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sports Diaranson 15 september 2021

Teams battle for playoff positioning in WNBA’s final week

(AP) — With less than Mike Thibault’s team is still
a week left in the regu- missing Elena Delle Donne
lar season of the WNBA, (back), Myisha Hines-Allen
playoff seeding, a postsea- (non-COVID-19 illness).
son berth and draft lottery
chances are still undecid- 9. Los Angeles (11-19): The
ed. Sparks ended a six-game skid
and are still alive in the play-
Buoyed by a 12-game win- off hunt, but need a bit of
ning streak, Connecticut help to make the postseason.
has clinched the top seed
throughout the playoffs and 10 New York (11-19): Most
leads The Associated Press of the Liberty players are
power poll. Las Vegas needs healthy that coach Walt Hop-
one more victory or loss by kins expected to be have on
Minnesota this week to earn the floor when the season
the No. 2 seed and the other began. It may be too late as
double bye to the semifi- New York, which has lost
nals. The Lynx are third with seven straight games needs a
Phoenix and Seattle both lot of things to go its way to
in the mix for the third and make the playoffs.
fourth seeds.
11. Atlanta (7-22): The
With the playoffs begin- Dream close out the season
ning next week, Chicago has with home games against In-
locked in the sixth seed and diana and Los Angeles before
will host a first-round game that eventuality at all. Right and hope to have Liz Cam- give Stewart more recovery heading to Connecticut .
against the No. 7 seed, which now we’re focused on the bage back soon from her bout time would be huge for Se-
right now is Dallas. next game.” with COVID-19. attle. 12. Indiana (6-23): The Fe-
ver have been playing teams
At the other end of the spec- The Liberty still have a shot 3. Minnesota (20-10): Aerial 6. Chicago (15-15): With the tough lately with a short-
trum, Indiana, New York and at the final playoff spot, trail- Powers continues to provide Sky’s playoff seeding deter- handed roster, but haven’t
Atlanta are in the mix for ing Washington by one game. a boost to the Lynx since her mined, coach James Wade has gotten wins to show for it.
the best odds at winning the The two teams play in New return Aug. 21 from a thumb some decision to make about Indiana close out the year
league’s draft lottery. York on Friday night. Los injury. The team is 7-1 with how he handles the final two with games against Atlanta,
Angeles is also still alive in her back and Powers is aver- games of the season. No one Minnesota and Chicago.
Heading into the final days of the playoff chase, trailing the aging 14 points a game dur- played more than 28 minutes
the season, the Fever have the Mystics by a game also. ing that stretch. in the loss to Washington in PLAYER OF THE WEEK
best chance at securing the Chicago’s last game.
top pick in the draft. Indiana POWER POLL 4. Phoenix (19-11): The Tina Charles of Washing-
has 12 wins over the past two Mercury saw their 10-game 7. Dallas (13-18): The Wings ton was voted as the Player
seasons, one more than New This week’s WNBA poll: winning streak end with a clinched a playoff spot for the of the Week after averaging
York and two more than At- loss to Connecticut last week. first time since 2018 and are 20.3 points, 10 rebounds and
lanta. Indiana and Atlanta 1. Connecticut (24-6): The They are still one of the hot- getting healthy at the right 2.7 assists to help the Mystics
play on Tuesday night — one Sun will have homecourt ad- test teams in the league, time. Satou Sabally played for go 2-1 and stay in the playoff
of three games the Fever have vantage throughout the play- buoyed by the strong play of the first time since the season chase. Other players receiv-
left. Indiana would need to offs and have lost just one Brittney Griner and Skylar resumed from the Olympic ing votes included A’ja Wil-
win two of them for the Lib- home game all season. Con- Diggins-Smith. Diana Tau- break in the one-point win son and Kelsey Plum of Las
erty to have any chance to necticut also could be boost- rasi has missed the last few over New York that earned Vegas, Jonquel Jones of Con-
pass them. ed by the return of Alyssa games with an ankle injury, Dallas the postseason appear- necticut, Aerial Powers and
Thomas, who has been out but expects to be back soon. ance. Sabally had been deal- Napheesa Collier of Minne-
“Definitely is something at this season with an Achilles’ ing with Achilles’ soreness. sota.
the back of my head,” Liberty injury suffered in January. 5. Seattle (20-11): The Storm
coach Walt Hopkins said of She recently has been prac- are missing Breanna Stewart 8. Washington (12-18): The GAME OF THE WEEK:
getting into the draft lottery ticing taking warmups with due to a foot injury she suf- Mystics can secure a playoff
again and potentially getting the team. fered in a win over Washing- spot with a win over New York Mystics at Liberty, Friday.
the No. 1 pick for a third ton last Tuesday. Stewart will on Friday. Washington could Washington can clinch a
straight season. “It is a silver 2. Las Vegas (22-8): The Aces miss the team’s final regular be one of the most dangerous playoff berth with a victory
lining if that were to happen, hit the road for the final two season game against Phoenix. teams to face in the postsea- over New York.
but we’re not talking about games of the regular season Earning a first-round bye to son if they are healthy. Coach

10-man Sevilla salvages 1-1 draw with

Salzburg in CL opener

(AP) — Salzburg was left Salzburg could only take one Ivan Rakitic equalized for Se-
to rue two missed penal- goal from three penalties all villa against the flow of play
ties in its 1-1 draw at 10- earned by inspired striker from a penalty in the 42nd.
man Sevilla to start its Karim Adeyemi before 40
Champions League cam- minutes were up. Sevilla played a man down
paign on Wednesday. from the 50th after striker
Luka Sucic converted a spot Youssef En-Nesryi got his
The messy match in Seville kick to give the Austrian team second booking for simulat-
was marked by errors both the lead in the 21st minute. ing a foul in the area.
by Sevilla’s veterans and the But Sucic and Adeyemi, both
youngsters of Salzburg. age 19, missed two other spot Lille hosts Wolfsburg later
kicks in the first half. also in Group G.