With only 27 days until the regular season closes on August 14, the race to the postseason is in full swing as teams have between nine and 12 games remaining to secure their spot in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs, which tip off on August 17.

As we look at the standings entering Week 11, two distinct races stand out.

1. Locking up a Playoff Berth

The top priority for all teams is clinching a playoff berth by finishing in the top eight in the standings. Entering Tuesday’s action, no team has mathematically clinched or been eliminated, but there is a six-team race brewing for the bottom half of the field as Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York, and Minnesota are separated by just two games (three in the loss column as not all teams have played an equal number of games).

With so many teams still in the mix, every game down the stretch takes on added importance. Especially when it comes to head-to-head matchups between these teams as tiebreakers may need to be used to determine the final playoff field.

2. Securing Home-Court Advantage in the First Round

At the top of the standings, there is a five-team race happening for the top four playoff seeds and the reward of home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The defending champion Chicago Sky lead the way, but their lead over the rest of the top five is far from insurmountable. Las Vegas is one game back of Chicago, Seattle is one game back of Vegas, Connecticut is one game back of Seattle and Washington is one game back of Connecticut.

Currently, the Mystics would be on the outside looking in for home-court advantage. Washington has two more losses (11) than any other team in the top four and is tied for the most games played (27) entering Week 11, so they don’t have much margin for error if they hope to replace one of the current top four.

Again, this is where we have to start looking at head-to-head matchups and tiebreakers. On Sunday, the Aces defeated the Sun 91-83 to win the season series 2-1 and lock up the head-to-head tiebreaker with Connecticut if it becomes needed when the season ends next month. Below is a breakdown of the head-to-head series among the top five teams, including some games to circle on the calendar during the stretch run.

Las Vegas

• vs. SEA: 1-1 (2 remaining: 8/7, 8/14)
• vs. CHI: 1-1 (1 remaining: 8/11)
• vs. WAS: 0-2 (1 remaining: 8/2) Lost tiebreaker
• vs. CON: 2-1 (0 remaining) Won tiebreaker

Chicago

• vs. SEA: 0-1 (2 remaining: 7/20, 8/9)
• vs. CON: 2-0 (2 remaining: 7/31, 8/7)
• vs. LVA: 1-1 (1 remaining: 8/11)
• vs. WAS: 2-1 (1 remaining: 8/5)

Seattle

• vs. CHI: 1-0 (2 remaining: 7/20, 8/9)
• vs. WAS: 1-0 (2 remaining: 7/30-31)
• vs. LVA: 1-1 (2 remaining: 8/7)
• vs. CON: 0-2 (1 remaining: 7/28) Lost tiebreaker

Connecticut

• vs. CHI: 0-2 (2 remaining: 7/31, 8/7)
• vs. SEA: 2-0 (1 remaining: 7/27) Won tiebreaker
• vs. LVA: 1-2 (0 remaining) Lost tiebreaker
• vs. WAS: 2-1 (0 remaining) Won tiebreaker

Washington

• vs. SEA: 0-1 (2 remaining: 7/30-31)
• vs. CHI: 1-2 (1 remaining: 8/5)
• vs. LVA: 2-0 (1 remaining: 8/2) Won tiebreaker
• vs. CON: 1-2 (0 remaining) Lost tiebreaker

There is still much to be decided over the final four weeks of the regular season. Before the action gets underway on Tuesday with a three-game slate, here is how the teams stack up entering Week 11.

1. Chicago Sky (19-6)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. ATL 90-75; W at LAS 80-68; W at DAL 89-81
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday vs. SEA; Friday vs. DAL; Saturday at NYL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.4 (2); DefRtg: 97.8 (5); NetRtg: 7.6 (2); eFG%: 53.4 (1); Pace/40: 80.57 (5)

The defending champs are the hottest team in the league, having won four in a row and nine of their last 10 games. In addition to sitting at the top of the standings as the final four-week sprint gets underway, the Sky also close out the season with seven of their final 11 games at home, where Chicago is a league-best 9-2 on the season. During their title run last season, the Sky had home-court advantage in only one round (a single-elimination first-round game); can they hold onto the No. 1 seed and lock up the home court throughout the playoffs as they try to defend the title?

2. Seattle Storm (17-8)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. DAL 83-74; W vs. IND 81-65
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday at CHI; Friday at PHX; Sunday vs. ATL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.9 (7); DefRtg: 93.7 (1); NetRtg: 6.2 (4); eFG%: 49.9 (5); Pace/40: 80.40 (8)

Seattle is right behind Chicago when it comes to teams currently on fire; the Storm have also won four in a row and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Unlike Chicago, the Storm does not have a home-heavy schedule down the stretch as only three of their final 11 games will be played at Climate Pledge Arena. The Storm are 11-4 at home this season and just 6-4 on the road. Their current win streak will be put to the test with road games in Chicago and Phoenix to open this week.

3. Las Vegas Aces (18-7)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week’s Results: W at NYL 107-101; W at NYL 108-74; W at CON 91-83
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. ATL; Thursday vs. IND; Saturday vs. LAS
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 109.2 (1); DefRtg: 102.1 (6); NetRtg: 7.1 (3); eFG%: 52.6 (2); Pace/40: 83.26 (1)

The Aces stumbled into All-Star, losing five of their final seven games before the break. While much of their team was busy in Chicago for All-Star – the Aces had four players in the game (including MVP Kelsey Plum) and their entire coaching staff on the sidelines – the pause in the regular season seems to have served them well. Las Vegas posted a perfect 3-0 week coming out of the break with consecutive wins over New York and the aforementioned win over Connecticut on Sunday. The Aces have a three-game homestand this week as six of their final 11 games will be played at home, where they are 8-4 on the season.

4. Connecticut Sun (16-9)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week’s Results: W at IND 89-81; W at ATL 93-68; L vs. LVA 91-83
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. NYL; Friday at MIN; Sunday at MIN
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 104.3 (3); DefRtg: 96.7 (3); NetRtg: 7.7 (1); eFG%: 50.2 (4); Pace/40: 80.42 (7)

The Sun opened the week with wins in Indiana and Atlanta before being dealt a tough blow with the news that reigning MVP Jonquel Jones has entered health and safety protocols. Jones missed her first game of the season on Sunday – a 91-83 loss to Las Vegas that clinched the season series for the Aces. Outside of the 2020 pandemic season in which Jones did not play, she has missed only six games in her six-year career. The Sun are now 2-4 in those games. While we do not know how soon Jones will return for the Sun, they do have three games on the schedule this week, but against teams under .500 on the season (New York at home and a two-game set in Minnesota).

5. Washington Mystics (16-11)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week’s Results: W at LAS 94-81; L at PHX 80-75; W vs. MIN 70-57
• This Week’s Schedule: Thursday vs. NYL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.7 (8); DefRtg: 94.6 (2); NetRtg: 5.1 (5); eFG%: 49.3 (8); Pace/40: 78.56 (12)

The Mystics remain in the mix for a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the opening round of the postseason, but there is work to be done to pass the teams ahead of them. For example, Washington is currently two games back of fourth-place Connecticut in the loss column and must finish with a superior record as the Sun won the season series 2-1 and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Mystics are one of four teams with just nine games left on the schedule. However, six of those games are at home, where the Mystics are 8-4 on the season. The first of those six games comes Thursday against New York in Washington’s only game this week.

6. Los Angeles Sparks (10-14)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. WAS 94-81; L vs. CHI 80-68
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. IND; Thursday vs. ATL; Saturday at LVA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.8 (9); DefRtg: 105.7 (11); NetRtg: -6.9 (11); eFG%: 49.5 (7); Pace/40: 81.16 (4)

The Sparks opened July with a three-game win streak and followed it with a three-game losing streak spanning the All-Star break. Los Angeles is 2-3 with two games remaining in this seven-game homestand. Can they get back on track this week with home games against Indiana and Atlanta before hitting the road to take on Las Vegas on Saturday?  The Sparks and Liberty will be the busiest teams down the stretch with 12 games remaining on their schedule.

7. Dallas Wings (11-14)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week’s Results: L at SEA 83-74; W at MIN 92-87; L vs. CHI 89-81
• This Week’s Schedule: Friday at CHI; Sunday at IND
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.2 (5); DefRtg: 103.0 (7); NetRtg: -0.8 (6); eFG%: 48.1 (10); Pace/40: 79.88 (10)

The up-and-down ride of the Dallas Wings continues as they have alternated wins and losses over their past four games. Arike Ogunbowale scored 32 points in Dallas’ win over Minnesota on Thursday; it was Ogunbowale’s second game this season with 30-plus points and the 12^th of her young career. Since she entered the league in 2019, no player has had more 30-plus point games than Ogunbowale.

8. Atlanta Dream (11-14)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week’s Results: L at CHI 90-75; L vs. CON 93-68; W at PHX 85-75
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at LVA; Thursday at LAS; Sunday at SEA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 94.4 (12); DefRtg: 97.6 (4); NetRtg: -3.2 (9); eFG%: 47.3 (11); Pace/40: 81.39 (3)

Atlanta got a much-needed win over Phoenix on Sunday as it snapped a three-game losing streak for the Dream. The key number to watch for Atlanta is 80. When the Dream score at least 80 points, they are 8-3 on the season. When they are held below 80 points, they are just 3-11 on the season. Atlanta continues to have a top-four-ranked defense, but their 12^th-ranked offense is preventing them from climbing any higher in the power rankings.

9. Minnesota Lynx (10-17)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. PHX 118-107; L vs. DAL 92-87; W at IND 87-77; L at WAS 70-57
• This Week’s Schedule: Friday vs. CON; Sunday vs. CON
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.5 (4); DefRtg: 103.5 (8); NetRtg: -1.1 (7); eFG%: 49.2 (9); Pace/40: 79.96 (9)

Minnesota was the busiest teams coming out of the All-Star break with a four-game week and finished 2-2 on the week with a win over Phoenix and Indiana and losses to Dallas and Washington. At 10-17, the Lynx open this week in 11^th place and three games back in the loss column behind the teams currently holding the final playoff spots. With just nine games remaining on their schedule, the Lynx are running out of time and need to string some wins together if they hope to keep their playoff streak alive.

10. Phoenix Mercury (11-16)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week’s Results: L at MIN 118-107; W vs. WAS 80-75; L vs. ATL 85-75
• This Week’s Schedule: Friday vs. SEA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.7 (6); DefRtg: 104.7 (10); NetRtg: -3.0 (8); eFG%: 49.8 (6); Pace/40: 80.49 (6)

The Mercury have traded wins and losses over their past five games (loss, win, loss, win, loss) as they currently sit as the first team out of the playoff picture at No. 9. Two bright sides to point out for the Mercury. The first is the play of Sophie Cunningham as she has taken advantage of additional minutes since Tina Charles’ departure and put up big numbers. In 10 games before Charles left, Cunningham averaged 7.2 points in 21.7 minutes. In nine games since Charles left, Cunningham has averaged 16.6 points in 34.6 minutes, scoring in double figures in all nine games — the longest streak of her career. The Mercury also opens the week in the middle of a four-game homestand as they host Seattle on Friday. Phoenix is 7-5 at home this season compared to just 4-11 on the road and they close the season with six of their final nine games at home.

11. New York Liberty (9-15)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. LVA 107-101; L vs. LVA 108-74
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at CON; Thursday at WAS; Saturday vs. CHI
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.7 (10); DefRtg: 104.5 (9); NetRtg: -5.8 (10); eFG%: 50.3 (3); Pace/40: 79.77 (11)

The Liberty have now lost three straight games since their impressive win over the Aces prior to the All-Star break. New York has lost five of its last six games and they are set to enter a difficult stretch of games this week as they are on the road in Connecticut (likely without Jonquel Jones) and Connecticut before hosting league-leading Chicago on Saturday. The Liberty still have a third of the season (12 games) to play over the final month of the season, with seven of those games on the road. New York joins Las Vegas and Dallas as the only teams so far this season that have been better on the road (5-6) than they have been at home (4-9).

12. Indiana Fever (5-22)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. CON 89-81; L vs. MIN 87-77; L at SEA 81-65
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at LAS; Thursday at LVA; Sunday vs. DAL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 94.7 (11); DefRtg: 107.1 (12); NetRtg: -12.4 (12); eFG%: 45.1 (12); Pace/40: 81.86 (2)

The Fever’s losing streak has now reached nine games and while they have not been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, all signs point toward a sixth-straight trip to the lottery for Indiana. While the wins have not come for the Fever this season, we do have to point out some positives to focus on and watch over the final month of the season. The first is the play of the rookies as NaLyssa Smith ranks second among first-year players in scoring (13.0 ppg) and first in rebounding (8.4). Queen Egbo (7.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg) and Emily Engstler (5.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg) share the rookie lead in blocks. As much as this year is about developing the seven rookies on the Fever roster, we have to shout out Kelsey Mitchell, who has a league-leading 16 games with 20 points or more this season as she averages a career-best 18.6 ppg (sixth in the league) in her fifth season.

Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.