Mystics battle for homecourt advantage as WNBA playoff picture takes shape

With one week left in the regular season, the Washington Mystics have locked in a top-two playoff seed, a spot in the semifinals, and remain on top of the WNBA standings. However, all is not settled in the race to secure homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Mystics are neck-in-neck with the Connecticut Sun in the competition for No. 1 with Washington holding a one-game lead over Connecticut. With the Sun owning the season series and winning their last two games against the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty, they remain in stride with the Mystics.

Both teams have a favorable remaining schedule. Washington will take on the Liberty on the road tonight and the final two games are at home versus the Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky. The Sun will face the Wings, Sky, and Indiana Fever to complete the season.

The Sun only need to tie Washington’s record to win the homecourt battle. Every win counts for both teams as the season wraps up. The final outcome will likely come down to the bitter end.

Beyond the Mystics and Sun, the Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, and Sky are vying for two first-round byes awarded to the No. 3 and 4 seeds. All three teams are within one game of each other so anything can happen at this point.

Rounding out the playoff picture is the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, and Phoenix Mercury. All of which clinched a spot but are not in the running for a top four seed.