As the curtains draw on the 2024 WNBA regular season, all eyes are on the gripping finale where one coveted playoff spot remains unclaimed. The New York Liberty, having secured the No. 1 seed well ahead of time, await their first-round opponent in the best-of-three series set to kick off this Sunday on home courts across the league.

Three teams - the Atlanta Dream (14-25), Chicago Sky (13-26), and Washington Mystics (13-26) - are in the fierce hunt for that last playoff position. Tonight's matchups are crucial: the Dream face off against the Liberty at 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV), while the Sky take on the Connecticut Sun, also at 7 p.m. ET. Atlanta has struggled against New York this season, going 0-3, and Chicago similarly lags behind the Sun with a 0-3 record. Competing for the Mystics will be the Indiana Fever, with their match also set for 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video; Washington sits at 1-2 against the Fever heading into this critical game.

While both the Liberty and the Fever have solidified their playoff standings, the Sun's positioning remains uncertain. Currently holding the third seed, a loss tonight coupled with a Las Vegas Aces victory over the Dallas Wings at 10 p.m. ET could see the Aces leapfrog into the No. 3 seed, pushing the Sun to fourth place.

Excitement will also surround the Seattle Storm, who hold the No. 5 seed, as they compete against the No. 7 seed Phoenix Mercury in what might be the last home game for the iconic Diana Taurasi. At 42 years old and in her 20th WNBA season, Taurasi's future remains ambiguous, and fans are left wondering if this will indeed be her swan song.

The final match of the season for the Minnesota Lynx, who occupy the No. 2 seed, will also take place against the last-place Los Angeles Sparks. Despite their placement, the Sparks face another season without playoff contention, marking their fourth consecutive miss.

Who's Taking the Last Playoff Berth?

The eighth and final playoff position seemed destined to remain undecided until this last day, with Atlanta currently in control. If they secure a victory over New York, their postseason aspirations will come to fruition. Alternatively, the Dream still have a shot even in defeat if the Mystics and Sky also face losses, or if Washington wins while Chicago loses.

The Sky's path is precarious, needing a win and simultaneous losses from both Atlanta and Washington to sneak into the playoffs, while they struggle with a flurry of injuries.

What’s on the Line for Seeds 3 and 4?

While the stakes are less intense for the No. 5 Seattle Storm and No. 6 Indiana Fever, they will closely monitor the outcomes of the Chicago-Connecticut match, as their implications could reshape potential playoff matchups. If the Sun claim a win, they’ll secure the No. 3 seed against Indiana. However, a loss might pave the way for an Aces-Fever showdown; a highly anticipated face-off featuring league stars A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark.

The Fever, for their part, have struggled against both potential opponents, unable to secure a single win against the Aces and only managing one win in four attempts against the Sun this season.

The Lottery Picture

As the WNBA's playoff picture solidifies, the remaining teams are eyeing the lottery. With the Dream's first-round pick already traded away for Allisha Gray, their potential absence from the playoffs means missing a chance at a lottery pick. If Chicago falls short too, Dallas could strengthen their odds at landing the No. 1 pick via the trade agreement from the 2023 Marina Mabrey deal.

Strategic Calculations for Final Games

With many teams already solidified in playoff positions, the strategic choice between resting key players or building momentum becomes crucial. Recent injury reports point toward several teams opting for rest: the Lynx will not feature pivotal players Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, while crucial Aces players like A'ja Wilson may sit out prior to knowing their seeding fate.

As for the teams in contention for the final playoff spot, there's no full-strength roster to be seen, with Chicago already facing significant withdrawals due to injuries.

Is This Diana Taurasi's Farewell Tour?

In a poignant moment for the league, Diana Taurasi has confounded fans with her ambiguous retirement intentions as the season winds down. Averaging a commendable 15.1 points per game this season, Taurasi's contribution is undeniable, yet the challenge of maintaining such performance at her age weighs heavily upon her.

Nonetheless, her enthusiasm for the Mercury remains palpable, addressing the transformations set in motion by first-year coach Nate Tibbetts and maintaining a strong belief in the potential for further improvement. As the WNBA regular season reaches its thrilling end, every game holds the promise of drama - and perhaps, a farewell to a legendary career.