As the WNBA’s 2024 season approaches its final stretch, the Chicago Sky find themselves hanging on by a thread for the last playoff spot. Despite a promising start, they’ve stumbled in the second half of the season, leaving fans biting their nails. And to add salt to the wound, star rookie Angel Reese – yes, the same Angel Reese who set the WNBA single-season rebounding record – is sidelined with a wrist injury for the rest of the season.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Sky, with just five games left to secure the eighth and final playoff spot. Can they hold off teams like the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics? Let’s break it down.
Chicago Sky’s Playoff Picture: Where Do They Stand?
As of September 9, the Chicago Sky are sitting in 8th place in the WNBA standings with a 13-22 record. Let’s put it simply: it’s crunch time. The top eight teams in the league make the playoffs, and Chicago barely hangs onto that final seed.
Here’s a look at how the standings shape up:
| Rank | Team | W-L | Win Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Liberty (x) | 29-6 | .829 | — |
| 2 | Minnesota Lynx (x) | 26-9 | .743 | 3 |
| 3 | Connecticut Sun (x) | 25-10 | .714 | 4 |
| 4 | Las Vegas Aces (x) | 22-13 | .629 | 7 |
| 5 | Seattle Storm (x) | 21-14 | .600 | 8 |
| 6 | Indiana Fever (x) | 19-17 | .528 | 10.5 |
| 7 | Phoenix Mercury (x) | 17-19 | .472 | 12.5 |
| 8 | Chicago Sky | 13-22 | .371 | 16 |
| — | Atlanta Dream | 12-23 | .343 | 17 |
| — | Washington Mystics | 11-24 | .314 | 18 |
| — | Dallas Wings | 9-26 | .265 | 20 |
| — | Los Angeles Sparks | 7-28 | .200 | 22 |
(Note: x denotes teams that have already clinched playoff spots.)
The Road Ahead: Chicago Sky’s Remaining Schedule
The path to the playoffs isn’t a cakewalk for the Sky. Out of their five remaining games, three are against teams that have already secured a playoff spot, and two are against teams fighting for that final seed. Talk about pressure.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Sept. 11 | vs. Washington Mystics | 8:00 p.m. | — |
| Friday, Sept. 13 | at Minnesota Lynx | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
| Sunday, Sept. 15 | vs. Phoenix Mercury | 6:00 p.m. | — |
| Tuesday, Sept. 17 | at Atlanta Dream | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Thursday, Sept. 19 | at Connecticut Sun | 7:00 p.m. | — |
The Sky will need to win at least a few of these games to maintain their playoff standing, especially against the Dream and the Mystics, who are right on their heels.
Playoff Scenarios: What the Sky Need to Do
To say Chicago’s playoff chances are on life support might be a bit dramatic – but not by much. They are clinging to the eighth seed, and the competition from the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics is fierce.
Here’s a breakdown of the key scenarios for the Sky to clinch that final spot:
- Win Against Mystics and Dream: This is non-negotiable. Chicago holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Atlanta (2-1), but not against Washington (1-2). A win over both of these teams will significantly boost their playoff chances.
- Avoid Getting Sunk by Top Teams: The games against the Lynx and Sun are going to be tough, no question about it. If Chicago can steal just one of these, it might be enough to fend off their competitors. Easier said than done, though.
- Hope for Help: The Sky aren’t just battling their own schedule; they need Atlanta and Washington to drop some games too.
Playoff Tiebreakers: How It All Works
In the event that two teams finish with the same record, the WNBA has a set of tiebreakers in place to determine seeding. Here’s how they stack up:
- Better record in head-to-head games
- Better winning percentage within their own conference
- Better winning percentage against teams with .500 or better records
- Better point differential in head-to-head games
- Coin toss (and yes, this could actually happen)
If more than two teams are tied, the process gets a bit more complicated, involving head-to-head records among all tied teams, winning percentages within conferences, and – you guessed it – point differential.
So, will Chicago find themselves sweating out a coin toss? Let’s hope not. For Sky fans, the ideal scenario is to take care of business on the court and let the tiebreakers worry about someone else.
Angel Reese’s Impact: Missing Her Already
Even though Angel Reese is out for the rest of the season, it’s worth noting just how monumental her presence has been for the Sky this year. The rookie sensation has set a slew of records, including the WNBA’s single-season rebounding mark. That kind of performance is irreplaceable, and Chicago is feeling the loss in a big way.
Reese’s injury came at the worst possible time for the Sky, who were already struggling after the Olympic break. Without her, the team’s interior defense and rebounding have taken a hit – and so have their playoff chances.
Can Chicago Hold On?
As it stands, the Chicago Sky are hanging onto the final playoff spot like a kitten clinging to the last branch on a tree. If they can muster up a few wins in their final games – especially against direct competitors like the Mystics and Dream – they’ll make it to the playoffs. But if they slip up, they could be watching the postseason from the couch.
Conclusion: The fate of the Sky is still in their hands, but just barely. Chicago needs to win its key matchups and hope for some help from the basketball gods. Will they make it? We’ll know soon enough – and if they do, that first-round matchup against the New York Liberty should be a wild one.