent seven days: vs. LV (Aug. 15), @ SEA (Aug. 17)
The Mercury notched wins over Connecticut and Indiana earlier than falling to Atlanta, however their momentum continues to be trending positively. Alyssa Thomas made historical past by changing into the primary WNBA participant to file three consecutive triple-doubles (in opposition to Chicago, Connecticut and Indiana), and the chemistry between her, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper — together with the addition of DeWanna Bonner — nonetheless places the Mercury in a greater place than they had been every week in the past.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent seven days: vs. NY (Aug. 13), @ PHX (Aug. 15), vs. DAL (Aug. 17)
The Aces’ sizzling streak — they’ve received six of their previous seven video games — has seen them climb from being on the perimeter of the playoff image up into the No. 6 seed. A’ja Wilson has continued her MVP marketing campaign, changing into the primary participant in WNBA historical past to file a 30-point, 20-rebound recreation (32 factors, 20 rebounds in opposition to the Solar). She can be the one participant this season to rank within the high 5 in factors, rebounds and blocks per recreation.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent seven days: vs. DAL (Aug. 12), vs. WAS (Aug. 15), @ CON (Aug. 17)
The Fever’s roster has been decimated by accidents, most lately Sydney Colson (season-ending ACL) and Aari McDonald (foot) in final week’s loss to Phoenix. Cailtin Clark can be nonetheless sidelined due to her groin pressure. They did handle to beat Chicago with solely eight lively gamers — after which signed Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract — however are reaching the purpose of needing Clark again before later.
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Clark progressing, nonetheless not training with Fever
Clark progressing, nonetheless not training with Fever
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent seven days: vs. NY (Aug. 12), @ DAL (Aug. 15), @ WAS (Aug. 17)
The Sparks have been jelling since getting wholesome. Cameron Brink is averaging 7.0 factors, 3.7 rebounds and a couple of.2 blocks in 14 minutes per recreation, offering a defensive presence, stretching the ground and capturing 46% from 3 since her return from her ACL harm. Los Angeles received three of its 4 video games final week, together with a decent contest in opposition to Seattle, and is likely one of the hottest groups within the league. Do not be shocked if the Sparks proceed to climb the rankings.
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Sparks outlast Storm
Dearica Hamby’s and-1 with 5.6 seconds left lifts the Sparks previous the Storm.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent seven days: @ WAS (Aug. 13), @ CHI (Aug. 15), vs. ATL (Aug. 17)
Golden State misplaced a detailed one to Las Vegas however dealt with Los Angeles with no downside, in what coach Natalie Nakase referred to as a must-win recreation. In doing so, the Valkyries clinched a 3-1 sequence win and the postseason tiebreaker over a Sparks group that’s in all probability their largest competitors for the eighth seed. Within the recreation, the Valkyries held the Sparks — a group that scored not less than 100 factors in 5 of its previous six video games — to solely 59.
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Veronica Burton propels Valkyries previous Sparks
The Valkyries, led by Veronica Burton’s 16 factors, get a much-needed win vs. the Sparks.
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent seven days: vs. ATL (Aug. 13), vs. ATL in Vancouver (Aug. 15), vs. PHX (Aug. 17)
The Storm are navigating a tough stretch that has seen them lose 5 video games in a row, together with a gut-wrenching three-point loss to the Sparks — their second shut defeat in opposition to Los Angeles in 10 days. Seattle has now slipped to the eighth seed, and with video games in opposition to Atlanta and Phoenix this week, the chance to seek out some constructive momentum could possibly be tough.
Seattle can be within the technique of folding in Brittney Sykes after buying her in a commerce that despatched Alysha Clark to Washington. Sykes scored 14 and 27 factors in her first two video games with the Storm, displaying a promising match with the group. However it is going to take greater than that for Seattle to regular its season.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent seven days: vs. GS (Aug. 13), @ IND (Aug. 15), vs. LA (Aug. 17)
The Mystics have a brand new take care of buying and selling Brittney Sykes to Seattle and Aaliyah Edwards to Connecticut across the commerce deadline. Now, lots rests on the shoulders of rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. The Mystics did decide up a much-needed win over Dallas on Sunday to finish a four-game skid, however because the race for the ultimate few playoff spots heats up, they should preserve that up.
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Mystics roll previous Wings
Kiki Iriafen leads all scorers with 23 factors because the Mystics defeat the Wings 91-78.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent seven days: @ IND (Aug. 12), vs. LA (Aug. 15), @ LV (Aug. 17)
Dallas dropped all three of it video games final week: two in opposition to the Liberty and one other in opposition to the Mystics. One of many Liberty video games was performed with out Rookie of the 12 months favourite Paige Bueckers, who was sidelined due to a again harm. Bueckers described the harm as a “pulled muscle” sustained within the first recreation in opposition to the Liberty. If Dallas needs to seek out any success by means of the remainder of the season, it wants Bueckers again on the courtroom.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent seven days: @ CON (Aug. 13), vs. GS (Aug. 15)
The Sky ended an eight-game dropping streak with a 14-point win over Washington however adopted that up with losses to Atlanta and to short-handed Indiana. The largest query for Chicago revolves across the return of Angel Reese. Coach Tyler Marsh informed reporters the All-Star has “stepped away” from the group to concentrate on rehab for a again harm, however she is “progressing.”
Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent seven days: vs. CHI (Aug. 13), vs. IND (Aug. 17)
The Solar acquired Aaliyah Edwards in a commerce with the Mystics that despatched Jacy Sheldon to Washington. Getting Edwards offers Connecticut a proficient younger participant who helps bolster its frontcourt. However because it dropped all 4 video games final week, to Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Golden State, these strikes are extra geared towards future success than something instant.