The WNBA playoffs are not split by conference. The eight playoff teams are seeded by record. In the same format the league has had since 2022, the first round will feature best-of-three series before moving to best-of-five for the semifinals and the WNBA Finals.

From the signs to the endless Taurasi jerseys found in the stands and on the court, worn by Mercury players during warmups, and poignant tribute videos played during every break, the atmosphere inside the arena felt like the beginning of the end to Taurasi’s legendary career in the Valley after 20 WNBA seasons.