First Place Clinch Scenario for Minnesota The Minnesota Lynx's traditional magic number (relative to second-place NewYork) is 2 + 42 - 3 + 1 = 42. As shown below, Minnesota's first-place clinch number is 40. If Minnesota wins 40 more games, their final win total will be at least 43. The table below shows the best case scenario for each of the other teams if Minnesota wins 40 of their remaining 41 games and loses the other 1. For each team, the table shows the current record (number of wins (W) and losses (L)) and the number of games that team has left to play (GL) in the regular season. Taking the schedule of games left to play into account, the 'Losses to Minnesota' column gives the minimum number of games that each team will lose to Minnesota if Minnesota wins 40 more games. Assuming that each team wins all of its remaining games except for the games it loses to Minnesota, the resulting maximum number of wins is shown in the 'Maximum W' column. Team W L GL Losses to Minnesota Maximum W Indiana 2 1 41 3 - 1 = 2 41 New York 2 0 42 4 - 1 = 3 41 Phoenix 2 0 42 4 - 1 = 3 41 Washington 2 1 41 3 - 1 = 2 41 Atlanta 1 2 41 3 - 1 = 2 40 Connecticut 0 2 42 3 - 1 = 2 40 Dallas 0 3 41 2 - 1 = 1 40 Golden State 1 1 42 4 - 1 = 3 40 Las Vegas 1 1 42 4 - 1 = 3 40 Los Angeles 1 2 41 3 - 1 = 2 40 Seattle 1 1 42 4 - 1 = 3 40 Chicago 0 2 42 4 - 1 = 3 39 The table above shows that if Minnesota wins 40 more games (43 total), then they will finish the season in first place. To see that Minnesota's first-place clinch number cannot be less than 40, consider the following scenario in which Minnesota wins 39 more games (42 total) but does not finish in first place. Final standings: Team W L PCT GB New York 42 2 0.955 0.0 Minnesota 42 2 0.955 0.0 Indiana 33 11 0.750 9.0 Washington 25 19 0.568 17.0 Los Angeles 24 20 0.545 18.0 Phoenix 19 25 0.432 23.0 Connecticut 18 26 0.409 24.0 Golden State 18 26 0.409 24.0 Seattle 17 27 0.386 25.0 Chicago 16 28 0.364 26.0 Atlanta 15 29 0.341 27.0 Dallas 9 35 0.205 33.0 Las Vegas 8 36 0.182 34.0 Explanation of tiebreakers: Minnesota's record against teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season: 12 wins and 2 losses (0.857) Tiebreaker with New York: Minnesota ties the series with New York 2 to 2. New York's record against teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season: 13 wins and 2 losses (0.867) Minnesota wins the tiebreaker. To construct the scenario, we start with the current standings: Team W L GL PCT GB Minnesota 3 0 41 1.000 0.0 New York 2 0 42 1.000 0.5 Phoenix 2 0 42 1.000 0.5 Indiana 2 1 41 0.667 1.0 Washington 2 1 41 0.667 1.0 Golden State 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Las Vegas 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Seattle 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Atlanta 1 2 41 0.333 2.0 Los Angeles 1 2 41 0.333 2.0 Chicago 0 2 42 0.000 2.5 Connecticut 0 2 42 0.000 2.5 Dallas 0 3 41 0.000 3.0 Next, we show how the remaining series of games in the season plays out: Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Chicago and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Chicago and loses 4. Atlanta loses the series with Chicago 0 games to 4. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Connecticut and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Connecticut and loses 5. Atlanta loses the series with Connecticut 0 games to 5. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 4 additional games against Dallas and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Dallas 4 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 3 additional games against Golden State and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Golden State 3 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 1 win(s) against Indiana and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 2. Atlanta loses the series with Indiana 1 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 3 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Las Vegas 3 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Atlanta loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 4 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Connecticut and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 4 additional games against Connecticut and loses 0. Chicago wins the series with Connecticut 4 games to 0. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 3 additional games against Dallas and loses 0. Chicago wins the series with Dallas 3 games to 0. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 5. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 3 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 0. Chicago wins the series with Las Vegas 3 games to 0. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 2 additional games against Phoenix and loses 2. Chicago and Phoenix split their series 2 games to 2. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Dallas and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Dallas 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 3 additional games against Golden State and loses 0. Connecticut wins the series with Golden State 3 games to 0. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 3 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 0. Connecticut wins the series with Las Vegas 3 games to 1. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 3 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Connecticut wins the series with Phoenix 3 games to 0. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 2 additional games against Seattle and loses 2. Connecticut and Seattle split their series 2 games to 2. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 2 additional games against Washington and loses 1. Connecticut and Washington split their series 2 games to 2. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 2 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 2. Dallas loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Dallas loses the series with New York 0 games to 3. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 2 additional games against Phoenix and loses 2. Dallas and Phoenix split their series 2 games to 2. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 3 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Dallas wins the series with Seattle 3 games to 1. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 1 additional games against Washington and loses 2. Dallas loses the series with Washington 1 games to 2. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 3. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 3 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 1. Golden State wins the series with Las Vegas 3 games to 1. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 3 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 0. Golden State wins the series with Los Angeles 3 games to 1. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 4 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Golden State wins the series with Phoenix 4 games to 0. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 1 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Washington 1 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 3 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 0. Indiana wins the series with Las Vegas 3 games to 0. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 2 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 2. Indiana and Los Angeles split their series 2 games to 2. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Indiana loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Indiana loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 3 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Indiana wins the series with Phoenix 3 games to 0. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 2 additional games against Seattle and loses 1. Indiana wins the series with Seattle 2 games to 1. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 4 additional games against Washington and loses 0. Indiana wins the series with Washington 4 games to 0. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 2. Las Vegas loses the series with New York 0 games to 3. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 2 additional games against Seattle and loses 2. Las Vegas and Seattle split their series 2 games to 2. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with New York 0 games to 3. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 3 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Los Angeles wins the series with Phoenix 3 games to 1. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Los Angeles loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 1 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with Washington 1 games to 3. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 2 additional games against New York and loses 2. Minnesota and New York split their series 2 games to 2. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 4 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Minnesota wins the series with Phoenix 4 games to 0. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 4 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Minnesota wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 3 additional games against Washington and loses 0. Minnesota wins the series with Washington 3 games to 0. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 4 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. New York wins the series with Phoenix 4 games to 0. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 3 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. New York wins the series with Seattle 3 games to 0. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 4 additional games against Washington and loses 0. New York wins the series with Washington 4 games to 0. Phoenix currently has 1 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Phoenix wins 3 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Phoenix wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Phoenix currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Phoenix wins 3 additional games against Washington and loses 0. Phoenix wins the series with Washington 3 games to 0. Seattle currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Seattle wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Seattle loses the series with Washington 0 games to 3. # Minnesota Lynx's magic number # Minnesota's magic number # Lynx's magic number # WNBA Playoff Race