The calendar has flipped to August, which means there are just 14 days and 35 games left to play in the 2022 regular season to set the field and matchups for the 2022 WNBA Playoffs, which tip off on Aug. 17.

Here’s what we know:

• Five teams have clinched a playoff berth: Chicago, Las Vegas, Connecticut, Seattle, and Washington.
• One team has been eliminated: Indiana.
• That leaves six teams battling for the three remaining spots in the postseason: Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Minnesota, and New York.

Here’s what we don’t know:

• Who will secure the No. 1 overall seed and home-court advantage throughout the postseason? Chicago holds a one-game lead over Las Vegas, and their head-to-head season series is tied 1-1, with the rubber match set for Aug. 11 to determine a tiebreaker should it be needed. Remember that the Commissioner’s Cup championship game does not count toward the regular season standings and potential tiebreakers.
• Which of the five teams in the top tier of the standings will have to go on the road in the first round? Seattle’s win over Washington on Sunday secured the head-to-head tiebreaker for the two teams currently occupying the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, matching 19-12 records.
• Who will separate themselves from the six-team pack in the second tier of the standings and ensure their trip to the playoffs? Dallas is in the best position as the team with the fewest losses (16), while Minnesota has the most work ahead of them (19 losses).
• Which teams are in the best position in terms of tiebreakers? We’ll delve into that as we break down each team in this week’s power rankings.

1. Las Vegas Aces (22-8)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week’s Results: W at CHI 93-83; W at IND 93-72; W at IND 94-69
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at WAS; Thursday at DAL; Sunday at SEA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 108.8 (1); DefRtg: 100.5 (6); NetRtg: 8.3 (1); eFG%: 52.5 (2); Pace/40: 82.95 (1)

While the Commissioner’s Cup championship did not elevate the Aces in the official standings, it holds weight in the power rankings. Las Vegas got the best of Chicago last Tuesday in the second annual Commissioner’s Cup competition. The Aces currently have the No. 2 spot in the standings – one game back of Chicago and two games up on Connecticut.

Tiebreakers

• 1—1 vs. CHI (1 game remaining, 8/11 vs. CHI)
• 2—1 vs. CON (series complete, CHI won series)
• 1—1 vs. SEA (1 game remaining, 8/7 at SEA)
• 0—2 vs. WAS (1 game remaining, 8/2 at WAS)
• 8—5 vs. OPP .500+ (.615 win percentage)

2. Chicago Sky (23-7)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. LVA 93-83; W vs. NYL 89-81; W vs. CON 95-92
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. DAL; Friday vs. WAS; Sunday vs. CON
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.0 (2); DefRtg: 98.0 (4); NetRtg: 7.0 (3); eFG%: 53.0 (1); Pace/40: 80.79 (5)

The Sky opens a four-game homestand on Tuesday against Dallas before hosting Washington and Connecticut to close the week; Chicago is a league-best 12-2 at home this season. The Sky is just one win shy of matching their franchise record for wins in a single season (24-10 in 2013). Chicago closes the regular season with one game against the other four members of the top tier (Las Vegas, Connecticut, Seattle, and Washington) and two teams vying for a playoff berth (Dallas and Phoenix).

Tiebreakers

• 1—1 vs. LVA (1 game remaining, 8/11 at LVA)
• 3—0 vs. CON (1 game remaining, 8/7 vs. CON, CHI won series)
• 1—1 vs. SEA (1 game remaining, 8/9 vs. SEA)
• 2—1 vs. WAS (1 game remaining, 8/5 vs. WAS)
• 10—3 vs. OPP .500+ (.769 win percentage)

3. Connecticut Sun (20-10)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. SEA 88-83; L vs. CHI 95-92
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. PHX; Thursday vs. PHX; Sunday at CHI
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 104.9 (3); DefRtg: 97.1 (3); NetRtg: 7.8 (2); eFG%: 50.7 (3); Pace/40: 80.31 (7)

The Sun opens the week with a pair of home games against the Phoenix Mercury before beginning their final three-game road trip of the regular season with a stop in Chicago. Connecticut has yet to defeat the defending champs this season in three tries, with two of the three games decided by four points or less, including Sunday’s 95-92 loss that snapped a four-game win streak for the Sun. Connecticut has no tiebreakers against the two teams ahead of them in the standings but does hold tiebreakers over the two teams directly below them.

Tiebreakers

• 0—3 vs. CHI (1 game remaining, 8/7 at CHI, CON lost series)
• 1—2 vs. LVA (series complete, CON lost series)
• 3—0 vs. SEA (series complete, CON won series)
• 2—1 vs. WAS (series complete, CON won series)
• 9—8 vs. OPP .500+ (.529 win percentage)

4. Seattle Storm (19-12)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week’s Results: L at CON 88-83; W at WAS 82-77; L at WAS 78-75
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday vs. MIN; Sunday vs. LVA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.3 (7); DefRtg: 95.5 (2); NetRtg: 4.8 (5); eFG%: 49.6 (T-7); Pace/40: 79.90 (11)

Seattle’s 82-77 win over Washington on Saturday clinched the season series and the head-to-head tiebreaker for the Storm over the Mystics. And that tiebreaker may come into play as the Storm fell to the Mystics the following day to put the two teams in a dead heat at 19-12 with five games to play. Sunday’s 78-75 loss was Seattle’s first loss in a game decided by three points or less, as they are now 4-1 in such games.

Tiebreakers

• 1—1 vs. CHI (1 game remaining, 8/9 at CHI)
• 1—1 vs. LVA (2 games remaining, 8/7 vs. LVA; 8/14 at LVA)
• 0—3 vs. CON (series complete. SEA lost series)
• 2—1 vs. WAS (series complete, SEA won series)
• 8—8 vs. OPP .500+ (.500 win percentage)

5. Washington Mystics (19-12)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week’s Results: W at DAL 87-77; L vs. SEA 82-77; W vs. SEA 78-75
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. LVA; Friday at CHI; Sunday vs. LAS
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.9 (8); DefRtg: 94.8 (1); NetRtg: 5.0 (4); eFG%: 49.6 (T-7); Pace/40: 78.60 (12)

With Saturday’s loss to Seattle, the Mystics find themselves in a challenging position when it comes to playoff positioning. Washington currently holds no tiebreakers over the three teams directly ahead of them in the standings (Seattle, Connecticut, and Las Vegas). The Mystics open this week by facing the top two games in the league – Las Vegas at home on Tuesday and Chicago on the road on Friday – before hosting a Sparks team battling to secure a playoff berth on Sunday.

Tiebreakers

• 1—2 vs. CHI (1 game remaining, 8/5 at CHI)
• 2—0 vs. LVA (1 game remaining, 8/2 vs. LVA, WAS lost series)
• 1—2 vs. CON (series complete, WAS lost series)
• 1—2 vs. SEA (series complete, WAS lost series)
• 9—6 vs. OPP .500+ (.600 win percentage)

6. Dallas Wings (13-16)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. WAS 87-77; W at ATL 81-68
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at CHI; Thursday vs. LVA; Saturday vs. IND
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.5 (5); DefRtg: 103.0 (7); NetRtg: -0.6 (6); eFG%: 48.5 (10); Pace/40: 79.95 (10)

Like the Mystics, the Wings open this week facing the top two teams in the league – at Chicago on Tuesday and home against Las Vegas on Thursday – before hosting the 5-27 Fever to close the week. Among the six teams battling for the final three playoff berths, the Wings have the fewest losses (16), giving them an advantage in the last two weeks.

Tiebreakers

• 2—1 vs. PHX (1 game remaining, 8/12 at PHX)
• 1—2 vs. LAS (1 game remaining, 8/14 at LAS)
• 1—2 vs. ATL (series complete, DAL lost series)
• 2—1 vs. MIN (series complete, DAL won series)
• 1—0 vs. NYL (2 games remaining 8/8 vs. NYL; 8/10 vs. NYL)
• 5—11 vs. OPP .500+ (.313 win percentage)

7. Phoenix Mercury (13-17)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. LAS 90-80; L at NYL 89-69
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at CON; Thursday at CON; Saturday vs. NYL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.8 (6); DefRtg: 104.4 (10); NetRtg: -2.6 (8); eFG%: 50.0 (5); Pace/40: 80.56 (6)

The Mercury enters the week holding the No. 7 spot in the playoff race with six games yet to play. Phoenix closes out a three-game road trip with a two-game set in Connecticut to open the week before returning to the Valley for their final four games of the regular season. The Mercury have been much better at home (9-5) compared to the road (4-12) this season, so having a homestand over the final eight days of the season may be what helps Phoenix secure its 10th straight playoff berth.

Tiebreakers

• 1—2 vs. DAL (1 game remaining, 8/12 vs. DAL)
• 2—2 vs. LAS (series complete, tied, PHX superior record vs. .500+ teams)
• 1—2 vs. ATL (series complete, PHX lost series)
• 0—3 vs. MIN (1 game remaining, 8/10 vs. MIN; PHX lost series)
• 1—1 vs. NYL (1 game remaining, 8/6 vs. NYL)
• 6—9 vs. OPP .500+ (.400 win percentage)

8. Los Angeles Sparks (12-17)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week’s Results: L at PHX 90-80; L vs. MIN 84-77
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at NYL; Wednesday at NYL; Friday at ATL; Sunday at WAS
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.7 (9); DefRtg: 105.2 (11); NetRtg: -6.5 (11); eFG%: 49.5 (9); Pace/40: 81.12 (4)

The Sparks are the busiest team in the WNBA this week, with a league-high four games on the schedule over the next six days. All four games come on the road, where L.A. is just 5-9 so far this season – and all four come against teams either vying for a playoff berth (New York twice, and Atlanta) or trying to improve their position after already clinching a berth (Washington).

Tiebreakers

• 2—1 vs. DAL (1 game remaining, 8/14 vs. DAL)
• 2—2 vs. PHX (series complete, tied, LAS has lower record vs. .500+ teams)
• 1—1 vs. ATL (1 game remaining, 8/5 at ATL)
• 1—2 vs. MIN (series complete, LAS lost series)
• 1—0 vs. NYL (2 games remaining, 8/2 at NYL; 8/3 at NYL)
• 4—9 vs. OPP .500+ (.308 win percentage)

9. Minnesota Lynx (12-19)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week’s Results: W at ATL 92-85; W at LAS 84-77
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday at SEA; Sunday vs. ATL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.7 (4); DefRtg: 104.1 (9); NetRtg: -1.4 (7); eFG%: 49.8 (6); Pace/40: 80.07 (8)

After dropping three straight games, the Lynx bounced back with a pair of road wins to keep their playoff hopes (and the hopes to match the WNBA record with 12 consecutive playoff appearances) alive, heading into the final two weeks of play. The Lynx enter the stretch run with the most losses of any team in playoff contention (19), but they do own three head-to-head tiebreakers and have a chance to clinch a fourth on Sunday against Atlanta.    

Tiebreakers

• 1—2 vs. DAL (series complete, MIN lost series)
• 3—0 vs. PHX (1 game remaining, 8/10 at PHX; MIN won series)
• 2—1 vs. LAS (series complete, MIN won series)
• 1—1 vs. ATL (1 game remaining, 8/7 vs. ATL)
• 2—1 vs. NYL (series complete, MIN won series)
• 3—14 vs. OPP .500+ (.176 win percentage)

10. New York Liberty (11-18)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week’s Results: L at CHI 89-81; W vs. PHX 89-69
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. LAS; Wednesday vs. LAS; Saturday at PHX
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.0 (10); DefRtg: 103.3 (8); NetRtg: -5.3 (10); eFG%: 50.2 (4); Pace/40: 80.02 (9)

The Liberty are currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture, but the final two weeks of their schedule will give them plenty of opportunities to catch the teams currently ahead of them. New York closes out the season with three two-game sets – against Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta – as well as a single game against Phoenix, a team New York just beat on Sunday behind Sabrina Ionescu’s franchise-record 16 dimes. New York has completed just one season series against the other five teams in contention for the final three playoff spots, which means positioning and tiebreakers are up for grabs.

Tiebreakers

• 0—1 vs. DAL (2 games remaining, 8/8 at DAL, 8/10 at DAL)
• 1—1 vs. PHX (1 game remaining, 8/6 at PHX)
• 0—1 vs. LAS (2 games remaining, 8/2 vs. LAS, 8/3 vs. LAS)
• 1—1 vs. ATL (2 games remaining, 8/12 at ATL, 8/14 vs. ATL)
• 1—2 vs. MIN (series complete, NYL lost series)
• 7—11 vs. OPP .500+ (.389 percentage)

11. Atlanta Dream (12-18)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. MIN 92-85; L vs. DAL 81-68
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday vs. IND; Friday vs. LAS; Sunday at MIN
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.0 (11); DefRtg: 98.4 (5); NetRtg: -3.4 (9); eFG%: 47.3 (11); Pace/40: 81.29 (3)

The Dream is currently the first team out of the playoffs, just a half-game behind the Sparks for the eighth and final spot in the postseason field. So why are they 11th in this week’s power rankings? Atlanta has lost four straight and seven of its last nine games, with five losses coming by double-digits. However, the Dream have some advantages heading into the final two weeks of the season if they can find a way to snap this losing streak. Atlanta already owns two head-to-head tiebreakers (against Dallas and Phoenix), and the other three are still to be determined (against Los Angeles, Minnesota, and New York).

Tiebreakers

• 2—1 vs. DAL (series complete, ATL won series)
• 2—1 vs. PHX (series complete, PHX won series)
• 1—1 vs. LAS (1 game remaining, 8/5 vs. LAS)
• 1—1 vs. MIN (1 game remaining, 8/7 at MIN)
• 1—1 vs. NYL (2 games remaining, 8/12 vs. NYL, 8/14 at NYL)
• 6—13 vs. OPP .500+ (.316 win percentage)

12. Indiana Fever (5-27)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. LVA 93-72; L vs. LVA 94-69
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday at ATL; Saturday at DAL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 94.7 (12); DefRtg: 107.9 (12); NetRtg: -13.2 (12); eFG%: 45.3 (12); Pace/40: 81.84 (2)

Indiana’s last win came 44 days ago when the Fever knocked off the defending champion Sky on Jun. 19 to improve to 5-13 on the season. At that point, it appeared inevitable that the Fever would best the six wins they had accumulated in the past two seasons. Six weeks and 14 consecutive losses later, the Fever now have just four games remaining to try to avoid the worst record in franchise history.

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.