The New York Liberty are leading the WNBA playoffs, having officially secured a playoff spot and sitting in first place. But things have gotten very interesting lately.
Eight teams qualify for the postseason. Finishing in the top four earns a chance to host a three-game series in the first round of the playoffs. Right now, those four spots appear to be decided by five teams: New York, Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm and two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
The Liberty, one of the original WNBA teams, are still seeking their first NBA title. New York lost to the Aces in the NBA Finals last season, but so far in 2024 the Liberty have been the league’s most consistent team.
The Indiana Fever haven’t made the playoffs since 2016. With back-to-back first-round picks Alyah Boston and Kaitlyn Clark the past two seasons, the Fever have already secured a playoff spot. Who will win the eighth and final playoff spot?
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Marina Mabry scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Suns to a win over the Sparks.
Marina Mabry scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Suns to an 86-66 win over the Sparks.
Key dates remaining
September 19: The regular season is over.
September 22: Qualifying begins
October 20: Last possible date for the finals
WNBA Playoff Predictions
The ESPN Analytics team analyzes the playoff odds and updates them in real time. The top eight teams advance to the playoffs — a three-game series in the first round, where teams are seeded based on regular season performance, and a five-game series in the semifinals and finals. Updated nightly:
Earned a spot in the playoffs: New York, Minnesota, Connecticut, Las Vegas, Seattle, Indiana, Phoenix.
Top 5 WNBA Players According to WPA
How important is a single player to a team? The Winning Probability Index (WPA) captures how much or how little a player is likely to win when he is on the field and gives a rough estimate. Here we break down the league’s top players in this category. Updated after games:
Top 5 Rookies in the WNBA According to WPA
The 2024 rookie class deserves its own breakdown. The Winning Probability Plus (WPA) indicator captures how much probability goes up or down when a player is on the field and gives them a rough score. These rookies have impacted not only their teams, but the league as well. Updated after games:
Worth a look.
• How do the WNBA playoffs work? Dates, Format, and More
• WNBA Awards Tracker: Who is the unanimous better player? Clark or Reese for Player of the Year?
• WNBA Power Rankings: Why the Lynx are the hottest team in the league
• 25 Reasons to Read: Our mid-season version of the top 25 players
• WNBA Predictions Time: 10 Things That Will Happen in the Second Half
• Beginner Tracker: Caitlin Clark. Angel Reyes. We follow beginners
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