Following the WNBA regular season, the top eight teams in the overall league standings, without regard to conference alignment, qualified for the playoffs and were seeded 1 to 8. Seedings were based strictly on regular-season record. The team with the best record received the #1 seed, the team with the next best record received the #2 seed, and so on. The top two seeds earned double byes (i.e., advanced directly to the semifinals), while the next two seeds received first-round byes.
These seedings were used to create a bracket that determines the matchups throughout the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs consisted of two matchups based on the seedings (5-8 and 6-7). The two winners advanced to the second round with a matchup between the number 3 seed and the lower of the advancing seeds and another matchup between the number 4 seed and the other first round winner. The winners of the first two rounds advanced to the semifinals, where the lower-ranked seed of the winners faces the number 1 seed, with the other remaining team facing the number 2 seed.
The first two rounds were single-elimination games played on the higher ranking seed's home court. The semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series played in a 2-2-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage (better record) hosts games 1, 2, and 5 while their opponent hosts games 3 and 4.[2]
Tiebreak procedures
Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season.
Better point differential in games net result of total points scored less total points allowed head-to-head.
Better point differential net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents.
Coin toss (or draw of lots, if at least 3 teams are still tied after the first 4 tiebreakers fail).[3]
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
First Round
Mercury vs. Wings
The first matchup of the first round saw #5 seed Phoenix Mercury host the #8 seed Dallas Wings. The Mercury won their last 4 regular season games, all at home, to finish the season with a 20–14 record. The Wings won their last 2 regular season games to make the playoffs and finish with a 15–19 record. These two games snapped a 9-game losing streak. The Wings made the playoffs by 1 game over the Las Vegas Aces and are the only team in the playoffs with a below .500 regular season record. Phoenix won the regular season series 2–1, with the home team winning 2 out of the 3 matchups.[4]
The game was evenly poised headed into halftime, with the Mercury making a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 53–49 in their favor. However, the Mercury opened up a double-digit lead in the third quarter, when they made six three point field goals.[5]Diana Taurasi of the Mercury improved to 12–0 in single elimination games in her career with the win.[6]
Wells Fargo Arena Attendance: 4,976 Referees: Roy Gulbeyan Maj Forsberg Byron Jarrett Tiffany Bird
Sparks vs. Lynx
The second matchup of the first round saw #6 seed Los Angeles Sparks host the #7 seed Minnesota Lynx. The Sparks lost 4 of their last 5 regular season games, to finish the season with a 19–15 record. The Lynx lost three of their last four regular-season games to finish the season with an 18–16 record. This was a rematch of the 2016 and 2017 WNBA Finals, which were won by the Sparks and Lynx respectively in a pair of 3–2 series. The Sparks won the regular season series between the teams 3–1, with the home team winning 3 of the 4 matchups. This will mark the 4th straight year these teams have met in the playoffs, with the last two being in the WNBA Finals.[7]
In Lindsay Whalen's final WNBA game, the Lynx game up short, losing 68–75. The Sparks held a three-point lead at halftime and never looked back. With 1:56 remaining Maya Moore missed consecutive free throws, and Chelsea Gray sank a jumper at the other end to make the lead 5 points.[8]
Staples Center Attendance: 8,598 Referees: Michael Price Brenda Pantoja Tim Greene Janetta Graham
Second Round
Mystics vs. Sparks
The first matchup of the second round saw the #3 seed Washington Mystics host the #6 seed Los Angeles Sparks. The Mystics finished the regular season on an 8–1 run to end with an overall 22–12 record. With the Mystics earning a first-round bye, they entered the game on three days of rest, having finished the regular season on August 19. By contrast, the Sparks had to fly to the East Coast for their season finale at Connecticut, return home for their first-round game against Minnesota, and make another cross-country flight for this game.[9] The Mystics won the regular season series 2–1, with the home team winning 1 out of the 3 matchups. This game also featured the two winningest coaches in WNBA history: Mike Thibault (Mystics) and Brian Agler (Sparks).[10]
Charles Smith Center Attendance: 3,548 Referees: Kurt Walker Jeff Wooten Tiara Cruse Isaac Barnett
Sun vs. Mercury
The first matchup of the second round saw #4 seed Connecticut Sun host the #5 seed Phoenix Mercury. The Sun won 9 of their last 10 regular season games, to finish the season with a 21–13 record. The Sun have been resting since August 19, by earning a first round bye. The Sun finished the season tied for the league's best home record at 13–4. The Mercury won their match-up in the first round to make it to this game. Mercury won the regular season series 2–1, with the home team winning all 3 games. This is the second consecutive year the Sun and Mercury will meet in the playoffs. In 2017, the Mercury won 88–83.[12]
Diana Taurasi improved to 13–0 in playoff-deciding games when the Mercury won 96–86 in Connecticut. The Mercury turned around a 4-point half-time deficit to win by double digits. The game ended on a 15–5 run, in favor of the Mercury. The Mercury got big contributions from their starts Brittney Griner and Taurasi. Both scored 27 points. DeWanna Bonner also contributed with 23 points and 18 rebounds.[13]
Mohegan Sun Arena Attendance: 7,858 Referees: Eric Brewton Jeff Smith Billy Smith Cheryl Flores
Semifinals
Storm vs. Mercury
The first semifinal saw the #1 seed Seattle Storm matchup against the #5 seed Phoenix Mercury. The Storm finished their season strong, winning 6 of their last 7 regular season games, to finish the season with a 26–8 record. The Storm enjoyed a week's rest after posting the best record in the WNBA. The Mercury won their two single-elimination playoff games to make it to the semifinals. Phoenix entered the series on three days' rest after playing in Connecticut. Seattle won the regular season series 4–1, with the visiting team winning 4 out of the 5 matchups.
Game 1
Before the game, Breanna Stewart was named the season's MVP and played a key role in a Game 1 victory for the Storm. The Storm used a big third quarter to expand on a 2-point halftime lead to pull out the win. The Mercury went on a 13–5 run in the fourth quarter, to cut a 16-point Storm lead to just 2. However, Jewell Loyd made two baskets with under a minute left to seal the win.
KeyArena Attendance: 9,686 Referees: Jeff Smith Kurt Walker Brenda Pantoja Janetta Graham
Game 2
Game 2 in the series appeared to be a blowout in favor of the Storm. The Storm led by 12 points at halftime and even extended that lead to 16 at the end of the third quarter. Into the fourth, they led by as many as 17 with six minutes left in the game. However, the Mercury came surging back to tie the game and send it into overtime. However, the Storm were able to secure the win in overtime. Sue Bird scored with 1:03 left in overtime, and made 2 free throws with 2 seconds left to secure the win.[14]
KeyArena Attendance: 9,686 Referees: Michael Price Brenda Pantoja Byron Jarrett Janetta Graham
Game 3
Prior to the game Stephanie Talbot was ruled out due to a concussion. However, the Mercury's other stars played well to pull out a 20-point home win over the Storm. DeWanna Bonner scored 27 points and added 11 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. Phoenix again went on a big run in the 4th quarter, similar to the first two games of the series. However, in this game the run solidified a lead instead of making a comeback. The Storm now have an 8-game road playoff losing streak.[15]
Talking Stick Resort Arena Attendance: 15,185 Referees: Roy Gulbeyan Maj Forsberg Jeff Wooten Cheryl Flores
Game 4
The Storm carried an 11-point lead into halftime against the Mercury, but another Mercury second half comeback saw them even the series at 2 games apiece. The Mercury were down by as many as 17 in the first quarter. This is the fourth time that the Mercury have won an elimination game this post season. Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner lead the Mercury with 29 and 27 points, respectively. Sue Bird suffered a broken nose in the second quarter, but is expected to play in Game 5 on Tuesday.[16]
Talking Stick Resort Arena Attendance: 8,137 Referees: Michael Price Eric Brewton Brenda Pantoja Cheryl Flores
Game 5
In Game 5 it was Phoenix that started out hot, carrying a 5-point lead into halftime and leading by as many as 11 in the first half. Seattle was then the one to make a comeback, cutting the lead to 4 at the end of the third quarter and a big fourth-quarter lead by Sue Bird took Seattle to a 10-point win. Bird scored 14 of her 22 points in the fourth, including making 5 of 6 shots in the final 6 minutes. Seattle used an 18–6 run in the fourth to secure the victory. Seattle advanced to the WNBA Finals to face Washington.[17]
This game marked the first time that Diana Taurasi had been on the losing side in an elimination game in her WNBA career. She had entered Game 5 with a 13–0 record in this situation.[17]
KeyArena Attendance: 8,992 Referees: Kurt Walker Maj Forsberg Byron Jarrett Cheryl Flores
Dream vs. Mystics
The second semifinal saw the #2 seed Atlanta Dream matchup against the #3 seed Washington Mystics. The Dream finished their season strong, winning 6 of their last 7 regular season games, to finish the season with a 23–11 record. The Dream come into the series enjoying a week's rest after posting the second best record in the WNBA. The Mystics won one single elimination playoff game to make it to the semifinals. Washington will be coming into the series on three days rest after playing at home on Thursday. Atlanta won the regular season series 2–1, with the visiting team winning 2 out of the 3 matchups.
Game 1
The game started evenly as the teams were tied at 26 after the first period. In the second quarter, Washington pulled out to a 9-point lead. Atlanta won both quarters after the half, but it wasn't enough to win the opening game of the series. Elena Delle Donne put on an all-star performance in her 36 minutes played; scoring 32 points and adding 13 rebounds in the game.
McCamish Pavilion Attendance: 5,086 Referees: Eric Brewton Maj Forsberg Tiara Cruse Isaac Barnett
Game 2
Game 2 of the series was poised to be another tight game in Atlanta. The Mystics led by 2 at halftime and the game was tied at the end of the third quarter. With two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Mystics held a 70–68 lead. It was at this point Mystics star Elena Delle Donne suffered an knee injury and was removed from the game. The Dream finished the game on an 8–5 run and pulled out the victory to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Despite her shortened game, Delle Donne lead the Mystics in scoring and rebounding, and was tied for the team high in assists.[18]
McCamish Pavilion Attendance: 3,813 Referees: Roy Gulbeyan Billy Smith Jeff Wooten Isaac Barnett
Game 3
In a tight game which had 14 lead changes, the Dream used a strong fourth quarter to win Game 3. The Mystics were without star Elena Delle Donne, who suffered a bone bruise in Game 2. The Mystics tried to adjust their offensive strategy on the fly, but came up just short. Tiffany Hayes lead the Dream with 23 points and 11 rebounds to help the Dream take a 2–1 series lead.[19]
Charles Smith Center Attendance: 3,867 Referees: Michael Price Kurt Walker Tim Greene Tiffany Bird
Game 4
The Mystics were bolstered by the return of Elena Delle Donne and won comfortably to tie the series 2–2. All five Mystics starters scored in double figures to contribute to the win. Four Dream starters scored 12 points each, but that wasn't enough to keep up with the Mystics. The series shifts back to Atlanta for the decisive Game 5. Atlanta hasn't lost back to back games since June 27–29.[20]
Charles Smith Center Attendance: 3,722 Referees: Roy Gulbeyan Maj Forsberg Byron Jarrett Billy Smith
Game 5
Game five was a tight affair for the first half, with Atlanta holding a one-point lead going into halftime. With just under seven minutes remaining, the Dream led by 2, but then went cold. Washington went on a 9–0 run and never looked back. Washington had four players score in double digits and Atlanta had five players in double digits. Washington advanced to their first ever WNBA Finals to face Seattle.[21]
