WNBA returns September 17 with five games, playoff seeding undecided
The WNBA resumes Thursday, September 17 after a nearly three-week break for the FIBA Women's World Cup with five games on the schedule. Four of the five teams in action, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington, and Las Vegas, are fighting for playoff position with only four regular-season games remaining. The marquee matchup features Las Vegas (27-13) against eliminated Seattle (8-32).
The WNBA resumes Thursday, September 17 after a nearly three-week break for the FIBA Women's World Cup with five games on the schedule, per Yahoo WNBA reporting. Four of the five teams in action are fighting for playoff position and seeding with only four regular-season games remaining.
Atlanta Dream hosts Connecticut Sun at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. Atlanta sits at 26-14 and has already secured a playoff spot, while Connecticut enters at 10-30. Chicago Sky faces Washington Mystics at 8 p.m. ET on Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Washington enters at 24-16 and has already clinched a playoff spot after winning five of their last seven games before the FIBA break. Chicago is 15-25 and has been eliminated from playoff contention, per the reporting.
Los Angeles Sparks play at Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. Dallas enters at 24-16 and has already secured a playoff berth, and is part of a three-way tie with Washington and the New York Liberty as the final week begins, per Yahoo WNBA. Los Angeles sits at 15-25 and has won three of its last four games.
Phoenix Mercury travel to Portland Fire at 10 p.m. ET at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Phoenix enters the final week at 14-26 and has been eliminated from playoff contention after snapping a four-game losing streak with a win over Toronto before the FIBA break. Portland is 16-24 and has been eliminated from playoff contention in their inaugural WNBA season with four games remaining.
The marquee matchup pits Las Vegas Aces against Seattle Storm at 10 p.m. ET on USA Network at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Las Vegas enters at 27-13, has already clinched a playoff spot, and entered the FIBA break in third place while chasing a top seed in the final week. Seattle sits at 8-32 and has been eliminated from playoff contention. Seattle's difficult closing stretch includes two games against Las Vegas, along with matchups against Golden State and Dallas, per the reporting.
The WNBA returns September 17 after the FIBA World Cup break with five games, including Las Vegas vs. Seattle at 10 p.m. ET on USA Network; playoff seeding remains undecided for four contending teams.
With seeding positions undecided for four of the eight playoff teams entering the final week, Thursday marks the start of a sprint where Dallas and Washington's three-way tie becomes resolvable; Las Vegas's bid for a top seed depends on results beyond their control as eliminated teams close out their seasons.
Sports, checked.
Sources
Single-source report. As published, only Yahoo Sports had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
Also reported by The Big Lead, DraftKings Network, PrizePicks, RotoWire. Independent coverage of the same development, found by search; not this story's sources.
No betting advice.