One week into the Commissioner’s Cup, let’s take a look at where we stand in the fifth annual WNBA tournament.
New York is in control of its own destiny to advance to the final for the third straight season. Beyond winning their first two games, the Liberty have amassed a plus-56 point differential with a game against Chicago still on the docket to further pad that stat. Matchups against the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream remain, though, with the Fever game on the road as New York’s biggest remaining obstacle. The Dream have already lost one Cup game and will need to win out, starting with a matchup against Indiana on Tuesday. The Fever could survive a loss, having won their first two games, but a three-way tie among Indiana, New York and Atlanta likely favors the Liberty due to point differential. If the Fever beat the Dream, Saturday’s matchup between New York and Indiana will be a de facto play-in game.
In the Western Conference, Minnesota is undefeated halfway through its Cup slate. The Lynx still have to travel to play the Seattle Storm and host the Las Vegas Aces, but neither opponent has come close to approaching Minnesota’s quality this season. It seems unlikely that the Lynx will be tested, especially since every other West team has already suffered at least…
