After an incredible All-Star weekend in Chicago, it is time to put the festivities in the rear view and focus on the stretch run, which gets underway Tuesday with a five-game slate of action.

Teams have between 12 and 14 games remaining in the regular season to make a final push to either solidify their playoff position, improve their playoff position, or try to climb into the playoff field. As a reminder, the playoffs return to a more traditional format this year after a six-year run of a format that included single-elimination games and byes for the coveted top seeds.

The top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs – regardless of conference – and matchup 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7 and so on. The opening round will feature best-of-three series followed by best-of-five series in the semifinals and Finals.

As the stretch run begins, Phoenix (10-14), New York (9-13), Minnesota (8-15) and Indiana (5-19) find themselves on the outside looking in on the top eight teams in the league. There is still a lot of ball to played and a trade deadline approaching in just three days that could shake things up a bit.

1. Chicago Sky (16-6)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week’s Results: L at MIN 81-78; W at IND 93-84
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. ATL; Thursday at LAS; Saturday at DAL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.2 (2); DefRtg: 98.4 (5); NetRtg: 6.8 (2); eFG%: 53.3 (1); Pace/40: 80.65 (6)

In 2021, the Sky won just 16 games as they finished the regular season at .500 (16-16) before making an epic run to the franchise’s first WNBA championship. Chicago reached 16 wins before hosting this year’s All-Star festivities and now enter the stretch run with the top record in the league and 12 more games on the schedule to try to hold that position. Chicago’s franchise record for wins is 24, which came in 2013, can this year’s Sky squad challenge that mark?

2. Seattle Storm (15-8)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week’s Results: W at IND 95-73; W at LAS 106-69
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. DAL; Sunday vs. IND
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.8 (T-7); DefRtg: 94.4 (1); NetRtg: 5.4 (T-3); eFG%: 49.9 (6); Pace/40: 80.30 (7)

While Sue Bird received plenty of flowers at her final All-Star Game, there’s still work to be done as she looks for the storybook ending and a fifth WNBA championship for the Emerald City. The Storm won four of their final five games entering the All-Star break thanks in large part to their top-ranked defense. While Seattle is tied for seventh in offensive efficiency, the Storm did post two of their three highest-scoring games last week, including a season-best 106 points in a 37-point blowout against the Sparks. If Seattle is able to find consistent offense to pair with their stifling defense, they will be a dangerous team headed toward the postseason.

3. Las Vegas Aces (15-7)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. NYL 116-107
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at NYL; Thursday at NYL; Sunday at CON
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.3 (1); DefRtg: 102.0 (6); NetRtg: 5.4 (T-3); eFG%: 52.1 (2); Pace/40: 83.25 (1)

No team needed the All-Star break more than Las Vegas as they dropped five of their last seven games after opening the season 13-2. The Aces didn’t get much relaxation time in during All-Star as they had four players and their coaching staff in Chicago. While most of the Aces were busy over the past few days, good times were had by all, particularly Kelsey Plum, who earned MVP honors in her first All-Star appearance as she tied the All-Star record with 30 points in a win for Team Wilson as A’ja improved to 2-0 as a captain. Can those All-Star wins carry any momentum into the stretch run?

4. Connecticut Sun (14-8)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week’s Results: L at DAL 82-71
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday at IND; Friday at ATL; Sunday vs. LVA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 104.0 (3); DefRtg: 96.5 (4); NetRtg: 7.5 (1); eFG%: 50.1 (5); Pace/40: 80.18 (8)

The Sun had just two wins in their final six games entering the All-Star break, but still hold the league’s top net efficiency rating – outscoring opponents by an average of 7.5 points per 100 possessions – and join Chicago as the only teams ranked in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. At 14-8, the Sun would be the No. 4 seed if the playoffs started today, but they are just two games back of league-leading Chicago and one game back of Las Vegas. The Sun host the Aces on Sunday in their third and final meeting of the regular season. Is it too early to start talking about potential tiebreakers? This game on Sunday will determine the season series and the head-to-head tiebreaker should it be necessary at season’s end.

5. Washington Mystics (14-10)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week’s Results: W at ATL 85-66
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at LAS; Thursday at PHX; Sunday vs. MIN
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.8 (T-7); DefRtg: 95.1 (2); NetRtg: 4.7 (5); eFG%: 49.6 (T-7); Pace/40: 78.32 (12)

Ariel Atkins was Washington’s only representative at All-Star weekend, so most of the team had a solid break to reset and prepare for the stretch run. With 12 games remaining on the schedule, it will be interesting to see how many Elena Delle Donne suits up for as the Mystics have been extremely cautious with the two-time MVP. Washington is 11-4 with her and 3-6 without her so far this season. The Mystics have just one back-to-back remaining on the schedule (July 30 and 31), which comes in the middle of a stretch of four games in six days (July 28-August 2). Delle Donne’s health and availability in the playoffs is of the upmost importance, so it will be interesting to watch how much Washington leans on her down the stretch of the regular season.

6. Los Angeles Sparks (10-12)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. SEA 106-69
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. WAS; Thursday vs. CHI
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.4 (9); DefRtg: 105.5 (11); NetRtg: -6.1 (11); eFG%: 49.3 (9); Pace/40: 81.22 (4)

Similar to the Mystics, the Sparks had just one player in Chicago for All-Star in Nneka Ogwumike, who is having her best season since the Sparks back-to-back Finals appearances in 2016 (her MVP season) and 2017 (her championship season). After a rocky start to the season (which included a head coaching change), the Sparks have found their way as they won four of their final six games entering the break. Los Angeles opens the stretch run with four straight home games – part of a seven-game homestand spanning the break. However, they get things started with two tough opponents right out of the game – hosting Washington on Tuesday and Chicago on Thursday.

7. Minnesota Lynx (8-15)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. CHI 81-78
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. PHX; Thursday vs. DAL; Friday at IND; Sunday at WAS
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.0 (4); DefRtg: 104.2 (9); NetRtg: -1.2 (7); eFG%: 49.6 (T-7); Pace/40: 79.61 (10)

Similar to the Sparks, the Lynx find themselves in the middle of the pack in the power rankings as they have rebounded from a rough start to the season. On June 19, the Lynx lost their fifth straight game to fall to 3-13 on the season. Since then, they went 5-2 heading into the All-Star break to put themselves back in playoff contention. Entering the stretch run, the Lynx are just 2.5 games back (three in the loss column) of the Nos. 6-8 seeds as Atlanta, L.A. and Dallas all sit at 10-12. Minnesota has made the playoffs 11 straight years and can tie Indiana’s record of a dozen if they can pull off this incredible in-season turnaround. This past weekend, Sylvia Fowles was celebrated as she participated – and threw down a dunk! – in her final All-Star appearance. In attendance at the game was Napheesa Collier and her newborn baby. Collier has said she hopes to return to the court this season in order to play with Fowles again before the legendary center retires. Here’s to a speedy recovery and bounce back for Collier as she would be a welcome boost for Minnesota’s playoff push.

8. Atlanta Dream (10-12)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. WAS 85-66
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at CHI; Friday vs. CON; Sunday at PHX
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 94.3 (12); DefRtg: 96.3 (3); NetRtg: -2.0 (8); eFG%: 47.0 (11); Pace/40: 81.55 (3)

After missing the first 19 games of the season due to overseas commitments and a knee injury, Tiffany Hayes made her return to the court on June 30 and provided an immediate boost to the Dream. In her first two games, Atlanta scored at least 90 points as they picked up double-digit wins over New York and Seattle. But in their final game before the All-Star break, the Dream were held to just 66 points – marking the sixth time they’ve been held under 67 points this season; no other team has more than three such games. As the Dream look to secure a playoff berth, they will need to get more consistent scoring and climb out of the offensive cellar.

9. Phoenix Mercury (10-14)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. NYL 84-81
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at MIN; Thursday vs. WAS; Sunday vs. ATL
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.5 (6); DefRtg: 104.3 (10); NetRtg: -2.8 (9); eFG%: 50.4 (4); Pace/40: 80.68 (5)

After parting ways with Tina Charles at the end of June, there are rumors swirling that All-Star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith may be traded before Friday’s 8 p.m. ET trade deadline. Whether those rumors prove to be true or prove to be just talk remains to be seen. The same can be said for Phoenix’s playoff fate as the Mercury currently find themselves on the outside looking in as their 10-14 record has them holding the No. 9 seed as the stretch run begins – two losses back of the trio of teams in the Nos. 6-8 positions. With 12 games remaining on their schedule, the Mercury have time to get their season back on track. They begin the stretch run with three games this week – at Minnesota on Tuesday before beginning a four-game homestand on Thursday against Washington. The question is, will the Mercury’s roster look different when they close the week on Sunday against the Atlanta?

10. New York Liberty (9-13)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week’s Results: W at LVA 116-107; L at PHX 84-81
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday vs. LVA; Thursday vs. LVA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.2 (10); DefRtg: 102.3 (7); NetRtg: -4.1 (10); eFG%: 50.5 (3); Pace/40: 79.37 (11)

The Liberty opened last week with a record-breaking performance in their win over Las Vegas. New York tied with WNBA record for 3-pointers made in a game with 18 and set a franchise record with 116 points scored, which is also tied for the seventh-highest scoring game in WNBA regular season history (and ninth overall including playoffs). However, the Liberty followed up that impressive performance with a loss to Phoenix in their final game before the All-Star break. Coming out of the break, the Liberty host the Aces in a two-game set on Tuesday and Thursday. Can the Liberty repeat that impressive shooting display against the Aces from a week ago, or will Las Vegas get their revenge to begin the stretch run?

11. Dallas Wings (10-12)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week’s Results: W vs. CON 82-71
• This Week’s Schedule: Tuesday at SEA; Thursday at MIN; Saturday vs. CHI
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.9 (5); DefRtg: 102.5 (8); NetRtg: -0.6 (6); eFG%: 48.3 (10); Pace/40: 79.84 (9)

The Wings are a difficult team to gauge week to week. After dropping four of their previous five games — with the only victory in that stretch coming against a Fever team stuck on five wins — the Wings defeated Connecticut by 11 points in their final game before the All-Star break. Since opening the season 5-2, the Wings have gone just 5-10 since and have particularly struggled in close games. Dallas has the league’s worst record (3-9) in games featuring clutch time – score within five points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. The Wings are 1-5 in games decided by five points or less and 0-2 when decided by three points or less.

12. Indiana Fever (5-19)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week’s Results: L vs. SEA 95-73; L vs. CHI 93-84
• This Week’s Schedule: Wednesday vs. CON; Friday vs. MIN; Sunday at SEA
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.6 (11); DefRtg: 107.8 (12); NetRtg: -12.2 (12); eFG%: 45.4 (12); Pace/40: 81.58 (2)

There have been seven losing streaks of five games or more in the WNBA this season – the Fever own three of them as they saw their current streak stretch to six straight losses entering the All-Star break. At All-Star, Fever rookie NaLyssa Smith had a good shooting in Saturday’s Skills Challenge, giving the first-year player a taste of All-Star weekend. Smith leads all rookies in minutes played (30.7 per game) and rebounds (8.2 per game, fifth overall in the WNBA) and ranks second among rookies in scoring (13.2 ppg). With all signs pointing to a sixth straight season without a playoff appearance, the development of Smith and the other five rookies on the Fever roster has to be the focus over Indiana’s final 12 games of the season.