Playoff Forecast Is Cloudy for Mystics

Wins in Last 2 Games Would Earn Berth

The Washington Mystics never suffered from any delusions that reaching the playoffs and turning the team around after one of its worst seasons would be easy. But they never meant to make their fight to reach the postseason quite this difficult either.

With two games remaining in the regular season, Washington's playoff hopes are up in the air because of a deadlocked race to the finish in the WNBA's Eastern Conference. The Mystics host Atlanta on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Verizon Center then face New York at 4 p.m. on Sunday. They must win both games to secure their first playoff berth since 2006.

Should they lose either game, especially the crucial matchup with the Dream, the Mystics (15-17) will need help in the form of losses by both Chicago (16-17) and Connecticut (15-18 ) to reach the postseason. If they lose both, they will be eliminated.

"It's unfortunate that we've put ourselves in this situation, but at the same time we're lucky enough to still have our success in our hands," forward Monique Currie said. "Two games against two teams we can beat. We've just got to go out there and do it."

Washington has struggled to be consistent all year, winning consecutive games just three times.

There are several scenarios that could play out if the Mystics fail to win their final two games this weekend. The least complicated scenario would be if they lost one game and either Chicago, which plays its final regular season game against Detroit on Saturday, or Connecticut, which lost, 88-64, to Atlanta on Friday and will face Indiana on Sunday, win their remaining games. That would leave the Mystics out of the playoffs.

Even if Chicago loses its final game the Mystics still cannot afford a loss to Atlanta, only a loss to New York. If the Mystics lose to Atlanta they will not make the playoffs regardless of what the Sky does on Saturday because if the squads wind up tied in the standings, with the same record against conference foes, they would lose the third tiebreaker: record against opponents that finish the season at .500 or better.

The Mystics could finish with a record of 6-11 against teams .500 or better if they fall to the Dream; the Sky could have a record of 7-10 against those teams.

If Chicago loses but the Mystics defeat Atlanta, Washington could make the playoffs regardless of what happens in New York. Even if it fell to the Liberty -- which would tie Washington and Chicago in overall record, head-to-head games and conference record -- Washington would top the Sky in record against teams .500 or better.

"Everybody has their own different things they're doing," rookie Marissa Coleman said. "Some are sitting around crunching all the numbers; others are just ready to win these two games. I just want to win these two games. If we do that everything takes care of itself."