NEW YORK -- The new WNBA playoff format involving the top eight teams will set up an exciting last few weeks of the season when the league returns from the monthlong Olympic break.Los Angeles and Minnesota have already clinched playoff spots and look to be near locks for the top two seeds. With that comes a bye to the semifinals. New York is almost assured of the three seed, barring a major collapse in September. Those three teams have pretty much led The Associated Press WNBA power poll all season.The rest of the playoff picture is wide open with eight teams within 4.5 games of each other. Whoever finishes fourth will get a first-round bye along with New York, while the fifth through eighth teams will face off for one game in opening-round matches.Its definitely different and you want to at least get one of those first-round byes, Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings said. Those last few weeks when we come back should be exciting.The league decided before the season to change the playoff format, getting away from traditional conferences and choosing the top eight teams by record to make the postseason among the 12 WNBA teams.---POWER POLL: Los Angeles, Minnesota and New York still sit in top three spots in AP power poll. A look at this weeks WNBA poll:1. Los Angeles (21-3): The Sparks will be well rested when the Olympic break ends with none of their stars playing in Rio.2. Minnesota (21-4): No rest for the Lynx, with four of their players in Rio along with coach Cheryl Reeve. The Lynx enter the break with six consecutive wins.3. New York (18-8): The Liberty may be the deepest team in the league and will most likely get Epiphanny Prince, sidelined with a knee injury, back after the break.4. Indiana (12-12): The Fever moved up to their highest ranking, winning five of their last six games, buoyed by the strong play of Lynetta Kizer.5. Atlanta (13-12): Dream got some good news about Sancho Lyttle, who may return near the end of the season after breaking a bone in her right foot.6. Chicago (11-13): Starting to get hot, winning four of its last six games.7. Phoenix (10-14): Just as it looked like the Mercury turned the corner, they slumped by dropping four of last six.8. Seattle (9-15): Its going to be a busy break for the Storm -- five players are headed to Rio.9. Connecticut (8-16): The Sun ended the break on the rise with consecutive victories.10. Dallas (9-16): The Wings have dropped six consecutive games. They hope to regroup and make a playoff push.11. Washington (9-15): The Mystics had a miserable West coast trip and it didnt get better at home, having lost seven straight games.12. San Antonio (5-17): The Stars have a lot of work to do during the break.---PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chiney Ogwumike is rounding back into the form that helped her win 2014 rookie of the year. Connecticuts star forward averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks to help the Sun win both their games last week. Others receiving votes included: Chicagos Elena Delle Donne, Minnesotas Sylvia Fowles, Indianas Lynetta Kizer and Los Angeles Nneka Ogwumike.---NO TIMEOUT: The WNBA and the players will use the Olympic break to keep up the dialogue on social activism. After originally fining three teams and their players for wearing black warm-up shirts, the league decided to rescind those fines over the weekend. Jarrett Allen Nets Jersey .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Jarrett Allen Jersey . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. https://www.netsrookiesshop.com/ . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Taurean Prince Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Spencer Dinwiddie Nets Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles have veered in different directions after starting the season with three straight wins.Employing a first-year coach and a rookie quarterback, Philadelphia couldnt sustain its early success.Carson Wentz threw five touchdown passes and no interceptions in helping the Eagles open with victories over Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh.He has since been picked off 12 times, with only eight TD passes. Thats just one reason why Philadelphia (5-8) has lost six of seven, including four in a row.Self-inflicted wounds and self-inflicted penalties have (prevented) us from maybe winning a few more games, coach Doug Pederson said.The Ravens followed their 3-0 start with four straight defeats, but have rebounded to remain in the thick of the playoff chase. Baltimore (7-6) will win the AFC North if it defeats Philadelphia on Sunday, Pittsburgh on Christmas Day and Cincinnati in the finale.The Steelers game doesnt happen unless we win this game, Ravens safety Eric Weddle said. The Steelers game is on the backburner right now. Its all about Philly.Baltimore is on the rebound after losing at New England 30-23 on Monday night. The Ravens fell into a 23-3 hole before getting back into the game by taking advantage of two turnovers by the Patriots, but the overall performance of the team was disappointing following three wins in four weeks.Obviously, we werent good enough to beat the Patriots, Weddle said. Thats really what the reality comes down to, but that doesnt mean that our ultimate goal to win the division and get in the playoffs isnt attainable.Some things to know about the first meeting between Baltimore and Philadelphia since 2012:FIRING AWAY: Wentz is 74 passes away from breaking Donovan McNabbs team record for attempts in one season.Despite Pedersons desire to call a balanced game, he has relied more on the pass. Wentz has thrown 44.7 passes per game over the last seven after averaging 30.8 in the first six.I think its putting him in a tough situation, Pederson said. I would love to be able to manage it and lean on that offensive line more with the run game. Obviously, were going against a tough run defense this week, and yet we still have to be patient with that to help our quarterback.NEED TO RUN: Like the Eagles, the Ravens have all but abandoned the run recently.Joe Flacco threw 52 passes against the Patriots, whille the running game generated only 42 yards on 14 attempts.ddddddddddddThere is no doubt we are going to have to run the ball, Flacco said. We have to be able to hand the ball off and get yardage out of it because then it is going to get the play-action game going a little bit more and make it that much better.Baltimore owns the 28th-ranked rushing attack. Terrance West has the teams lone 100-yard game, against Oakland in Week 4.NO SACK ATTACK: The Eagles have only eight sacks in the last seven games after getting 20 in the first six games.Philadelphia has proven pass rushers with big contracts putting no pressure on quarterbacks. Fletcher Cox leads the way with 5 1/2 sacks, but he went eight straight games without one. Brandon Graham has two in the last 10 games and Vinny Curry has 1 1/2.Youve got to be careful with judging it only on sacks, but sacks do affect the game, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. Not only do you stop drives and get them for lost-yardage plays, but there is a high incidence of quarterbacks either getting tipped balls or throwing when theyre getting hit and youre getting interceptions or fumbles. Those are the plays that weve been missing.SMITH NEEDED: The Ravens could be without standout cornerback Jimmy Smith, who sprained an ankle against the Patriots.With Smith out, Tom Brady torched Baltimore for 406 yards and three touchdowns.Were not worried about who is going to play or who is not going to play, Weddle insisted. Well play with the guys we have out there.If Smith cant go, that will put additional pressure on rookie cornerback Tavon Young, who knocked away two passes and had four solo tackles against New England.Its really important that Tavon is focused and ready to go, coach John Harbaugh said.HAPPY RETURNS: Michael Campanaro will likely return kicks for the Ravens, who cut veteran Devin Hester on Tuesday.Activated from the practice squad Wednesday, Campanaro has five career punt returns for an average of 13.2 yards and is averaging 26.3 yards on three career kickoff returns.Lardarius Webb is also an option for returning punts, though hes the starting safety.---AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '