WNBA table, playoff analysis, schedule: Liberty's magic number for first place has dropped to one

There is less than a week until the end of the 2024 WNBA regular season and the playoff situation is taking shape. Seven teams have secured a postseason spot while the Dallas Wings and Los Angeles Sparks are officially entering the lottery. That leaves three teams – the Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics – battling for the final playoff spot.

There was only one game on Thursday, with the Liberty crushing the Wings and lowering their magic number for first place to one. A win or loss for the Lynx will now secure home-court advantage for the playoffs. The Lynx will play the Sky on Friday before facing the Liberty in New York on Sunday.

Things will get more exciting on Friday night with five games, including a rematch between the Aces and Fever and a key game in the race for eighth place between the Dream and the Mystics.

As a reminder, the top eight teams, regardless of conference affiliation, advance to the WNBA playoffs. Under the current playoff format, teams are placed in a standard bracket, with the No. 1 seed playing No. 8 in the first round, No. 2 playing No. 7, and so on. Teams play a best-of-three series in the first round and a best-of-five series in the semifinals and finals. Notably, the first round is played in a 2-1 format, meaning the higher seed gets the first two games at home, while the lower seed gets the deciding Game 3 at home, should the series go that far. The semifinals and finals are played in a standard 2-2-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, and 5 if necessary.

Here's everything you need to know about the current playoff situation, including the standings and key decision criteria:

Table position

1. New York Freedom (31-6) — Playoff spot secured
2. Minnesota Lynx (27-9) — Playoff spot secured
3. Connecticut Sun (26-10) — Playoff spot secured
4. Las Vegas Aces (23-13) — Playoff spot secured
5. Seattle Storm (22-14) — Playoff spot secured
6. Indiana fever (19-18) — Playoff spot secured
7. Phoenix Mercury (17-19) — Playoff spot secured
8. Chicago sky (13-23)
9. Atlanta Dream (12-24)
10. Washington Mystics (12-24)
11. Dallas Wings (9-28) — Eliminated
12. Los Angeles Lakers (7-30) — Eliminated

Note: Ties between two teams will be decided by head-to-head first, then, if necessary, by the better match against teams with a record above .500. Ties between more than two teams will be decided by the combined head-to-head against the other teams.

Only freedom at the top

1. New York Liberty (31-6)

• Decision criteria: against Lynx (1-1); against Sun (3-1)

The Liberty won again on Thursday to move past the lifeless Wings. Their magic number for first place is now down to one, and with a Lynx win or loss, they secure home-court advantage for the playoffs.

Important remaining games: against Lynx, 15 September

Lynx overtakes Sun and takes second place

2. Minnesota Lynx (27-9)

• Decision criteria: against Liberty (1-1); against Sun (0-2); against Storm (3-1); against Aces (3-1)

The Lynx extended their winning streak to four games with Tuesday's victory over the Dream. Coming out of the Olympic break, they are now 10-1, the best record in the league during that time, and remain a full game ahead of the Sun in the race for second place. The two clubs' meeting on September 17 could be a potential decider.

Important remaining games: in Liberty, September 15; on Sunday, September 17

3. Connecticut Sun (26-10)

• Decision criteria: against Liberty (1-3); against Lynx (2-0); against Storm (1-2); against Aces (0-2)

The Sun picked up another win over the last-place Sparks on Tuesday, but they remain one game behind the Lynx, who were the league's best team after the Olympic break. Catching them won't be easy, although they still have a game against them.

Important remaining games: at Aces, September 15; against Lynx, September 17

Aces continue to lead Storm in the race for fourth place

4. Las Vegas Aces (23-13)

• Decision criteria: against Sun (2:0); against Lynx (1:3); against Storm (2:1)

The Aces were able to return A'ja Wilson from an ankle injury for Wednesday night's game against the Fever. She led the Aces to a big win, setting a single-season points record in the process. Vegas has quietly won five of its last six games and remains one game ahead of Seattle in fourth place, with the tiebreaker still undecided.

Important remaining games: against Sun, 15 Sept.; at Storm, 17 Sept.

5. Seattle Storm (22-14)

• Decision criteria: against Sun (2-0); against Lynx (1-3); against Aces (1-2)

The Storm weren't particularly convincing on Wednesday, but they did enough to beat the last-place Sparks and win two games in a row for the first time since the Olympic break. They remain one game behind the Aces in the race for fourth place, with a game still to play against their rival.

Important remaining games: vs Aces, September 17

Surging Fever consolidates sixth place

6. Indiana Fever (19-18)

• Decision criteria: against Mercury (3:0); against Sky (3:1); against Dream (3:0)

The Fever looked like a young team in their loss to the Aces on Wednesday, their second in three games. Still, they are 1.5 games ahead of the Mercury in the race for sixth place and have the tiebreaker between the clubs. With just three games remaining, they are in good shape to secure sixth place.

Important remaining games: N/A

7. Phoenix Mercury (17-19)

• Decision criteria: against Fever (0:3); against Sky (2:0)

The Mercury are looking more and more likely to finish in 7th place. They were soundly beaten by the Storm on Saturday and have now lost five of their last six games. They are 1.5 games behind the Fever, who hold the tiebreaker between the teams, which is essentially a 2.5 game gap with four games left to play.

Important remaining games: N/A

Sky, Dream, Mystics fight for the last place

8. Chicago Sky (13-23)

• Decision criteria: against Dream (2-1); against Mystics (1-3)

The Sky's mini two-game winning streak ended abruptly on Wednesday with a 31-point loss to the Mystics, their heaviest defeat of the season. They lost the tiebreaker to the Mystics in the process, and their lead over the Dream and Mystics has shrunk to one game.

Important remaining games: in Dream, September 17

9. Atlanta Dreams (12-24)

• Decision criteria: against Sky (1-2); against Mystics (1-1)

The Dreams' playoff hopes were dealt another blow on Tuesday with a loss to the Lynx. They are now one game behind Sky in the race for eighth place. Although there is still a game left between the two clubs, the Dreams have just four games left and time is running out.

Important remaining games: against Mystics, September 13th; at Mystics, September 15th; against Sky, September 17th

10. Washington Mystics (12-24)

• Decision criteria: against Sky (3-1); against Dream (1-1)

The Mystics just won't give up. They kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a narrow win over the Sky on Wednesday, moving within one game of the final playoff spot. If they end up securing 8th place, their 3-1 record over the Sky this season will be a big reason why.

Important remaining games: at Dream, September 13th; against Dream, September 15th

Wings and Sparks in the lottery

11. Dallas Wings (9-28)

The Wings, who have now lost six games in a row, are entering the lottery for the first time since 2020. With only three players guaranteed contracts for next season, Dallas is in for a tough winter.

12. Los Angeles Lakers (7-30)

The Sparks were the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs this season. This is the Sparks' fourth consecutive lottery appearance, the longest such streak in franchise history.