WNBA teams ready for sprint to the postseason with coveted spots on the line – Yahoo News

WNBA teams are ready for their sprint to the finish of the regular season with coveted playoff spots and positioning up for grabs.
Las Vegas, New York and Connecticut have already clinched spots in the postseason. The Aces hold a three-game lead on the Liberty for the top seed with the teams set to meet one last time in the regular season on Aug. 28. Las Vegas is beginning a difficult four-game road trip over the next week that ends in New York.
The Aces also have a White House visit on Friday to celebrate last season's championship thrown in there as well.
New York, which took over the top spot in the AP WNBA power poll for the first time this season, has a three-game lead on Connecticut for the second-seed. Those teams play on Thursday and once more on Sept. 1.
Dallas is in fourth place with a two-game advantage on Atlanta. There are only four game separating the Dream from ninth-place Chicago with most teams having seven or eight games remaining.
Los Angeles has been the hottest team of the group, winning four straight, including handing the Aces their first regular season loss at home this year. The Sparks are currently in the eighth spot.
The first round of the WNBA playoffs is a best-of-three format still with the better seeded team hosting the first two games of the series.
AP WNBA POLL
Buoyed by its win in the Commissioner's Cup title game, New York took over the No. 1 spot in the power poll. The Liberty routed the Aces on their homecourt 82-63. Las Vegas won the regular season matchup two days later 88-75.
Dallas moved into third with Connecticut and Atlanta came after the Wings. Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minnesota were the next three. Washington, Chicago and Seattle. Indiana and Phoenix rounded out the poll.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arike Ogunbowale averaged 23.5 points, 6 assists and 4.5 rebounds to help Dallas win both its game last week, including a 20-point victory in Connecticut. Other players receiving votes included Nneka Ogwumike and Layshia Clarendon of Los Angeles and Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana.
SHOE GATE
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu's shoes went missing after New York beat Las Vegas in the Commissioner's Cup last week. Ionescu went on social media on Thursday afternoon saying that her shoes, which had custom-made insoles, were taken from the arena.
“Never thought I would get my shoes stolen from an opposing arena… Please just bring me my insoles back. RIP to my Sabrina 1s,” Ionescu wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
There was still no update Tuesday on what happened to the shoes according to the Liberty. The case had been referred to the Las Vegas police.
GRINER WATCH
Brittney Griner missed last week's games against New York and Indiana because of health and safety protocols for COVID. The Mercury hope to have her back this week.
GAME OF THE WEEK
New York at Connecticut, Thursday. The third meeting between the second and third place teams in the standings. The Liberty hold a three-game lead over the Sun and have won the first two matchups. The two teams will play one more time on Sept. 1 in New York.
___
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Commenters are calling it "literally genius."
Your labia may look different over time. Here's why that's usually not a cause for concern.
"This is what dads do after saying they don’t want the dog."
President Biden reiterated travel warnings to U.S. citizens on Monday after the release of five American prisoners from Iran.
This isn't the first time Trent Williams has punched someone on an NFL field.
'Eddie' became a surprise smash a full year after it bombed at the box office, due to the 1980s' cable TV revolution — but its star admits the soundtrack would've never gone triple-platinum if he'd done the actual singing.
A Reddit thread about what surprises Americans about living in Europe provided a major culture shock — this time about German apartment kitchens.
I'm now a convert.
It may be a heat wave outside, but my heart is screaming for PSLs.
Here's what you should look for when watching the next "viral plane video" to make sure it's not staged, according to an actor.
"This was not a vanity thing," Shepherd said of her decision.
Time will tell if Fields ends up winning with the Bears, but the concerns he spoke about on Wednesday were not encouraging.
The 23-year-old did something no MLB rookie has ever done.
SCNG reporter Luca Evans wrote about a harmless conversation between two players that took place in front of him before media interviews last week. His access to the team has now been suspended.
Heading back to college or just started the semester? Now is the best time to shop for the best tech for college. Snag calculators, computer mice, headphones and more.
'Hyundai N74' trademark application in Europe might mean a production N Vision 74. Gorgeous hydrogen concept high on enthusiast wish lists.
Now is the perfect time to save on dresses, jeans, sweaters and more Nordstrom Rack's best sellers. Prices start at just $14.
This alcohol-free oral rinse is approved by the American Dental Association and dentist-formulated. Shoppers say it's the best at targeting bad breath and dry mouth.
"What is the female version of the Roman Empire? What is something random that we all think about on a very regular basis that is female-specific?"
A college student is sharing how she transformed her T-shirt into an adorable minidress. The post College student gives DIY for T-shirt dress to wear to ‘game day with your besties’ appeared first on In The Know.

source