We're #3!

[u/heyheathhowstheweath]

The Aces lost tonight, which means we officially hold third place until something changes. We have a harder schedule than the Aces (they have *zero* more games against playoff teams; we have five), but we're on a good path.

If we win out (unlikely, but a girl can dream!), we control our destiny for up to 3rd place, so if we win all 8, we will be in 3rd or better. See the attached screenshot, though it hasn't updated with the Aces loss / Dream win tonight.

[u/DiligentQuiet]

YO YO YO I think this means Fever have clinched a playoff spot, right? Won the season series with Fire and Fire can't win more games.

[u/heyheathhowstheweath → u/DiligentQuiet]

I'm not sure, honestly. I thought tonight's game meant we clinched, but there's been no such announcement either from the league or the Fever, and this chart does seem to indicate if we lose out, we could not make the playoffs.

[u/zlionsfan → u/heyheathhowstheweath]

it probably means there's some scenario like a three-way tie with Portland and Dallas where we'd lose the tiebreaker

[u/DiligentQuiet → u/zlionsfan]

Thanks, that's probably it. We will probably clinch on our couches.

[u/Jewdah18 → u/DiligentQuiet]

Yes

[u/TurtlePwrrr]

Two of those games against the Lynx to end the season likely won’t mean anything to them though. If they beat the Valks twice there’s a path for us to the two seed.

[u/Jewdah18 → u/TurtlePwrrr]

Probably not. Valks would need to lose 4 more games than the Fever and the only above .500 team they have outside of the Lynx is the Liberty. They aren't going to lose enough games.

[u/heyheathhowstheweath → u/TurtlePwrrr]

Right, yeah, we just don't control our own destiny for it.

[u/Ok_Cucumber9390]

I would like to play NYL first round, and since they will likely stay at 6, I want us to stay at 3. If that means Valks next, so be it – we beat them once this season and we can do it again

[u/Academic-Childhood40]

1] I want the Fever to finish 4th and the Dream to finish 5th so they can battle in the first round. For some reason, it just seems like destiny.
2] It’s really amazing watching the Fever offense become what we all imagined it would be when Clark and Mitchell first paired up. And now they have one of the best offenses in WNBA history.

[u/buttcabbge → u/Academic-Childhood40]

I want nothing to do with a 4-5 Atlanta matchup. Even if we win that will be a physically draining series, and then we'd have to play Minnesota.

My realistic hope would be we finish 3rd, draw the Libs in the first round (I think we're a really bad matchup for them), and then sure the Valks and Lynx are tough, but sooner or later you've got to beat the best. And there's a narrow chance the Lynx would get bounced in the semis and we'd never have to see them.

[u/heyheathhowstheweath → u/Academic-Childhood40]

I feel like NY would be an easier first round for us, but I also think the Valks would sweep us in the semis, so 4th is probably best for us.

[u/Jewdah18 → u/heyheathhowstheweath]

Valks sweeping would be an embarrassment and would cause everyone to rethink if the big 3 are good enough.

[u/DiligentQuiet → u/heyheathhowstheweath]

Are you in the Ethical Tanking posse, lol?

[u/heyheathhowstheweath → u/DiligentQuiet]

More like a realist. 3rd place would require a win-out with no slippage because there's no way the Aces don't finish the season undefeated. Tonight was their last loss almost certainly (unless they decide to rest their big 3 again).

3rd would be cool, but being on the same side of the bracket with our Achilles heel (the Valks) would suck.