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Mercury Clinch Fifth Seed in 2020 WNBA Playoffs

September 11, 2020 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) - Phoenix Mercury News Release

PHOENIX - The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury will aim for a league-record tying fourth WNBA Championship this postseason after the team clinched the fifth-overall seed tonight in the 2020 WNBA Playoffs, which begin Tuesday, September 15. With the fifth seed, the Mercury will play in a single elimination first-round game on Tuesday against the eighth-overall seed. The Mercury's opponent is still yet to be determined. This postseason will mark the Mercury's franchise-record eighth consecutive playoff appearance (2013-20), 12th in the last 14 seasons and 15th in franchise history overall.

After clinching a playoff berth on September 3 with a win over Indiana, the Mercury sealed its place as the fifth-overall seed by virtue of a strong and somewhat improbable 7-2 finish despite Brittney Griner's departure from Florida and Bria Hartley's season-ending knee injury. A full 2020 WNBA Playoffs schedule is below.

Already the winningest postseason coach in franchise history, Mercury Head Coach Sandy Brondello has now reached the playoffs in all seven of her years at the helm of the Mercury, one of only two current heads coaches to reach the WNBA Playoffs in every season since 2014 with the same team (Cheryl Reeve - Minnesota). Since the league changed its playoff format to its current look in 2016, the Mercury is 6-1 in single elimination games, the most by any team.

2020 Playoff Dates

Round/Format Date Location Time TV

Round 1, Game 1 (Single Elimination): Tuesday, September 15 IMG Academy 7 p.m. EST ESPN2

Round 1, Game 2 (Single Elimination): Tuesday, September 15 IMG Academy 9 p.m. EST ESPN2

Round 2, Game 1 (Single Elimination): Thursday, September 17 IMG Academy 7 p.m. EST ESPN2

Round 2, Game 2 (Single Elimination): Thursday, September 17 IMG Academy 9 p.m. EST ESPN2

Semifinals 1, Game 1 (Best-of-Five): Sunday, September 20 IMG Academy 1 p.m. EST ESPN

Semifinals 2, Game 1 (Best-of-Five): Sunday, September 20 IMG Academy 3 p.m. EST ABC

Semifinals 1, Game 2 (Best-of-Five): Tuesday, September 22 IMG Academy 6 p.m. EST ESPN2

Semifinals 2, Game 2 (Best-of-Five): Tuesday, September 22 IMG Academy 8 p.m. EST ESPN2

Semifinals 1, Game 3 (Best-of-Five): Thursday, September 24 IMG Academy 7:30 p.m. EST ESPN2

Semifinals 2, Game 3 (Best-of-Five): Thursday, September 24 IMG Academy 9:30 p.m. EST ESPN2

Semifinals 1, Game 4 (Best-of-Five): Tuesday, September 17* IMG Academy 1 p.m. EST ESPN

Semifinals 2, Game 4 (Best-of-Five): Tuesday, September 17* IMG Academy 3 p.m. EST ABC

Semifinals 1, Game 5 (Best-of-Five): Tuesday, September 17* IMG Academy 7 p.m. EST ESPN2

Semifinals 2, Game 5 (Best-of-Five): Tuesday, September 17* IMG Academy 9 p.m. EST ESPN2

WNBA Finals, Game 1 (Best-of-Five): Friday, October 2 IMG Academy 7 p.m. EST ESPN2

WNBA Finals, Game 2 (Best-of-Five): Sunday, October 4 IMG Academy 3 p.m. EST ABC

WNBA Finals, Game 3 (Best-of-Five): Tuesday, October 6* IMG Academy 7 p.m. EST ESPN

WNBA Finals, Game 4 (Best-of-Five): Thursday, October 8* IMG Academy 7 p.m. EST ESPN2

WNBA Finals, Game 5 (Best-of-Five): Sunday, October 11* IMG Academy 3 p.m. EST ABC

*If Necessary

The Phoenix Mercury return this summer in search of a league-record tying fourth WNBA title at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, the Official Home of the 2020 WNBA Season. Led by the All-Star duo of Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith, the Mercury continue its title quest on Tuesday, September 15 in the first round of the 2020 WNBA Playoffs. While the surroundings may be unfamiliar and the stands may be empty, this moment and this season is #4TheValley. For more information, visit PhoenixMercury.com.

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