Photo by Bri Lewerke/NBAE via Getty Images
Two of the hottest teams in the league — the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever — face off tonight, plus six other teams are in action.
Good morning, WNBA fans! Last nights two-game slate resulted in a Liberty win over the Storm, and a Mystics victory against the Mercury.
Tonight, we’ve got eight teams in action, as the WNBA season comes to a close:
The Las Vegas Aces (21-12) visit the Connecticut Sun (24-9) at 7:30pm ET
Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images
A’ja Wilson is playing the best basketball of her career and the Las Vegas Aces have strung together three consecutive wins. In her last 10 games, Wilson is averaging 28.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.
The Sun are 6-4 in their last 10 games, and currently sit in second in the WNBA standings. Since the break, the Sun have been offensively led by DeWanna Bonner (14.3 points on 36.7% shooting) Marina Mabrey (14 points on 45.7%), Brionna Jones (13.7 points on 50.7%).
The Minnesota Lynx (24-9) visit the Indiana Fever (17-16) at 7:30pm ET
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The Lynx and the Fever have been two of the WNBA’s best teams since the Olympic break — both are 8-2 in their last 10 games — and as it currently stands, these two would face offf in the first round of the playoffs.
The Fever have to enter this matchup with the Mystics feeling pretty good about themselves. They just clinched the playoffs for the first time in 8 years, have won 8 of their last 10 games, and the Caitlin Clark-Kelsey Mitchell backcourt is quickly solidifying itself as the best in the game.
Since the Olympic break, Mitchell is averaging 26.7 points per game, second in the league behind A’ja Wilson. Clark, meanwhile has won Eastern Conference Player of the Week for each of the last two weeks. Clark’s been the league’s third-leading scorer, averaging 24.6 points on 47.9% shooting alongside 9 assists.
The Lynx, meanwhile, are battling the Sun for the #2 seed (the two teams have the same record, but the Sun have the tiebreaker). Napheesa Collier continues to have a spectacular season — she’s averaging 21.5 points on 55.7% shooting in her last 10 — while Kayla McBride continues to provide a critical scoring punch.
The Dallas Wings (9-24) face the Atlanta Dream (11-22) at 7:30pm ET
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The Wings and the Dream are both in the playoff hunt despite their lackluster play this season, and that’s because the Chicago Sky (currently in 8th) just keep losing.
Arike Ogunbowale has been better since the Olympic break — she’s averaging 23.8 points on 44.2% shooting — and Satou Sabally has been effective in her return, averaging 19.5 points on 44.1%. But, Dallas is just 3-5 since the break, and is currently riding a two-game losing streak, with losses against the Fever and the Mystics.
The Dream won three straight games out of the break, but have since lost five of their last six games. Rhyne Howard (18.7 points since the break) and Tina Charles (18.3 points, 12.4 rebounds) have both been very effective in their roles, but it hasn’t been enough for Atlanta to capitalize on the face that the Sky have racked up only a single win since the Olympic break.
The Los Angeles Sparks (7-26) face the Chicago Sky (11-22) at 9:30pm ET
Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
The Sparks and Sky are two additional underachieving teams who still somehow have a chance at the 8th seed (though it would take a lot for Los Angeles to get it).
Chicago is 1-8 since the break, and have particularly struggled in the absence of Chennedy Carter, who has been out sick since August 25th.
Kamilla Cardoso has been a bright spot, averaging 12 points on 57.1% shooting in her last five Games. Angel Reese has struggled offensively since the Olympic break (she’s averaging 12.7 points on 33.9% shooting) but is also grabbing 16.4 rebounds during that span.
Updated WNBA Standings
New York Liberty (28-6)
Connecticut Sun (24-9)
Minnesota Lynx (24-9)
Las Vegas Aces (21-12)
Seattle Storm (20-14)
Indiana Fever (17-16)
Phoenix Mercury (17-18)
Chicago Sky (11-22)
Atlanta Dream (11-22)
Washington Mystics (11-23)
Dallas Wings (9-24)
Los Angeles Sparks (7-26)
How to watch today’s WNBA game
All of Friday’s games will be streamed on WNBA League Pass, as well as on Ion.
