With solely 5 weeks left within the common season, the WNBA playoff race is in full swing, and the 2 groups atop the league standings are contending with hurdles: Each the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty are going through time with out their stars whereas integrating new gamers.
Minnesota’s MVP front-runner Napheesa Collier will miss a minimum of two weeks with a proper ankle sprain, though the Lynx think about themselves fortunate there was no main injury and have the luxurious of being 5.5 video games forward of the Liberty whereas she recovers. The Lynx welcome DiJonai Carrington, whom they acquired from the Wings in a trade over this previous weekend with hopes that she provides a layer to the protection, supplies extra wing depth and brings a extra veteran presence with deep playoff expertise.
In the meantime, the Liberty are struggling with out Breanna Stewart, dropping the primary 4 video games with out her earlier than selecting up a win in Connecticut on Sunday. The excellent news for New York is that Emma Meesseman made her season debut for the defending champs after signing as a free agent in July.
The Lynx and Liberty aren’t the one groups coping with accidents, which makes this race for the postseason much more attention-grabbing.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent seven days: @ SEA (Aug. 5), vs. WAS (Aug. 8), @ NY (Aug. 10)
Minnesota beat New York 100-93 within the first of 4 matchups between the groups over a three-week stretch, however the closing rating would not mirror how massive of a lead the Lynx had constructed heading into the ultimate minutes, main 92-77 earlier than permitting the Liberty to attain 11 straight factors to deliver it again inside single digits.
The Lynx adopted that up with the most important highway win in WNBA historical past, beating the Aces by 53 factors on Saturday. Napheesa Collier suffered an ankle damage within the third quarter of that recreation, so now the Lynx should navigate at least the next two weeks with out the MVP frontrunner.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent seven days: @ CHI (Aug. 7), @ PHX (Aug. 10)
Atlanta continues to climb these rankings after selecting up wins over Dallas, Phoenix and Washington over the previous week. What’s extra spectacular is that the Dream did it with out Rhyne Howard, who continues to recuperate from a knee damage, and Brittney Griner, who missed two of these video games as a consequence of a neck damage. Jordin Canada additionally missed one recreation with an sickness.
If the Dream can get (and keep) wholesome, they might be a nice shock atop the standings as we transfer towards the postseason.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent seven days: vs. DAL (Aug. 5), @ DAL (Aug. 8), vs. MIN (Aug. 10)
Sure, Emma Meesseman made her debut whereas Sabrina Ionescu scored a season-high 36 factors in Sunday’s 87-78 win over Connecticut to snap a four-game skid, however that was the lone shiny spot for New York over the previous seven days. The Liberty in any other case misplaced to that very same Solar crew — which holds the league’s worst report — and the Lynx within the first of 4 Finals rematches earlier within the week.
With groups like Atlanta and Indiana discovering their rhythm regardless of additionally lacking key gamers, it would not seem to be New York may have the momentum to climb out of its gap till Breanna Stewart, Kennedy Burke and Nyara Sabally return.
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Ionescu’s double-double snaps Liberty’s 4-game dropping skid
Sabrina Ionescu’s 36 factors and 11 rebounds snap the Liberty’s four-game dropping streak in an 87-78 win over the Solar.
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent seven days: @ LA (Aug. 5), @ PHX (Aug. 7), vs. CHI (Aug. 9)
Winners of 5 straight — together with six-point victories over the Mercury and Storm, and a 10-point win over the Wings over the previous week — the Fever are using the league’s longest lively successful streak and the franchise’s longest since 2015. They’re doing it with out Caitlin Clark, who continues to recuperate from a proper groin pressure whereas Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald preserve the offense afloat in Clark’s absence.
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How Fever coach is adjusting with out Caitlin Clark
Coach Stephanie White discusses the changes the Fever have made whereas Caitlin Clark is injured.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent seven days: vs. CON (Aug. 5), vs. IND (Aug. 7), vs. ATL (Aug. 10)
Phoenix dropped two video games crucial to the standings — at Indiana then Atlanta — earlier than securing its lone week of the previous week in opposition to Chicago on Sunday to shut out a five-game highway journey. The Mercury now hope to get again on observe with a four-game dwelling stand that begins on Tuesday in opposition to the league-worst Solar.
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent seven days: vs. MIN (Aug. 5), @ LV (Aug. 7), @ LA (Aug. 10)
The Storm are recovering from two heartbreaking losses: a 108-106 double-overtime thriller in opposition to Los Angeles and a 78-74 loss to Indiana. Seattle continues to take care of inconsistency, not having strung collectively greater than two consecutive wins since mid-July, and its schedule would not loosen up from right here: The Storm personal one of many league’s hardest remaining slates.
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent seven days: vs. IND (Aug. 5), vs. CON (Aug. 7), @ GS (Aug. 9), vs. SEA (Aug. 10)
The Sparks welcomed Cameron Brink again final week after she missed the previous 13 months with a torn ACL. It’s going to take time for the 2024 No. 2 total choose to regain her rhythm, however she logged 26 whole minutes with 12 factors, seven rebounds and three blocks between final Tuesday’s 89-74 loss to the Aces and Friday’s 108-106 double-overtime win over the Storm.
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Sparks outlast Storm in double-overtime thriller
Dearica Hamby makes the game-winning layup to present the Sparks a 108-106 victory in double time beyond regulation.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent seven days: @ GS (Aug. 6), vs. SEA (Aug. 8), vs. CON (Aug. 10)
It is exhausting to know what to make of the Aces. After selecting up a convincing 89-74 win in Los Angeles, Las Vegas recorded the most important improve in level differential between video games, beating Golden State by 24 after dropping to Minnesota by 53.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent seven days: vs. LV (Aug. 6), vs. LA (Aug. 9), vs. CON (Aug. 11)
Golden State picked up wins in Atlanta, Washington and Chicago over the previous week earlier than dropping to Las Vegas by 24 factors, inserting the Valkyries proper at .500. Availability is their largest problem heading into the ultimate regular-season stretch: Kayla Thornton is out for the 12 months whereas Monique Billings is sidelined for a minimum of three weeks with a proper ankle damage.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent seven days: @ CHI (Aug. 5), @ MIN (Aug. 8), @ DAL (Aug. 10)
After beating Chicago, Washington dropped two video games to Atlanta and Golden State. The Mystics are the crew to observe because the WNBA inches closes to its Aug. 7 commerce deadline: ESPN reported that the crew was engaged in conversations to probably deal Aaliyah Edwards, whereas Stefanie Dolson and Brittney Sykes would make sense as commerce property if Washington wished to enter a full rebuild.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent seven days: @ NY (Aug. 5), vs. NY (Aug. 8), vs. WAS (Aug. 10)
Dallas was near beating Atlanta on the highway earlier than in the end dropping 88-85, then dropped Friday’s dwelling recreation in opposition to Indiana 88-78. The Wings additionally misplaced DiJonai Carrington, who heads to Minnesota in a trade that sends Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson and a 2027 second-round choose to Dallas.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent seven days: vs. WAS (Aug. 5), vs. ALT (Aug. 7), @ IND (Aug. 9)
Chicago’s dropping streak is now as much as eight video games. Angel Reese returned from a again damage that sidelined her for 2 video games to report 22 factors and 13 rebounds in final Tuesday’s 103-86 loss at Washington, however then missed the subsequent two contests with the identical ailment. The All-Star is now thought-about day-to-day. Ariel Atkins and Hailey Van Lith additionally missed time over this previous week, leaving the short-handed Sky trying to find solutions.
Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent seven days: @ PHX (Aug. 5), @ LA (Aug. 7), @ LV (Aug. 10), @ GS (Aug. 11)
The Solar break up video games with the Liberty over the previous week, successful the primary by 16 and dropping the second by 9. However whereas the victory provided a shiny spot, it is inconceivable to say the crew has turned a nook.
The larger story surrounding Connecticut is an impending sale that would the franchise to Boston in 2027. Whereas the deal just isn’t carried out but, a brand new funding might breathe some life into the crew within the years to come back.