WNBA: What is going to occur when the common season resumes?

The WNBA is again! Practically one month after an epic All-Star Sport, play resumes within the 2024 WNBA season on Thursday, Aug. 15, with 14 or 15 regular-season video games remaining for every workforce.

As groups battle for playoff (or lottery) positioning over the ultimate stretch, right here’s what Swish Attraction’s employees want to see occur:

Loss of life of a dynasty?

Final yr, the Las Vegas Aces had an opportunity of ending the season with the most effective profitable proportion in WNBA historical past. This season, they’ve already misplaced extra regular-season video games than they did in 2023. They at the moment sit fifth within the standings.

The dominant juggernaut has disappeared, and the Aces immediately look weak. Have they gotten higher? Do they appear to be the most effective within the W? In the meantime, the New York Liberty look prepared, and the Connecticut Solar appear primed for a Finals run. A’ja Wilson remains to be the most effective participant, however this can be a workforce sport, and if Kelsey Plum can’t be adequate defensively and Chelsea Grey doesn’t return to her Level Gawd ranges of play, the Aces’ run may finish with an elimination within the postseason.

As we enter the house stretch of the yr, how the Aces play might be a prime precedence for me. I at all times wish to see the most effective basketball potential, and whenever you watch the Aces play, they may both be the most effective or be crushed by a workforce vying to develop into the most effective. — Edwin Garcia

Photograph by David Becker/NBAE through Getty Photographs

A powerful return for Satou Sabally

The Dallas Wings have had main harm points to this point in 2024, and Sabally’s absence is one that may simply be pointed to when searching for the explanation why the Wings have underperformed (6-19; final place within the WNBA standings). Sabally has but to play this season; she suffered a shoulder harm that required surgical procedure over the winter and had been rehabbing as shortly as potential with the intention to play for Germany within the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Judging from Sabally’s Olympic efficiency, she must be good to go as soon as the Wings resume play. 2023’s Most Improved Participant flashed her ordinary versatility for the German nationwide workforce, averaging 18.8 factors, 5.8 rebounds and two assists per recreation, and most significantly, she seemed absolutely wholesome, which needed to be a reduction for a Dallas workforce that has been missing wholesome our bodies and constant offensive manufacturing for almost all of the season. Sabally’s return to the lineup might be of the utmost significance to the Wings in the event that they’re going to climb out of the opening they’re in and sneak into the playoffs. — Eric Nemchock

Photograph by Cooper Neill/NBAE through Getty Photographs

How about some extra trades?

In-season trades, a lot much less in-season trades of consequence, are uncommon within the WNBA. We’ve already had one commerce that would make an affect within the postseason, with the Connecticut Solar sending Moriah Jefferson, Rachel Banham and a future second-round decide to the Chicago Sky for Marina Mabrey. Might we see just a few extra influential transactions earlier than subsequent week’s commerce deadline of Tuesday, Aug. 20?

A number of groups which might be “Paiging the No. 1 Decide” and “Beckoning Bueckers” have vets on expiring and/or unprotected contracts who may show helpful to groups with playoff ambitions. Sticking in Chicago, Brianna Turner, at the moment the fourth massive in head coach Teresa Weatherspoon’s rotation, may increase a playoff-bound workforce together with her off-the-bench defensive power. With the Los Angeles Sparks doubtless prioritizing growth over wins, Steph Talbot, a vital piece for the bronze-winning Australian Opals on the Paris Olympics, may supply 3-point taking pictures for a profitable squad, whereas Layshia Clarendon might be a priceless backup level guard. Though the prospect of these gamers altering groups wouldn’t be league-shaking, every of them may assist a contender achieve marginal benefits that is perhaps pivotal in what guarantees to be a hotly-contested postseason. — Cat Ariail

Photograph by Meg Oliphant/Getty Photographs

The battle for playoff positioning

One of many issues that makes this end-of-season push so enjoyable is the battle for playoff positioning! Because the order of the standings straight impacts playoff sequence matchups, groups are going to do all the pieces potential to place themselves in the most effective place.

It’s extremely thrilling when it will get to the previous few weeks of the common season and the standings are separated by one or two video games. A workforce’s complete playoff path can rely upon how one recreation seems! Homecourt benefit, given to the higher-seeded workforce in each matchup, is another excuse to battle to climb the standings. Virtually recreation finally ends up having implications, and it’s so attention-grabbing to take a look at the night time’s slate of video games and assume, “Staff X must beat Staff Y, but when Staff A beats Staff B, that may harm Staff X.” It turns into a recreation inside the video games, making an attempt to do the mathematics and untangle all these numerous eventualities.

To not point out the precise video games themselves! Gamers typically don’t concern themselves with the postseason ramifications of each recreation; they simply give attention to profitable. However when it comes all the way down to the wire, consciousness of the affect of each win or loss appears unavoidable. These big stakes make for a bodily recreation, an intense power and a few massive moments. — Chelsea Leite

Photograph by Candice Ward/Getty Photographs