One Win Away

With the Lynx's loss to Phoenix yesterday, the Storm is within a win of clinching a playoff berth. A Minnesota loss or a San Antonio victory should also do the trick, but none of that will matter if the Storm wins tonight in Chicago. The playoff picture:

Team           W   L    GB  Storm  Conf   H/A  500+
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San Antonio   19  10    -    1-2    8-10  3/2   5/0
Seattle       19  10    -          12-5   2/3   2/3
Los Angeles   18  12   1.5   1-1   10-7   2/2   2/2
Sacramento    16  13   3.0   3-0    7-8   2/3   2/3
Houston       14  15   5.0   2-1    9-8   3/2   3/2
Minnesota     14  15   5.0   2-0    8-9   2/3   2/3
Phoenix       13  16   6.0   3-1    5-12  3/3   2/3

Let's talk a little about the fourth and final playoff spot. Last night's loss was costly for the Lynx, now two games back of Sacramento. Phoenix, meanwhile, kept its flickering playoff hopes alive. Both Minnesota and Houston have head-to-head matchups left with the Monarchs and a chance to win the tiebreakers. They're virtually must-win games. Phoenix also has a game with Sacramento, but has already lost the season series and has very little margin for error the rest of the way.