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.
The first two rounds were single-elimination games played on the higher ranking seed's home court.
The Wings won their last 2 regular season games to make the playoffs and finish with a 15–19 record.
Phoenix won the regular season series 2–1, with the home team winning 2 out of the 3 matchups.
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.
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.
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.
[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] The Mystics eased to a 96–64 win behind six double-figure scorers, led by a double-double from Elena Delle Donne.
Mercury won the regular season series 2–1, with the home team winning all 3 games.
Seattle won the regular season series 4–1, with the visiting team winning 4 out of the 5 matchups.
The Storm led by 12 points at halftime and even extended that lead to 16 at the end of the third quarter.
DeWanna Bonner scored 27 points and added 11 rebounds to lead the team in both categories.
Sue Bird suffered a broken nose in the second quarter, but is expected to play in Game 5 on Tuesday.
The Dream come into the series enjoying a week's rest after posting the second best record in the WNBA.
Atlanta won the regular season series 2–1, with the visiting team winning 2 out of the 3 matchups.
Elena Delle Donne put on an all-star performance in her 36 minutes played; scoring 32 points and adding 13 rebounds in the game.
It was at this point Mystics star Elena Delle Donne suffered an knee injury and was removed from the game.
Despite her shortened game, Delle Donne lead the Mystics in scoring and rebounding, and was tied for the team high in assists.
[19] The Mystics were bolstered by the return of Elena Delle Donne and won comfortably to tie the series 2–2.
[20] Game five was a tight affair for the first half, with Atlanta holding a one-point lead going into halftime.