A longtime WNBA observer has often rationalized the unpredictable nature of the league thusly — “the most desperate team wins.”

Almost every WNBA team is desperate right now as there are nine teams mathematically alive for the final five postseason berths. Among them are the Connecticut Sun and the San Antonio Stars, who’ll play Tuesday night at 7 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Sun and Stars are perfect examples of the WNBA’s erratic nature. Connecticut knocked off the defending champion (and league-leading) Minnesota Lynx for the second time last Friday (84-80). The Lynx have four of the 12 members of the USA women’s national team that won gold at the Rio Olympics.

San Antonio lost at home Friday to the Eastern Conference-leading New York Liberty (84-77).

The Sun lost on the road Sunday to the Atlanta Dream, 87-73.

The Stars beat the Washington Mystics on the road, 85-74. Note that the Mystics laid waste to the defending Eastern Conference champion Indiana Fever on the road on Friday, 92-69.

“Everybody, it seemed, that played well on Friday didn’t play well Sunday and vice-versa,” Connecticut coach Curt Miller said. “It just shows the parity in the league and how close it is night in and night out.

“The short turnaround between games creates a preparedness issue and the travel in this league is very difficult (teams fly commercial and often in the early morning). When teams play three times in a year, there’s a familiarity with what coaches like to do, because they’re creatures of habit, and player tendencies.”

The WNBA has had less parity than usual this season. Minnesota (22-5), New York (19-8) and the Los Angeles Sparks (21-5) have put a vast distance between themselves and the other nine teams and qualified for the playoffs.

Atlanta (14-13) is the only other team over .500. The Chicago Sky won twice this weekend to get to 13-13.

Every other team is under .500. Connecticut is 9-17. The Stars have the league’s worst record (6-19).

Los Angeles, Minnesota and New York may be way out front, but they didn’t have it easy this weekend. New York trailed at halftime before beating the Stars. Minnesota lost at Connecticut, but bounced back Sunday with a home win over the Seattle Storm (92-80).

The Sparks lost Friday at Seattle (79-72) and Sunday at Phoenix (70-66).

Los Angeles ravaged the league to begin the season and played at a record pace by winning 20 of its first 21 games. It’s lost four of its last five.

The Liberty, Lynx and Sparks may have the strongest rosters, but a combination of a small league (12 teams) with small rosters (12) ensures that every team has talent. It makes the WNBA among the most competitive leagues in North American pro sports.

“There are veteran teams that sometimes get tired and there are teams with youthful talent that don’t have experience,” Miller said. “Some nights that (young team) has great energy, whereas other nights the experienced team with veteran leaders can really take control. It’s a case-by-case basis.

"Our league is a real testament to how it all comes down to matchups. It doesn’t matter how talented you are.”

Tuesday is the third and final meeting of the regular season between Connecticut and San Antonio. The Sun won the previous two meetings (72-68 and 93-90).

“We’re both really young and both have talented up-and-coming players,” Miller said. “That really intrigues me about our matchups. You’ll see some of the other teams get older, have (roster) turnover, and a changing of the guard down the line. We both have a really young nucleus, so it’s a fun look into the future if we can keep our core pieces together.”

n.griffen@theday.com