With two days left in the WNBA regular season, the playoff seeding race is, well, complicated.
The top eight teams – the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings – are locked into the postseason. But, with seven games left to be played, seeds 2 through 8 are up for grabs.
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Yes, the Lynx got the No. 1 seed on Tuesday, Sept. 22. But after losing to the Indiana Fever, 96-77, Minnesota backed in when the Valkyries lost to the Portland Fire later in the evening.
With so much at stake, including homecourt for the top four seeds, let’s take a look at each team’s seeding scenario heading into games on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
More: Minnesota Lynx back into WNBA playoffs’ top seed after loss by Golden State Valkyries
Locked: No. 1 seed
The Lynx have gone 1-4 over their last five games but had a big enough advantage in the standings headed into the final stretch of the season that there was room for the stumble. Even with the No. 1 seed, Minnesota needs to improve on defense to have chance at its first title since 2017.
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Best seed: No. 2
Worst seed: No. 3
The Valkyries were still in the hunt for the top seed heading into Wednesday night, but a 90-82 loss to the Fire means Golden State will have homecourt in the first round but will be either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.
No. 2 seed:
No. 3 seed:
Best seed: No. 2
Worst seed: No. 3
The Aces took care of business on Tuesday with an 89-79 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks to stay in contention for the No. 2 seed. The defending WNBA champs have won six straight and face the Mercury, the team they beat in the Finals last season, in their last regular-season game on Thursday, Sept. 24.
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No. 2 seed:
No. 3 seed:
Best seed: No. 4
Worst seed: No. 5
The Dream, who have won eight of their last nine games, play the Liberty in each team’s final game of the regular season Wednesday evening. Atlanta needs to win to claim homecourt for the first round of the playoffs.
No. 4 seed:
No. 5 seed:
Best seed: No. 4
Worst seed: No. 6
If the Fever want to a chance at the No. 4 seed, they need to do what the did on Tuesday and beat the Minnesota Lynx in their final game of the season on Thursday. Indiana has won four of its last five.
No. 4 seed:
No. 5 seed:
No. 6 seed:
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Loss and Mystics win
Best seed: No. 5
Worst seed: No. 7
The Mystics, who have won six of seven, beat the Fever on Sunday and Sun on Tuesday. While Washington is out of contention for homecourt, it could earn the No. 5 seed by beating the Chicago Sky in the final game of the season on Thursday. Granted, the Mystics would need help.
No. 5 seed:
No. 6 seed:
No. 7 seed:
Best seed: No. 7
Worst seed: No. 8
The Wings were the final team to qualify for the playoffs. Dallas had won six in a row before a narrow loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Monday. The Wings play at league cellar dweller Seattle to finish the season on Wednesday.
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No. 7 seed:
No. 8 seed:
-
Liberty win and Mystics loss
Best seed: No. 6
Worst seed: No. 8
The Liberty lost to the Dream on Monday and if they do so again Wednesday, New York will be locked into the No. 8 seed. Win and they could claim the No. 6 seed, with some help.
No. 6 seed:
No. 7 seed:
-
Win and Mystics win and Wings loss
No. 8 seed:
-
Mystics win and Wings win
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA playoff race explained: Seeds 2 through 8 still up for grabs
