Full Breakdown
Playoff Seeding Tightens as WNBA Enters Final Week of the Regular Season
By Drooid · · How we work
Seeding Battle Enters Final Week
The WNBA’s eight playoff berths were clinched weeks ago, but the exact ordering remains unsettled. Minnesota and Golden State are still contesting the top seed and home-court advantage. Las Vegas holds the No. 3 spot, while the gap between fourth-place Atlanta and eighth-place Dallas is only two games. The Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings share identical records, with Indiana just one win ahead of that cluster.
Recent Records and Standings
Across the league, reported win–loss totals vary slightly:
| Team | Reported Record |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Lynx | 31-10 / 32-10 |
| Golden State Valkyries | 29-11 / 31-11 |
| Las Vegas Aces | 28-13 / 29-13 |
| Atlanta Dream | 27-14 / 28-14 |
| Indiana Fever | 27-15 / 27-14 |
| New York Liberty | 25-16 / 26-16 |
| Washington Mystics | 25-16 / 26-16 |
| Dallas Wings | 25-16 / 26-16 |
All eight teams have secured postseason spots; the remaining four games per team will decide home-court advantage in the first round and the lower seeds.
Key Matchups Shaping Seedings
- Minnesota @ Indiana (Sept 22) – A win could solidify Minnesota’s claim to the No. 1 seed; a loss tightens the race with Golden State.
- Atlanta @ New York (Sept 21 & 23) – Directly influences the battle for the No. 3 seed and its home-court edge.
- Las Vegas @ Los Angeles (Sept 22) – A victory would help the Aces preserve their No. 3 position despite Los Angeles being out of the playoffs.
- Dallas @ Phoenix and Seattle (final two games) – Wins could lift the Wings into the top four.
Official Comments from Coaches
Atlanta head coach Karl Smekso stressed treating the final games as “playoff intensity.” Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White called each remaining contest “like playoff games.”
Data & Statistics
- Olivia Miles (Minnesota) surpassed Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record, reaching 790 points.
- Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana) set a new single-season total with 1,034 points.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on exact win–loss tallies for several teams, leaving the precise seed order ambiguous until the final games are played. Tie-breaker rules (head-to-head, record vs. .500+ teams, point differentials) have not been fully applied to the five-way tie described on September 20.
What’s Next
- Sept 21 – Atlanta at New York (8 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN).
- Sept 22 – Minnesota at Indiana (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
- Sept 22 – Los Angeles at Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).
- Sept 23 – Atlanta at New York (8 p.m. ET, USA Network).
- Sept 24 – Indiana at Minnesota (8 p.m. ET, USA Network).
These games will finalize the playoff bracket, determine home-court allocations, and set the stage for the postseason beginning three days after the regular season ends.