With the WNBA regular season nearing its end, the playoff race remains wide open

With just over a week left in the WNBA regular season, the playoff picture remains unsettled.

Minnesota is the lone team to have locked in home-court advantage through the postseason, while every other spot is still up for grabs. Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Phoenix are separated by only half a game in the battle for the No. 2 through No. 4 seeds. New York sits two games back of the Aces and Dream.

Golden State currently holds sixth place and is chasing history, aiming to become the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its debut year. Indiana and Seattle remain close behind, while Los Angeles is also clinging to postseason hopes.

The playoffs tip off on Sept. 14, with all four series starting that day. In the league’s new format, each team is guaranteed at least one home game. The best-of-three opening round begins at the higher seed’s arena, shifts to the lower seed for Game 2, and, if needed, returns to the top seed for a decisive third game.

Washington, Dallas, Connecticut, and Chicago have already been eliminated and are now competing for draft lottery position. Only Dallas and Washington own their first-round picks outright. Minnesota holds Chicago’s selection, while Connecticut’s pick belongs to the Sky. Should Los Angeles fall short of the playoffs, its pick will transfer to Seattle. Dallas has already secured the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row, based on its two-season record.

Power Rankings: Minnesota retained the top spot in this week’s poll, followed closely by Las Vegas. Atlanta, Phoenix, and New York round out the top five. Golden State moved up to sixth, ahead of Indiana and Seattle. Los Angeles sits at No. 9, with Connecticut at 10. Washington, Chicago, and Dallas fill out the bottom of the rankings.

Injury Watch: Indiana star Caitlin Clark will miss her 19th consecutive game Tuesday against Phoenix as she continues to recover from a groin injury. While she’s been active in pregame drills, Fever coach Stephanie White stressed the need for Clark to build both endurance and the ability to absorb full-court contact before returning to play.

Player of the Week: Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas earned AP Player of the Week honors after averaging 13.7 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 3-0 stretch for the Mercury. Other nominees included Rhyne Howard (Atlanta), A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas), and Aliyah Boston (Indiana).

Game to Watch: Minnesota at Las Vegas on Thursday. The Lynx blew out the Aces by 53 points in their last meeting, setting a league record. Since then, Las Vegas has rattled off 12 straight victories, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between the top two teams in the standings.