** WNBA Playoff Race Heats Up: Lynx Lead, Fever and Aces Compete

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As the WNBA regular season reaches its final stretch, the playoff landscape is beginning to take shape, with the Minnesota Lynx firmly establishing themselves as the team to beat. With only a handful of games left on the schedule, the Lynx boast an impressive record of 27 wins and just 5 losses, placing them atop the standings and giving them a significant edge in the race for the No. 1 seed.

According to CBS Sports, the playoff format this year includes the top eight teams regardless of their conference affiliation. This means that the competition for the remaining playoff spots is intensifying, as 10 out of the league’s 13 teams still harbor hopes of postseason play. With 12 to 14 games left on each team’s schedule, every matchup is pivotal.

The playoff structure is designed to heighten the excitement, beginning with a best-of-three first round, followed by a best-of-five semifinal, and culminating in a best-of-seven finals series. The regular season wraps up on September 11, with the playoffs set to kick off on September 14. The championship series could potentially stretch into mid-October, with the latest possible Finals date being October 19.

While the Lynx enjoy a comfortable lead, the battle for the remaining seeds is fierce. The New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream are both tied at 20-11, showcasing their own strong campaigns. Close behind them, the Phoenix Mercury hold a solid position with a record of 19-12.

The Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces, both sitting at 18-14, are in a tight contest for the final playoff spots, indicating that the next few weeks will be critical for their postseason aspirations. The Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries are also in the mix with records of 16-16 and 15-15, respectively, making every game count as they vie for playoff positioning.

Further complicating the standings are tiebreaker rules, which first consider head-to-head records before looking at each team’s performance against opponents with winning records. This adds an extra layer of strategy as teams jockey for favorable matchups in the playoffs.

As reported by CBS Sports, the stakes have never been higher, and the intensity of the games will only increase as teams push for postseason glory. With the playoffs around the corner, fans can expect thrilling basketball as teams fight tooth and nail for a chance at the championship.

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