Note: Week 12 includes games played August 17-27. This list reflects games played August 22-27.

The 2023 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google begin on September 13 and will be the first in a decade not to feature either the Seattle Storm or Phoenix Mercury. Both teams were officially eliminated from playoff contention this past week, bringing to the end two of the longest playoff streaks in league history.

The Mercury made the playoffs for 10 straight seasons, tied for the third-longest streak ever behind the Indiana Fever’s 12-year run from 2005-2016 and Minnesota’s 11-year run from 2011-2021.

The Storm made the playoffs for seven straight seasons, tied for the seventh-longest streak in league history, and the second-longest in Storm history as they also have a 10-year streak from 2004-2013.

10 Longest Playoff Streaks in WNBA History

• 12 seasons: Indiana Fever (2005-2016)
• 11 seasons: Minnesota Lynx (2011-2021)
• 10 seasons: Phoenix Mercury (2013-2022)
• 10 seasons: Seattle Storm (2004-2013)
• 9 seasons: Los Angeles Sparks (2012-2020)
• 8 seasons: Los Angeles Sparks (1999-2006)
• 7 seasons: Connecticut Sun (2017-2023, active)
• 7 seasons: Seattle Storm (2016-2022)
• 7 seasons: Detroit Shock (2003-2009)
• 7 seasons: Houston Comets (1997-2003)

The longest active playoff streak now belongs to the Connecticut Sun, who are one of three teams who have clinched a berth in the 2023 postseason to extend their streak to seven in a row. Of the teams with the 10 longest playoff streaks in league history, the Sun are the only one without a WNBA title on their resume.

With the 2023 playoffs just 16 days away, three teams have clinched (Las Vegas, New York, Connecticut), two teams are out (Seattle, Phoenix), and seven teams are on the hunt for the final five spots in the field. We’ll take a closer look at each team with this week’s power rankings below.

Note: All stats, records, and tiebreakers listed below are for games played through Sunday, Aug. 27.

1. New York Liberty (27-7)

• Playoff Status: Clinched
• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: (2-0) W at Sun 95-90, W at Lynx 111-76
• This Week: Monday vs. Aces (W), Friday vs. Sun, Sunday at Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 108.9 (2); DefRtg: 99.1 (3); NetRtg: 9.8 (2); eFG%: 53.7 (2); Pace/40 Min: 80.54 (6)

The Liberty remain at the top of the power rankings for the second straight week, but any hopes they have of earning the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason will require a win over Las Vegas on Monday in Brooklyn. The Aces lead the season series 2-1 (remember the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game does not count toward the standings or tiebreakers), so evening that series and handing the Aces another loss is a must for the Liberty.

2. Las Vegas Aces (30-5)

• Playoff Status: Clinched
• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: (2-1) W at Dream 112-100, W at Sky 94-87, L at Mystics 78-62
• This Week: Monday at Liberty (L), Thursday vs. Mystics, Saturday vs. Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 112.7 (1); DefRtg: 97.4 (1); NetRtg: 15.3 (1); eFG%: 55.1 (1); Pace/40 Min: 82.36 (2)

The Aces were 27-3 through the first 30 games of the season. Since that time, they have gone 3-3, including the loss in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game, and 3-2 in regular season games. Their latest loss on Saturday saw the Aces’ high-powered offense held to just 62 points. So far this season, the Aces are 0-6 when held below 79 points and 30-0 when scoring 79 or more. Las Vegas opened last week with a 112-100 win over Atlanta that saw A’ja Wilson match the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points. In their last game of the week, they only topped A’ja’s mark by nine points as a team.

3. Connecticut Sun (24-11)

• Playoff Status: Clinched
• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: (2-1) W at Mystics 68-64, L vs. Liberty 95-90, W vs. Sparks 83-68
• This Week: Thursday vs. Mercury, Friday at Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.4 (4); DefRtg: 98.2 (2); NetRtg: 5.2 (3); eFG%: 49.8 (3); Pace/40 Min: 79.74 (10)

The Sun are still looking for their first win over the Liberty this season after blowing a 20-point second-half lead at home on Thursday before falling to New York in overtime. The teams close their season series Friday in New York, giving the Sun one more shot for a statement win. In the loss, Alyssa Thomas set the WNBA record for double-doubles in a season with her 24^th and extended that mark with her 25^th in an 83-68 win over the Sparks on Sunday to snap L.A.’s six-game win streak.

Before we move on to the next group of teams in the power rankings, we have to offer a current look at the playoff picture entering this week. Below is a chart that lays out the status of head-to-head tiebreakers among teams 4-9 in the rankings.

The first tiebreaker used is better record in head-to-head games. If a second tiebreaker is needed, it would better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season. The chart below includes the four teams currently over .500

4. Dallas Wings (19-16)

• Playoff Status: In the hunt (No. 4 entering Monday)
• Head-to-Head Tiebreakers: Won (Dream, Mystics); Lost (Sparks, Sky); Tied (Lynx 2-2)
• Record vs .500+ Teams: 4-6 (.400)
• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: (1-2) L at Lynx 91-86, L vs. Lynx 90-81, W at Mercury 77-74
• This Week: Friday at Fever, Sunday vs. Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.6 (3); DefRtg: 102.5 (7); NetRtg: 3.1 (4); eFG%: 48.1 (8); Pace/40 Min: 81.86 (3)

Dallas opens this week as the top team in this tier based on overall record (at 19-16, the Wings are two games up in the loss column on the rest of the field) and based on potential tiebreakers (they hold two, lost two and are tied with Minnesota, but hold the edge in record against .500 teams). Dallas’ back-to-back losses to Minnesota last week took away much of their padding for fourth place, but they are still in the best position to emerge with home-court advantage in the first round.

5. Minnesota Lynx (17-18)

• Playoff Status: In the hunt (No. 5 entering Monday)
• Head-to-Head Tiebreakers: Won (Sparks, Mystics); Lost (Dream); Tied (Wings 2-2); TBD (Sky 1-1)
• Record vs .500+ Teams: 4-11 (.267)
• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week: (2-1) W vs. Wings 91-86, W at Wings 90-81, L vs. Liberty 111-76
• This Week: Tuesday at Mystics, Friday vs. Dream, Sunday vs. Mercury
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.7 (7); DefRtg: 106.1 (11); NetRtg: -6.4 (10); eFG%: 48.4 (7); Pace/40 Min: 79.93 (9)

The Lynx opened last week by sweeping a home-and-home with Dallas to move back to .500 on the season before being blown out by New York on Saturday by 35 points. It was Minnesota’s third loss this season by 30 or more points; the rest of the WNBA has four such losses combined. The Lynx own head-to-head tiebreakers over Los Angeles and Washington, has lost its tiebreaker with Atlanta, and has one on the line with Chicago in their final meeting this season on Sept. 8.

6. Los Angeles Sparks (15-19)

• Playoff Status: In the hunt (No. 8 entering Monday)
• Head-to-Head Tiebreakers: Won (Wings); Lost (Lynx); Tied (Dream), TBD (Sky 1-2, Mystics 2-1)
• Record vs .500+ Teams: 4-8 (.333)
• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: (2-1) W vs. Mercury 91-62, W at Dream 83-78, L at Sun 83-68
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Sky, Thursday vs. Storm, Sunday vs. Mystics
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.1 (10); DefRtg: 99.6 (4); NetRtg: -1.5 (6); eFG%: 47.8 (T-10); Pace/40 Min: 80.44 (7)

The surging Sparks saw their six-game win streak snapped on Sunday in Connecticut, but their recent run of strong play has greatly improved their playoff chances. Los Angeles holds the No. 8 spot in the standings and has a two-game edge in the loss column on No. 9 Chicago. The two teams will meet on Tuesday with the Sparks looking to even their season series and prevent Chicago from getting a much-needed tiebreaker as they try to crash the playoff party.

7. Washington Mystics (16-18)

• Playoff Status: In the hunt (No. 6 entering Monday)
• Head-to-Head Tiebreakers: Won (Sky); Lost (Lynx, Wings); TBD (Sparks 1-1, Dream 1-2)
• Record vs .500+ Teams: 3-10 (.231)
• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week: (1-1) L vs. Sun 68-64, W vs. Aces 78-62
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Lynx, Thursday at Aces, Sunday at Sparks
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.1 (9); DefRtg: 100.1 (5); NetRtg: -1.1 (5); eFG%: 48.0 (9); Pace/40 Min: 80.85 (4)

Saturday’s win over Las Vegas was a great sign for Mystics fans hoping to see the squad they had watched earlier this season that had established itself as a top-four team in the league. Elena Delle Donne scored 21 points in 22 minutes as she played in just her third game since the end of June; with Shakira Austin and Ariel Atkins also back in the starting lineup, the Mystics are getting close to completely healthy at just the right time. This week, they face three teams currently in the playoff picture – Minnesota, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles – and need to keep pace with the rest of this pack as Washington does not have a favorable tiebreaker resume.

8. Atlanta Dream (16-19)

• Playoff Status: In the hunt (No. 7 entering Monday)
• Head-to-Head Tiebreakers: Won (Lynx, Sky); Lost (Wings); Tied (Sparks); TBD (Mystics 2-1)
• Record vs .500+ Teams: 2-12 (.143)
• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: (0-3) L vs. Aces 112-100, L vs. Sparks 83-78, L at Fever 83-80
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Mercury, Friday at Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.5 (8); DefRtg: 101.9 (6); NetRtg: -2.4 (7); eFG%: 47.8 (T-10); Pace/40 Min: 82.59 (1)

The Dream have lost three in a row and six of their last seven games. While they would make the playoffs as the No. 7 seed if the regular season ended today, they still have five more games to play to close out the regular season. If they don’t start winning some games soon, they will be in danger of being caught. One positive note for the Dream’s playoff hopes, they own the head-to-head tiebreaker with No. 9 Chicago, so the Sky must finish with a better overall record in order to pass Atlanta, and the Dream enter this week up two games in the loss column on the Sky.

9. Chicago Sky (14-21)

• Playoff Status: First team out (No. 9 entering Monday)
• Head-to-Head Tiebreakers: Won (Wings); Lost (Mystics, Dream); TBD (Lynx 1-1; Sparks 2-1)
• Record vs .500+ Teams: 4-8 (.333)
• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week: (2-1) W vs. Storm 102-79, L vs. Aces 94-87, W at Storm 90-85
• This Week: Tuesday at Sparks, Sunday vs. Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.7 (6); DefRtg: 104.1 (9); NetRtg: -3.4 (8); eFG%: 49.5 (5); Pace/40 Min: 80.09 (8)

The Sky have won two of their last three games after enduring a five-game losing streak that severely damaged their playoff chances. The Sky have five games remaining and have to make up some ground quickly as they are two losses behind No. 8 Los Angeles and No. 7 Atlanta entering the week. Tuesday’s game against the Sparks is practically a must-win for the Sky as it would tie their season series and prevent the Sparks from holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over them

10. Indiana Fever (11-24)

• Playoff Status: One loss from elimination (No. 10 entering Monday)
• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week: (2-0) W vs. Storm 90-86, W vs. Dream 83-80
• This Week: Friday vs. Wings, Sunday at Wings
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.7 (5); DefRtg: 106.2 (12); NetRtg: -4.4 (9); eFG%: 49.1 (6); Pace/40 Min: 79.04 (11)

The Fever kept their slim playoff hopes alive as they rallied from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Dream on Sunday at home. It was the third straight win for the Fever – their longest win streak since July 2021 – but it was spoiled a bit by Aliyah Boston exiting the game in the third quarter with a thumb injury. The Fever are off until Friday when they start a home-and-home with Dallas.

11. Seattle Storm (10-25)

• Playoff Status: Eliminated
• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week: (0-3) L at Sky 102-79, L at Fever 90-86, L vs. Sky 90-85
• This Week: Thursday at Sparks, Saturday at Aces
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.1 (12); DefRtg: 103.6 (8); NetRtg: -6.5 (11); eFG%: 47.0 (12); Pace/40 Min: 80.78 (5)

Seattle’s seven-year playoff streak was officially snapped this week as they will miss the postseason for the first time since 2015 when Jewell Loyd was just a rookie. While she’ll miss the playoffs for only the second time in her career, she is still in position to win her first scoring title as she averages a league-best 24.2 points per game and holds a 1.1 ppg advantage on former teammate Breanna Stewart.

12. Phoenix Mercury (9-25)

• Playoff Status: Eliminated
• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week: (0-2) L at Sparks 91-62, L vs. Wings 77-74
• This Week: Tuesday at Dream, Thursday at Sun, Sunday at Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.4 (11); DefRtg: 105.7 (10); NetRtg: -8.4 (12); eFG%: 49.7 (4); Pace/40 Min: 78.53 (12)

The Mercury entered the 2023 season with the longest active playoff streak in the league as they spent the past decade in the postseason, having last missed the postseason in 2012. The last time the Mercury missed the playoffs, they finished with the second-worst record in the league at 7-27 and won the draft lottery three days after the season ended. They used the No. 1 pick to select Brittney Griner, who helped Phoenix win its third title in just her second season. Can Phoenix repeat that magic at this year’s lottery?

Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.