WNBA Weekly Preview: Playoff positioning on the line in final week of regular season

We’re only a handful of days into the WNBA regular season’s resumption following the FIBA break, but last week’s brief reintroduction has set the table for a highly anticipated final four days.

The Minnesota Lynx have cooled off tremendously, losing three of their last four games, including three straight before getting back in the win column on Sunday against the Connecticut Sun. Their once comfortable hold on first place feels like a distant memory, as they are just one game in the loss column ahead of the second-seeded Golden State Valkyries.

The Valkyries took care of the Pacific Northwest’s Portland Fire and Seattle Storm on back-to-back nights to earn a fifth and sixth consecutive victory, making them one of three playoff-bound teams currently riding win streaks of at least five games. And beyond the wins and losses, more records were recently broken — Angel Reese became the first player in WNBA history to record 500 rebounds in a single season, Kelsey Mitchell broke A’ja Wilson’s record for most points scored in a single WNBA season, and Wilson became the first player in league history to log multiple 1,000-point seasons. All three continue to lead their teams to success while strengthening their cases for end-of-season awards.

Still, there’s work to be done during the final week of the regular season in terms of solidifying playoff seeds ahead of the postseason. Let’s pinpoint which upcoming matchups are the ones to watch.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Atlanta Dream @ New York Liberty

(Monday, September 21 at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBCSN)

New York has won seven of its last 10 games, and Atlanta owns an 8-2 record in its most recent 10 games. On top of facing a formidable opponent that may currently be at the peak of its powers, home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs is also on the line for both squads. With those factors in mind, viewers should be in for a treat. Expect Breanna Stewart and Angel Reese to continue their strong play down the stretch of the regular season.

Minnesota Lynx @ Indiana Fever

(Tuesday, September 22 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN)

There’s a legitimate chance Tuesday’s matchup between the Lynx and Fever could end up concluding as the game of the week (if the sequel on Thursday doesn’t take the crown). The Lynx suddenly find themselves in danger of squandering the No. 1 seed, and no matter how many wins the Fever keep stacking, they still find themselves in a fight to avoid opening their first-round playoff series on the road. Minnesota took care of Indiana by the score of 108-100 in the lone matchup between the two teams this season. Tuesday’s bout between the two elite offenses has a chance to be another high-scoring one.

Los Angeles Sparks @ Las Vegas Aces

(Tuesday, September 22 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)

On paper, this Sparks-Aces matchup doesn’t look all that competitive; Los Angeles was eliminated from playoff contention over a month ago, no longer employs Kelsey Plum (previously the team’s top scorer), and has already lost to Las Vegas twice this season by a combined 37 points. Meanwhile, the Aces are winners of six straight games and are getting some of the best versions of Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson. Still, several veterans on the Sparks are capable of big performances. How Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike compete in the frontcourt against Wilson is something to look forward to.

Atlanta Dream @ New York Liberty

(Wednesday, September 23 at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network)

Same teams, Same location. Different outcome? Wednesday’s showdown between New York and Atlanta is a repeat of Monday’s matchup. Only this time, Monday’s result will have provided some clarity on the importance of the rematch. Will the Liberty try to draw even with the Dream in the loss column? Will the Dream be playing for a chance at the No. 3 seed? Wednesday’s contest could answer several questions and clarify what follows both teams’ regular-season finale.

Indiana Fever @ Minnesota Lynx

(Thursday, September 24 at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network)

If you like rematches, here’s another. But this one flips from Indiana on Tuesday to Minneapolis on Thursday. The results of Tuesday’s game may impact what happens on this final day of the season; specifically, which players may or may not take the floor. But if both teams are at full strength, there will be plenty of high-profile players worth the viewing experience — Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, and Kelsey Mitchell, to name a few. This could be the perfect appetizer for what should be another competitive WNBA postseason.