The WNBA is in its second year of a new playoff format, where eight teams make the playoffs but are quickly narrowed down by single elimination opening rounds. On Wednesday, the teams saw the playoffs start when the Dallas Wings took on the Washington Mystics while the Seattle Storm faced off against the Phoenix Mercury. Here’s everything you should know from the thrilling evening of basketball.
5 things you should know from Day 1 of the WNBA playoffs
The Mystics and Mercury advanced as expected, but not without some late drama.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
1. Washington and Phoenix advanced
- Mystics 86, Wings 76
- Mercury 79, Storm 69
2. Elena Delle Donne had the wildest chin bandage we’ve ever seen
Delle Donne terrorized the Wings all night, finishing with 25 points on 8-of-18 shooting with 11 rebounds. With about three minutes left in the game, though, she received a cut that needed three stitches and required her to finish things out looking like this.
Afterwards, she had one real concern.
That’s a valid concern!
3. Both winning teams staved off late comebacks
Dallas was down, 71-58, with fewer than five minutes left in the game before rattling off a 9-0 run that put them within four. After the Mystics finally answered back, the Wings once again pulled within four points with about 45 seconds left. But Washington and Delle Donne closed the game out at the line.
In the second game, Phoenix opened the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead and led 62-51 with 4:33 left in the frame. They also saw the lead dwindle to four points — to 65-61 with 3:16 left. However, like Washington, Phoenix quickly pulled ahead and iced the game.
4. It had been 15 years since Washington advanced a round
This is a real (and wild) stat.
5. What comes next
The next two single elimination games will be played Sept. 10. Here are the matchups:
- Phoenix Mercury vs. Connecticut Sun (3 p.m. ET on ESPN2)
- Washington Mystics vs. New York Liberty (5 p.m. ET on ESPN2)
After these elimination games, the playoffs will reseed (with the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks still on top) and the semifinals will begin on Sept. 12. The semifinals and the eventual finals will both be best of five series.
If you’re confused or want to know what WNBA stars think of the format, which is still relatively new, you can read their thoughts here.
