The playoffs will take place for the top eight teams in the 2019 WNBA standings. These spots currently belong to the Las Vegas Aces, and Seattle Storm. There are still some surprises in the standings. Phoenix and Las Vegas both struggle to close on the road games. Minnesota's Big Three, however, has been a consistent Achilles heel all season. Let's take a closer look at some of the other teams in the league.
Phoenix has been inconsistent on offense
The team's offensive production is inconsistent but its forwards are a bright spot. Brianna Turner averages 17.2 ppg, but her efficiency has been poor. She is shooting only 38 percent from field and just 27 percent from 3-point range. Sandy Brondello has been a successful coach in developing younger players. She has 17 career playoff wins. Her youthful energy inspires others.
Although Phoenix has been a solid team in defense, the Phoenix team has struggled to score lately. The Mercury lost to Atlanta Dream on Sunday despite Diana Taurasi scoring 20 points in her 10th consecutive game. The Mercury's defensive rating is 103.5, but their offensive rating is just 103.3. Skylar Dipgins-Smith is another player worth your attention, scoring an average of 36 fantasy points per contest.
Las Vegas has had trouble closing games on-the-road.
Las Vegas is currently in the thicket of the playoff race with three games remaining. It is only a half-game back of Connecticut for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Washington and Seattle are half-a games behind each for the fourth or fifth seeds. Dallas has already secured a spot in the postseason and is now likely to be the sixth. The final two spots in the playoff race are wide open, with just one game separating seventh-place Atlanta and No. 11-seed Los Angeles.
Despite being unable to win on the road, they have been unstoppable at their home. The Aces have won 4 straight games against Bulls, while they have won 9 of their last 11. Although they are still in contention to climb the standings, their three most recent losses were in the postseason. A recent win in a hostile environment could help them gain momentum heading into the postseason.
Minnesota's Big Three have been Minnesota’s Achilles' heel throughout the entire season
The health problems at the wide receiver, running back and running back positions have caused problems for the Gophers' running games. Mohamed Ibrahim, a true rookie, was hurt in the opening game. Three running backs remain out of the team's top three positions. Chris Autman Bell, who was injured in the first two games, is expected back to play Saturday. The rest of the scholarship running backs, however, are not as well as they were in the first half of the season.
Although the offensive line was the Achilles' heel of the season, it has shown some improvement in the past week. Christian Darrisaw will begin as the full time left tackle. Garrett Bradbury has returned to center. Ezra Cleveland is still getting used to his position at left guard. Chris Reed, Ed Ingram, and Jesse Davis will battle it out for the right guard spot.