The Chicago Sky could 🌞have their postsea💙son fate decided in just a matter of hours.
Sitting at 13-25 on the year with just a 2-8 record in their last 10 games,꧋ Chicago currently ranks 9th in the WNBA standings. The top 8 teams in the league advance to the postseason.
The Washington Mystics are the squad currently standing in the way of the Sky’s chances despite posting an identical 13-25 performance on the year. They’ve used a shocking 7-3 stretch to surge past Chicago, which included a crucial 89-58 victory over the Sky back on September 11. This victory secured the tiebreaker advantage over Chicago, which means if the two teams finished with the same record, Washington would get the final playoff spot.
This is why tonight’s battle is so important for the Sky. While the Mystics take on the No. 1 seeded New York Liberty, the Sky will face the Atlanta Dream. This Dream team has been anything but, losing three of their last four and sitting 10th in the WNBA standings. While they also own a 13-25 record, Chicago has beaten them in each of their last two meetings. There is a real chance the Sky can walk into tomorrow with sole possession of the No. 8 seed.
If the Sky happen to drop this meeting on the road to the Dream, however, they could be immediately eliminated from the postseason with a Mystics win. Even with a Mystics loss, the Sky losing would throw them in a very tough position with only one game against the Connecticut Sun – who are the WNBA’s third-best team – left on the schedule. The Dream would control their own destiny as they head into their final meeting with the Liberty.
Chicago has already lost Angel Reese for the remainder of the season due to a wrist injury. No. 3 overall pick Kamilla Cardoso is also being considered day-to-day with a shoulder injury. The pressure falls largely on the shoulders of Chennedy Carter, who has been among the league’s best backcourt scorers this season. But can she push the Sky into the postseason on her own? The Sky’s 2-10 record in the last 12 might say otherwise.
To be clear, every other with o𝕴nly a handful of regular season games left on the calendar. This race for the right to play the New York Liberty in a three-game Round 1 series is the only one left.
