We’re at the point of the season where a single game can make a huge impact on the playoff race. Sunday’s Fever-Dream game is a prime example. 

Atlanta entered Sunday’s matchup a half-game back of Indiana in the standings, but held a 2-1 advantage in the season series.

A win would not only help the Dream immediately leapfrog the Fever for fourth place in the standings, but it would also secure the head-to-head tiebreaker with a 3-1 series victory.

However, the Fever outscored the Dream 17-9 in the fourth quarter to force overtime, where Indiana prevailed 95-91.

With the win, the Fever maintained their hold on fourth place (and moved within a half-game of the third-place Aces), but they also evened their season series with the Dream. That takes the head-to-head tiebreaker off the table. The next tiebreaker is record against teams over .500, which Indiana currently leads over Atlanta.

One game. Plenty of playoff implications.

With another week of high-stakes games set to begin tonight, let’s see how the teams stack up against one another with just two weeks until the FIBA World Cup break (Aug. 31–Sept. 16).

1. Minnesota Lynx (29-7, clinched playoff berth) ↔️

• Last Week: 1
• This Week: Wed. at GSV, Fri. at WAS

The league-leading Lynx enter this week having won four straight and 14 of their last 15 games. Minnesota has already clinched a playoff berth and can move closer to securing the No. 1 overall seed with Wednesday’s matchup with Golden State. A win clinches the head-to-head tiebreaker for the Lynx over the only team within five games of them in the standings.

2. Golden State Valkyries (24-9) ↔️

• Last Week: 2
• This Week: Mon. vs. DAL, Wed. vs. MIN, Fri. at CHI

The Valkyries had only one game last week, a 20-point victory over Chicago, for their fifth straight win and 14th in their last 16 games. Golden State will look to clinch its playoff spot on Monday night when Dallas visits Ballhalla. The Valkyries need one win or a Portland loss to clinch. While Golden State’s schedule was light last week, the Valkyries play a league-high seven games before the FIBA break as they look to stay hot.

3. Las Vegas Aces (24-12, clinched playoff berth) ⬆️

• Last Week: 4
• This Week: Tue. vs. ATL, Thu. vs. CON, Sun. at TOR

The Aces opened the week with back-to-back wins over Washington, cooling the red-hot Mystics, who had won their previous seven games. However, the Aces were unable to complete a 3-0 week as they dropped their rubber match against Minnesota on Saturday despite A’ja Wilson’s game-high 32 points. The Lynx clinched the season series 2-1.

4. Indiana Fever (23-12) ⬆️

• Last Week: 5
• This Week: Tue. at TOR, Thu. at DAL, Sat. at NYL, Sun. at CHI

Indiana’s win in Atlanta on Sunday prevented the Dream from securing the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Fever. This week, the tables turn, as Indiana has two chances to lock up head-to-head tiebreakers — Thursday in Dallas (series is tied 1-1, winner takes series) and Saturday in New York (Fever lead the series 2-1 ahead of final matchup of season). The Fever, who have won four straight and nine of their last 11, can bolster their playoff position with wins in these key games.

5. New York Liberty (22-14) ⬆️

• Last Week: 6
• This Week: Tue. at CHI, Sat. vs. IND

After falling to the Fever to open last week, the Liberty picked up wins over the Sparks and Sun to make it nine wins in their last 11 games. This week, New York will look to improve to 3-0 vs. Chicago before trying to even its season series with Indiana on Saturday in Brooklyn — the Liberty are 12-5 at home this season.

6. Washington Mystics (20-14) ⬇️

• Last Week: 3
• This Week: Wed. vs. TOR, Fri. vs. MIN, Sun. at PDX

The Mystics had their seven-game win streak snapped with back-to-back losses to the Aces this past week, before getting back on track with a victory over the Sparks on Saturday. After opening the week against a Toronto team that has dropped 10 straight, the Mystics will try to become the first team to beat Minnesota twice this season and clinch their season series with the Lynx.

7. Atlanta Dream (21-13) ↔️

• Last Week: 7
• This Week: Tue. at LVA, Thu. at LAS, Sat. at PHX

Whether Sunday’s overtime loss to Indiana comes back to bite Atlanta remains to be seen. However, the Dream need to bounce back quickly to keep their chances at a top-four seed intact. Atlanta opens a four-game road trip this week — the Dream are 9-7 away from home so far this season — looking to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Aces.

8. Dallas Wings (20-15) ↔️

• Last Week: 8
• This Week: Mon. at GSV, Thu. vs. IND, Sun. vs. SEA

The bad news for the Wings is that their loss to the Fever on Friday dropped them to 3-7 in their last 10 games. However, the good news is that Dallas enters this week still holding a five-game lead for the eighth and final playoff spot. That gives them time to get back on track. This week, the Wings visit Golden State before hosting a critical game with the Fever that will determine the head-to-head tiebreaker.

9. Portland Fire (15-20) ⬆️

• Last Week: 10
• This Week: Fri. at TOR, Sun. vs. WAS

On Sunday in Phoenix, the Fire did not let Diana Taurasi and her Ring of Honor ceremony distract them from the task at hand. Portland rallied past Phoenix for an 88-85 win. It was the Fire’s second win by one possession, and their fourth win over the last five games overall as Portland keeps its slim playoff hopes alive. However, a loss or a Valkyries win seals their fate.

10. Chicago Sky (13-22) ⬇️

• Last Week: 9
• This Week: Tue. vs. NYL, Fri. vs. GSV, Sun. vs. IND

The Sky snapped a six-game road skid on Sunday as they held off the Storm in Seattle behind Kamilla Cardoso’s 22-point, 12-rebound double-double. While the Sky return to Chicago for a three-game homestand this week, the competition is fierce with three teams aiming for a top-four seed headed to the Windy City. The Sky are a combined 1-5 against the Liberty, Valkyries and Fever this season.

11. Phoenix Mercury (13-23) ⬆️

• Last Week: 12
• This Week: Sat. vs. ATL

Even the loss to Portland could not dampen the celebration of Diana Taurasi, who had her No. 3 jersey retired as she entered Phoenix’s Ring of Honor on Sunday night. Following the game, the Mercury have six days off before they host the Dream on Saturday. Trailing the eighth seed by 7.5 games with eight games to play, the Mercury are entering must-win territory to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

12. Los Angeles Sparks (12-22) ⬇️

• Last Week: 11
• This Week: Tue. at CON, Thu. vs. ATL, Sat. vs. CON

Following losses to Phoenix, New York and Washington last week, the Sparks have dropped four straight overall and 11 of their last 13 games. With their playoff hopes declining fast, the Sparks visit Connecticut for the final time before returning home to host the Dream and Sun.

13. Seattle Storm (7-30, eliminated from playoffs) ⬆️

• Last Week: 15
• This Week: Sun. at DAL

After opening last week with a win over the Sky, the Storm suffered back-to-back two-point losses to Portland and Chicago to close out the week. No team has played more games this season than the Storm, who have a full week off before they visit Dallas on Sunday. So far this season, Seattle is 0-2 against the Wings with two games remaining — this Sunday and the final day of the regular season. 

14. Connecticut Sun (8-25, eliminated from playoffs) ⬇️

• Last Week: 13
• This Week: Tue. vs. LAS, Thu. at LVA, Sat. at LAS

The Sun, who have dropped seven of their last eight games, have officially been eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight season, which comes after an eight-year streak of postseason play (2017–24). With their postseason fate sealed, there are only five remaining home games in Connecticut before their offseason relocation, beginning Tuesday against the Sparks.

15. Toronto Tempo (10-23) ⬇️

• Last Week: 14
• This Week: Tue. vs. IND, Wed. at WAS, Fri. vs. POR, Sun. vs LVA

The Tempo have dropped 10 straight and 14 of their last 15 games and find themselves on the brink of playoff elimination in their inaugural season. Toronto will be busy with a league-high-tying seven games before the FIBA break, including a four-game slate this week against the likes of Indiana, Washington, Portland, and Las Vegas.