It's now or never for the Chicago Sky.
As the 2024 season winds down, Chicago is one of three teams in contention for the final spot in the WNBA Playoffs. At one point, the Sky appeared poised for the postseason but the team has stumbled since the Olympics and star rookie Angel Reese is out for the remainder of the season with a wrist injury.
With one game remaining in the regular season, can the Sky get back into the playoff picture? Here is an updated look at Chicago's place in the WNBA standings, its remaining schedule, and playoff-clinching scenarios.
Standings through Thursday, Sept. 19.
MORE: WNBA playoff picture: Updated standings as Fever, Sky battle for postseason
Chicago Sky updated WNBA playoff picture, standings
The Sky were eliminated from WNBA playoff contention on the final day of the regular season, finishing 13-27. The top eight seeds advanced to the playoffs.
Rank | Team | W-L | Win Pct. | GB |
1. | x - New York Liberty | 32-8 | .800 | — |
2. | x - Minnesota Lynx | 30-9 | .769 | 1.5 |
3. | x - Connecticut Sun | 28-12 | .700 | 4 |
4. | x - Las Vegas Aces | 26-13 | .658 | 6.5 |
5. | x - Seattle Storm | 24-15 | .632 | 7.5 |
6. | x - Indiana Fever | 20-20 | .500 | 12 |
7. | x - Phoenix Mercury | 19-20 | .474 | 12.5 |
8. | x - Atlanta Dream | 15-25 | .375 | 17 |
X: Clinched playoffs
Eliminated from WNBA playoffs contention: Wings, Sparks, Sky, Mystics
If the WNBA season ended today…
The WNBA season does end today, so the Sky, ranked No. 10 out of 12 teams, will not make the playoffs.
MORE: Angel Reese to miss remainder of WNBA season with wrist ailment
Chicago Sky remaining schedule
The Sky will face the third-place Sun on the final day of the WNBA season. A loss would eliminate them from the playoffs.
Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
Thursday, Sept. 19 | at Sun | 7 p.m. | — |
MORE: Full list of records Angel Reese broke during historic rookie season
Chicago Sky WNBA playoff clinching scenarios
With one game remaining, the Sky hold the 10th spot, just outside of making the WNBA Playoffs. Chicago is in contention with Atlanta and Washington for the WNBA's eighth seed.
The Sky do not hold the tiebreaker over the Mystics (1-2) and they tied the Dream (2-2).
Chicago would be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss on Thursday. It would also be eliminated if the Dream win.
You can find the WNBA playoff tiebreakers below.
WNBA playoff tiebreakers
The WNBA has five playoff seeding tiebreakers in place if two teams finish with the same record:
- Better record in head-to-head games
- Better winning percentage within own conference
- Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season
- Better point differential in head-to-head games
- Coin toss
If there are more than two teams tied for the same seed, the tiebreakers are similar but have a slightly different twist:
- Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams
- Better winning percentage against teams within the conference (if all teams are from the same conference) or better record against teams in the opposite conference (if one or more teams are in different conferences)
- Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season
- Better point differential in games involving tied teams
- Coin toss