The Golden State Valkyries will have had five days without a game before starting a five game homestand this weekend. That has left the team with time to watch the teams around them in the standings and the battle continues for spots in the playoffs and for seeding. With this break, it is a good time to look at the remaining schedule for the Valkyries and where the other teams in the same position stand right now.
The Valkyries
Five of the seven remaining games are at home for the Valkyries and the crowds in San Francisco will certainly be trying to push their team to the playoffs in their debut season. The first two games will be on consecutive days with the Washington Mystics and Indiana Fever visiting to start the weekend. There are two games against teams that Golden State has yet to defeat this year when they host the New York Liberty on Tuesday and the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday. In between those games, they welcome the Dallas Wings to town on Thursday. The season will end with two road matchups as a Tuesday game against the Seattle Storm will be followed by a game in Minnesota on Thursday.
The Secured Spots
While not all of them have clinched, there are five teams whose spots in the playoffs are pretty much guaranteed at this point. The Minnesota Lynx have not only clinched a spot in the playoffs, but have also secured the top seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. That means that it is possible that they do not play their star players as heavy minutes down the stretch, especially right before the playoffs, which could help the Valkyries get a win in one of those games.
The Las Vegas Aces have also clinched a playoff spot and have already played the most games of any team in the league, leaving their remaining games not having impact on the Valkyries except for possibly the final game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Atlanta is a win away from sealing their place and the Dream could play a factor for Golden State since they host the Sparks twice. The Phoenix Mercury also clinch with one more win and their remaining home games against the Indiana Fever, the Washington Mystics, and the Sparks could all impact the Valkyries.
The New York Liberty also joined the group of teams within a win of the playoffs after defeating the Washington Mystics today. That is a big result for the Valkyries as the Mystics will be fighting elimination from playoff contention when they visit on Saturday. After their visit to San Francisco, they head to Seattle so both games could affect the Valkyries and then they host the Washington Mystics later.
The Remaining Spots
The Valkyries host Indiana on Sunday, but the Fever have a big game before that when they visit the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday. A win there helps them greatly, but also hurts the chances for the Sparks. They finish the road trip with a tough game too when they visit Phoenix, but could also be facing two non-playoff teams next if the Washington Mystics join the Chicago Sky in being eliminated by then. Their last game of the season is a home game against the Lynx in between the two times that the Valkyries face Minnesota.
Today was a helpful result for the Seattle Storm as they picked up a win in Minnesota over the Lynx, keeping them from falling a game back in the loss column. The rest of their games will be at home, including finishing with the Valkyries. They also host the Chicago Sky, the Los Angeles Sparks, and the New York Liberty.
The Los Angeles Sparks are the only team to have played fewer games than the Valkyries and are currently on the outside looking in, which could change quickly with some wins. Their next three games are against teams around them in the standings as they host the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics before visiting the Seattle Storm. They also visit the Atlanta Dream twice before closing with games against the Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury, and Las Vegas Aces.
The Washington Mystics are on the brink of elimination as they visit the Valkyries on Saturday after their most recent loss. If they are able to stay alive, they also have a big game the following day against the Los Angeles Sparks. After that, they do return home to welcome the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever before visiting the New York Liberty to finish the season.
The Eliminated Teams
Three teams are already eliminated as the Connecticut Sun, Chicago Sky, and Dallas Wings are instead battling to stay out of last place given that there is not much effect on draft position anymore. Dallas is expected to have the best chance at the top overall pick while Chicago’s pick will go to Minnesota, though they do get Connecticut’s pick. Which two teams do not make the playoffs will then determine the teams that enter the lottery. All three teams have had their moments in recent games so they all certainly could play spoiler against playoff contenders.
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