The Seattle Storm secured the final spot in the WNBA playoffs with a thrilling 76-73 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday night. This win simultaneously eliminated the Los Angeles Sparks from postseason contention, ending their hopes of a playoff run. The Storm's victory was hard-fought, showcasing their resilience in a game where they initially struggled against the Valkyries. A decisive 14-4 run at the start of the fourth quarter proved to be the turning point, setting the stage for Erica Wheeler's clutch 16-footer in the final seconds, securing the win. The Valkyries, notably the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season, had several opportunities to tie the game but fell just short.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sparks secured a narrow 88-83 win over the Phoenix Mercury in a game featuring impressive performances from Dearica Hamby (25 points, 9 rebounds) and Rae Burrell (a career-high 20 points). Despite Alyssa Thomas's eighth triple-double of the season (10 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) for the Mercury, the Sparks' efforts proved insufficient to secure their own playoff berth. Even a Sparks victory wouldn't have guaranteed a playoff spot, requiring a win in their final game against the Las Vegas Aces. However, with the Storm's win, the final game's outcome became irrelevant.
The Las Vegas Aces extended their winning streak to 15 games with a dominant 92-61 victory over the Chicago Sky. This impressive run solidifies their position as a strong contender in the playoffs. The Aces' only loss in August highlights their consistent performance and championship aspirations.
The WNBA playoff bracket is now set: The Minnesota Lynx secured the top seed, with the Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream tied for the second and third seeds. The first round will be a best-of-three series, advancing to best-of-five for the semifinals and a best-of-seven series for the WNBA Finals – a format change for the championship round. The playoffs commence on Sunday, September 14th. The Storm will now focus on their playoff journey, while the Sparks face another season without postseason play.
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Originally published at: https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/breaking-news/article/wnba-playoffs-storm-rally-to-beat-valkyries-and-clinch-final-postseason-spot-while-eliminating-sparks-040644890.html
