WNBA playoff stakes rise for Fever, Sparks, Valkyries, and Mystics
USAT’s Meghan Hall breaks down why she believes these WNBA teams missing the playoffs will be a disappointment to fans.
Sports Seriously
The Indiana Fever and Golden State Valkyries have both faced devastating injuries this season, but their playoff hopes remain alive down the final stretch of the season.
The Fever (21-18) will travel to the Bay Area to face off against the Valkyries (19-18) on Sunday for the third and final time this regular season and the matchup will have major postseason implications for both squads.
Four teams have already punched their tickets to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs — the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury — leaving the final four spots up for grabs. Only three games separate sixth place from ninth place, making every game a must-win for the Fever and Valkyries.
The Fever notched a crucial 76-75 victory Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks by way of Odyssey Sims’ go-ahead floating jumper with 13 seconds remaining. Indiana currently sits in sixth place in the WNBA standings, only one game ahead of the Valkyries, who currently hold the eighth and final spot in the playoffs.
Indiana is looking to avoid a regular-season sweep by Golden State on Sunday. The Valkyries are 2-0 against the Fever this season, defeating the Fever 88-77 at Chase Center on June 19 and 80-61 on July 9 in Indianapolis. (Caitlin Clark played in both those matchups, but was ruled out Sunday with a right groin injury.) If the Fever and Valkyries were to finish with the same record, Golden State would hold the tiebreaker because of its head-to-head advantage.
The Fever are looking to make the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2015-16, while the Valkyries are vying to become the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season.
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s matchup between the Fever and Valkyries:
The Golden State Valkyries will host the Indiana Fever at 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) on Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV.
How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Golden State Valkyries: TV, stream
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT)Location: Chase Center (San Francisco)TV channel: NBA TVStreaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
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