Playoff race tightens as the WNBA nears the World Cup break

NEW YORK (AP) — As the WNBA heads into its final week before the FIBA World Cup break, the postseason picture is becoming clearer.

Seven teams have already clinched spots in the playoffs with Minnesota, Golden State and Las Vegas leading the way. Atlanta, Indiana, New York and Washington also will be in the postseason. Dallas is not far from sealing the eighth and final place.

Where those teams end up seeding-wise is still up for grabs. There is only 1 1/2 games separating the second-place Valkyries and fifth-place Fever.

There's only a game difference between No. 6 New York and eighth-seeded Dallas.

The top four teams will have homecourt advantage in the opening round of the best-of-three playoff series. The semifinals are best-of-five and the WNBA Finals are best-of-seven.

Teams will take a break for the World Cup from Monday, Aug. 31 to Thursday, Sept. 17.

The Indiana Fever are currently in fifth place and coming off a brutal stretch which had them going up and down the continent with road games in Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Toronto and Chicago. They came away with a 3-2 mark.

“Every game already feels like a playoff game,” Fever coach Stephanie White said before her team lost to New York on Saturday night.

Indiana closes out the season with three of its last five games at home, including a home-and-home set with Minnesota to finish out the regular season.

The Phoenix Mercury bought out DeWanna Bonner's contract to allow the 17-year veteran a chance to play for a contending team.

“Being able to return to Phoenix and play in front of the best fans in the WNBA these past two seasons has been an incredible experience,” Bonner said. “At this stage of my career, I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m grateful to the Mercury for giving me the opportunity to play in what could be one of my final postseason opportunities."

The Mercury made the WNBA Finals last season, but were eliminated from playoff contention last week.

Minnesota held onto the top spot in the power poll again this week as the unanimous choice. The Lynx won at Golden State and Washington last week. Las Vegas moved up to the No. 2 spot, switching places with the Valkyries. Atlanta jumped up to fourth from seventh place last week. Indiana, New York and Washington were next. Dallas was eighth. Chicago, Portland and Phoenix were the next three. Los Angeles, Connecticut, Toronto and Seattle rounded out the poll.

Expansion franchises Portland and Toronto revealed their mascots last week. The Fire have a dragon named Rose and the Tempo have a tortoise named Dez and a hare called Dot.

Angel Reese was the AP player of the week. Atlanta's star forward averaged 24 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.7 steals to help the Dream win all three of its games last week. Other players receiving votes were Shakira Austin of Washington, Paige Bueckers of Dallas and Olivia Miles of Minnesota.

Minnesota at Atlanta, Sunday. Two of the top teams in the league will square off to close out the pre-World Cup schedule. The Lynx are in a good spot to clinch homecourt throughout the playoffs this week. The Dream are in the mix to potentially still earn at least homecourt in the opening round of the playoffs.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here