Eight teams make the WNBA playoffs, and as it stands, all but one squad — the 5-22 Indiana Fever — are in contention. That means 11 teams are fighting to get into the postseason with one month remaining in the 2022 regular season.

While the Sky, the Sun, the Mystics, the Aces and the Storm are all above the .500 mark, the remaining six teams are the ones to watch as the playoff race intensifies. With just two games total separating them, the Dream, Liberty, Wings, Sparks, Mercury and Lynx all have a chance to receive bids.

Despite similar records and a playoff race that seems wide open, these teams are not created equal. Three will be in, and three will be out. Let’s predict which side of the aisle each team will be on by mid-August.

Mercury: 11-16, ninth in standings

It’s hard to believe the Mercury were the Finals runner-up last season, but since the Sky topped them 3-1, a lot has happened. Of course, Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia looms large. Her on-court presence has been vital for the Mercury since she entered the league in 2013 — she averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last season. But more than that, her absence is weighing mentally on every member of the Mercury.

Then, there was the “contract divorce” with 12-year veteran Tina Charles 18 games (and 12 losses) into the season, and Twitter-fueled drama between Skylar Diggins-Smith, Diana Taurasi and coach Vanessa Nygaard that leant itself to Diggins-Smith trade rumors around the All-Star break.

All that to say, there are a lot of factors working against the Mercury. And yet, I still like their chances to make the playoffs.

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The supposed drama between Diggins-Smith and Taurasi is meaningless. On the court, the two play well together and that’s all that matters. Plus, they have loads of postseason experience and talent around them. Shey Peddy and sharp-shooter Sophie Cunningham continue to perform, and if the Mercury have a healthy Diamond DeShields and Kia Nurse down the stretch, they can be a dangerous team.

A big factor in the Mercury’s losing record has been their inability to hit the glass. Phoenix has been out-rebounded in all but six games this season, including Sunday’s loss to the Dream, in which Atlanta grabbed 43 boards to Phoenix’s 28.

In or out? In.

Dream: 11-14, sixth in standings

Of these six teams, the Dream and the Wings have the best winning percentage (44%), which is a good start for a Dream squad that’s trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Their win over the Mercury on Sunday snapped a three-game slide that included losses to three of the teams that appear to be playoff locks — the Sky, Mystics and Sun. With that victory, the Dream are 7-2 against the other five teams fighting for playoff position.

Rookie of the Year frontrunner Rhyne Howard leads the team with 14.7 points per game and a team-best 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio. She’s aided on the offensive front by Tiffany Hayes (14.5 points per game), who’s played just five games after returning from a knee injury on July 3. Overall, though, the Dream have struggled to produce offensively. They’re last in the league — behind even the Fever — with an average of 77.5 points per game. The Dream also average a league-worst 17.2 assists per game, and turn the ball over a league-high 17 times a game.

Yet, the Dream have still managed to win against the teams they need to beat to get into the postseason. Their rebounding stats against the Mercury point to a bigger trend this season, with Atlanta ranking fifth in the league on the boards. The Dream are also helped by a solid bench. Second-year guard Aari McDonald is playing 25 minutes a game and averaging 10.6 points and 1.7 steals to lead the secondary unit.

In or out? In.

Wings: 11-14, seventh in standings

The Wings are a hard team to figure out. Offensively, they have three consistent weapons in Arike Ogunbowale (19.5 points per game), Allisha Gray (14.3) and Marina Mabrey (12.7), and they take care of the ball. Dallas averages a 15.3 percent turnover rate, which is the second best in the WNBA.

Despite that, their offensive efficiency is lacking. As a team, the Wings shoot 42 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the arc, and their shot selection isn’t always the best. Take their most recent loss to the Sky. Dallas went into the fourth quarter up by six points before Chicago closed out the win on a 30-16 run in which the Wings made just four field goals. Overall, the Wings have struggled with consistency, winning consecutive games just once since May 24. They’ve also played half their season without Satou Sabally (11.3 points, 4.8 rebounds per game) while she was nursing a knee injury, which didn’t help matters.

Teaira McCowan says NOT TODAY. pic.twitter.com/YmYTQRDSVf

— espnW (@espnW) April 1, 2018

But Dallas can find an advantage on defense with the continued development of players like Teaira McCowan (the 2018 NCAA Defensive Player of the Year at Mississippi State), Veronica Burton (a three-time Big Ten DPOY) and Awak Kuier, who at 6-foot-4 has an even bigger wing span that can disrupt offenses. If Dallas can find a way to score with more regularity and its defense continues to blossom, the Wings will be a playoff team.

In or out? In.

Liberty: 9-16, 11th in standings

After starting the season 1-7 and losing 2021 All-Star Betnijah Laney to a knee injury, things looked dismal for the Liberty. Since then, they’ve gone a much more respectable 8-9 that included a 7-4 month of June.

Guard Sabrina Ionescu has been an obvious bright spot for the up-and-down Liberty, leading her team in points (17.3), rebounds (7.1) and assists (6.2). And fellow 2022 All-Star Natasha Howard also does a little bit of everything, averaging 15 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per contest. The Liberty have several other intriguing weapons, starting with Han Xu and Marine Johannès. Han has made a name for herself as a 6-10 center who can shoot 3s, while Johannès is an elite playmaker who serves as a second point guard.

But despite an arsenal of scoring options, the Liberty don’t generate offense in two key places. The first is at the free-throw line. New York attempts 15 free throws a game, which is last in the league. Secondly, the Liberty don’t create chances on the offensive glass or off of turnovers. They are 10th in the WNBA in both offensive rebounds (6.9) and 11th in turnovers forced (12.6). Plus, New York is currently on a four-game losing streak, something their 36.0 win percentage can’t afford.

In or out? Out.

Sparks: 10-14, eighth in standings

The Sparks started their season with a bit of drama, as GM and coach Derek Fisher was fired after a 5-7 start. Things haven’t improved much under Fred Williams, with L.A. going 5-7 since then for a 10-14 overall record.

Fisher’s time with the Sparks was clearly up, as he failed to achieve a winning record during his three and a half seasons, but changing leadership midseason almost always means sacrificing results the rest of the way. hat being said, the Sparks have a lot of offensive weapons and they are in the top half of the league with a 45.2 field goal percentage. All-Star Nneka Ogwumike is leading the way with 18.3 points per game, and Liz Cambage brings a size advantage at 6-9 and offensive might at 13.3 points a contest. Katie Lou Samuelson (10.8) and Brittney Sykes (10.7) round out Los Angeles’ double-digit scorers.

The Sparks’ struggles come on the defensive end. Their opponents shoot 45.9 percent from the field, the second-highest mark in the WNBA. They also give up a league-worst 1.14 points per scoring attempt and 0.95 points per play, the second-worst mark. And the defensive woes don’t stop there: The Sparks grab just 24.5 defensive rebounds per game, ranking 10th in the WNBA. The inability to shut down opponents is a dagger in a postseason race, so despite players like Ogwumike thriving on offense, the Sparks face an uphill battle.

In or out? Out.

Lynx: 10-17, 10th in standings

After the Fever, the Lynx have the worst win percentage at 37 percent. They still have a chance at the postseason; it’s just dwindling.

When the Lynx are at their best, they look like a postseason squad. From July 6-12, Minnesota enjoyed a three-game win streak that included victories over the league’s top teams — 102-71 over the Aces and 81-78 over the Sky — and an 118-107 OT win over the Mercury. During that stretch, Ariel Powers was unbeatable, averaging 29.7 points a game. Her offense is much-needed for the Lynx, half of whose wins this season have come when Powers is the leading scorer.

Sylvia Fowles leads the Lynx with 15.1 points and 10 rebounds a game in her final season, numbers that are comparable to her career stats. Unfortunately for Fowles, the Lynx don’t share her consistency. They’ve had both a four- and a five-game losing streak this season, and they have also lost twice to the five-win Fever.

In or out? Out.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that the USWNT will play their last home game on July 16th in the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

The 2024 Send-Off Match against Costa Rica will take place at Washington, DC’s Audi Field — home to both the Washington Spirit and DC United — at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 16th. The friendly rounds out a four-game Olympic run-up campaign under incoming head coach Emma Hayes’ side, with the last two set to feature the finalized 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team roster.

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Hayes will appear on the USWNT sideline for the first time this June, helming the team as they embark on a two-game series against Korea Republic hosted by Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on June 1st followed by Allianz Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 4th. 

The team is then scheduled to meet a talented Mexico squad on July 13th at Gotham FC’s Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, where the Olympic-bound lineup will attempt to rewrite February’s shocking 2-0 loss to El Tri Femenil in the group stages of this year’s Concacaf W Gold Cup. And while clear roster favorites have emerged from both of this year’s Gold Cup and SheBelives Cup rosters, a spate of recent and recurring injuries means making it to the Olympics is still largely anyone’s game.

Broadcast and streaming channels for the USWNT's final July 16th friendly at Audi Field include TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, and Peacock.

The USA Basketball Women's National Team is still considering Caitlin Clark for a spot on the Paris Olympics squad, says selection committee chair Jennifer Rizzotti. 

On Monday, Rizzotti told the AP that the committee will be evaluating the college phenom’s Olympic prospects by keeping a close eye on her first few weeks of WNBA play with Indiana.

The move is somewhat unconventional. While Clark was invited to participate in the 14-player national team training camp held earlier this month — the last camp before Team USA’s roster drops — she was unable to attend due to it coinciding with Iowa’s trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

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Judging by the immense talent spread throughout the league in what might be their most hyped season to date, competition for a piece of the Olympic pie could be fiercer than ever before.

"You always want to introduce new players into the pool whether it's for now or the future," said Rizzotti. "We stick to our principles of talent, obviously, positional fit, loyalty and experience. It's got to be a combination of an entire body of work. It's still not going to be fair to some people."

Of course, Clark isn’t the first rookie the committee has made exceptions for. Coming off an exceptional college season that saw her averaging 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game for UConn, Breanna Stewart was tapped to represent the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil less than two weeks after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Seattle Storm. Eight years prior, fellow No. 1 pick Candace Parker punched her ticket to the 2008 Games in Beijing just two weeks after making her first appearance for the L.A. Sparks.

In the lead-up to Paris’ Opening Ceremony on July 26th, USA Basketball Women’s National Team is scheduled to play a pair of exhibition games. They'll first go up against the WNBA's finest at the July 20th WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix before facing Germany in London on July 23rd.

While an official roster announcement date hasn’t yet been issued, players won’t find out if they’ve made this year’s Olympic cut until at least June 1st.

For the first time in history, three different WNBA teams have completely sold out of season ticket plans well before the league's May 14th kick-off.

Call it the Caitlin Clark effect, attribute it to this year’s tenacious rookie class, or look to the skyrocketing visibility of veteran players across the board. But no matter the cause, facts are facts: Tickets to the 2024 WNBA season are selling like never before. 

On Monday, the Dallas Wings became the third team to sell out of season ticket memberships in the league’s 27-year history. The announcement from Arlington came shortly after the Atlanta Dream issued their own season ticket sell-out statement, also on Monday, and almost seven weeks after the back-to-back WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces made headlines by becoming the first-ever WNBA team to sell out their season ticket allotment.   

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According to the Wings, season ticket memberships will fill nearly 40% of the 6,251 seats inside their home arena, College Park Center. The club also said that their overall ticket revenue has ballooned to the tune of 220% this year, spanning not just season tickets but also a 1,200% increase in single ticket sales. There’s currently a waitlist to become a Dallas season ticket holder, a status that comes with extra incentives like playoff presale access and discounts on additional single-game tickets. 

In Atlanta, season tickets aren't the only thing flying off the shelves. The Dream also announced that they broke their own record for single-game ticket sales during a recent limited presale campaign. Sunday was reportedly their most lucrative day, with five different games totally selling out Gateway Center Arena. Individual tickets for all upcoming matchups will hit the market this Thursday at 8 a.m., while a waitlist for season ticket memberships will open up next Tuesday at 10 a.m.

"Excitement around women's sports, particularly basketball, is at an all-time high and nowhere is that felt more than here in Atlanta," Dream president and COO Morgan Shaw Parker said in the team’s statement. "We’ve continued a record-setting growth trajectory over the past three years under new ownership — both on and off the court — and 2024 is shaping up to be our best season yet."

As of Tuesday, season ticket sales revenue for Caitlin Clark’s hotly anticipated Indiana Fever debut haven’t yet been announced by the club. But if these numbers are any indication — not to mention the explosive demand for Fever away games felt by teams around the country — it won’t be long before we see some scale-tipping figures coming out of Indianapolis.

25-year-old American pro golfer Nelly Korda secured her spot in LPGA history on Sunday, notching her fifth-straight title at this weekend's Chevron Championship in The Woodlands, Texas.

Ranked No. 1 in the world by Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, Korda joins Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sörenstam (2005) as just the third LPGA player to rack up five consecutive tour wins. She is also the third No. 1-ranked player to capture The Chevron Championship victory since the rankings debuted in 2006, accompanied by Lorena Ochoa and Lydia Ko.

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The Florida native shot three-under 69 in Sunday's final, besting Sweden's Maja Stark despite Stark's valiant come-from-behind attempt in the 18th. Korda finished with a four-day total of 13-under 275, celebrating her two-stroke win by cannonballing into Poppie's Pond, much to the crowd's delight. She left The Club at Carlton Woods with $1.2 million from an overall purse of $7.9 million.

It wasn't long ago that the two-time major champion's current winning streak seemed unimaginable. After maintaining her No. 1 position for 29 weeks, Korda underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from her left arm in 2022. She returned to the course not long after, but failed to win a single tournament in 2023 before seeing a surge in form during the first four months of 2024. As of today, she hasn't lost a tournament since January.

Korda will attempt a record sixth-straight win at next week's JM Eagle LA Championship at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles, where she'll vie for a cut of the $3.75 million purse.