The WNBA makes its official return on Thursday, after having paused the regular season for the 2024 All-Star Game and the Olympics. When play resumes, the season will be more than halfway over, with regular season games running until September 19th.
![Sabrina Ionescu high-fives her Liberty teammates during a game.](https://justwomenssports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2161314942-1024x717.jpg)
Liberty leads league as playoffs loom
With Olympic medals secured and plenty of time to practice, the race to the finish is on as all 12 teams push to claim their place among the postseason-bound top eight.
As the only team to crack 20 wins on the season, the New York Liberty currently hold the number one spot in the league standings. They're followed by the Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Las Vegas Aces, and Phoenix Mercury.
Indiana and Chicago are currently hovering just above playoff contention, still hoping to boost their respective records to .500.
![Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark take the 2024 All-Star court together on Team WNBA.](https://justwomenssports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2162523547-1024x768.jpg)
MVP, Rookie of the Year awards up for grabs in late-season push
Individual ambitions will also resume, as now two-time Olympic gold medalist A'ja Wilson reclaims her spot as the frontrunner for 2024 MVP while her Las Vegas club sits in fifth place.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will also continue their Rookie of the Year battle, as both newcomers attempt to propel their squads above the playoff line.
![Kahleah Copper drives to the basket during her Phoenix Mercury's July game against the Indiana Fever.](https://justwomenssports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2161546155-1024x877.jpg)
WNBA standings on the line on Thursday
Thursday's trio of games could ultimately impact the overall standings — with a heaping side of history.
Olympic gold medal game hero and Mercury guard Kahleah Copper will return to Chicago for the first time since requesting a trade from the team where she won her first WNBA Championship.
After a historically slow start has them sitting below the playoff line, the Mystics will visit the Western Conference–leading Lynx.
Then, the LA Sparks will host the Liberty, looking to gain an edge on the league-leaders by relying on their developing starting core.