The New York Liberty have the advantage of winning the WNBA playoffs, as they begin the second half of the season in first place. But things could get very interesting in the rest of August and September.
Eight teams make the postseason. Finishing in the top four means a chance to host a best-of-three first-round playoff series. Right now, those four spots appear to be decided by five teams: New York, the Connecticut Sun, the Minnesota Lynx, the Seattle Storm and the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
The Liberty, one of the original WNBA franchises, are still looking for their first WNBA title. New York fell in the WNBA Finals last season to the Aces, but so far in 2024 the Liberty have been the most consistent team in the league.
Meanwhile, another story to keep in mind is that of the Indiana Fever, who have not been to the playoffs since 2016. With back-to-back No. 1 picks Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark over the past two seasons, the Fever are now in playoff position with 14 games remaining in their regular season.
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Angel Reese records his 18th double-double of the season
Angel Reese finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds in the Sky's loss to the Mercury.
Key dates remaining
August 20: Exchange deadline
September 19: The regular season ends
September 22: The playoffs begin
October 20: Last possible date for the final
The WNBA Playoffs Predictor
The ESPN Analytics team analyzes playoff probability updated in real time. The top eight teams make the playoffs: a best-of-three series in the first round, where teams are seeded based on their regular-season performance, and a best-of-five format for the semifinals and finals. Updated nightly:
The five best WNBA players according to WPA
How much does a single player mean to the team? Win probability added (WPA) captures how much the probability increases or decreases when a player is on the court and gives him approximate credit. Here we break down the league's best in the category. Updated after games:
The top five WNBA rookies according to WPA
The 2024 rookie class deserves its own analysis. Win probability added (WPA) captures how much the probability increases or decreases when a player is on the court and gives him approximate credit. These rookies have not only impacted their teams, but the league as well. Post-game update:
Worth a look
• 25 reasons to read: Our mid-season edition of the Top 25 player rankings.
• What's next for the WNBA? A'ja Wilson and the Aces, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese.
• WNBA Predictions Time: 10 things that will happen in the second half.
• Newbie Tracker: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, we're following the newbies.
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