First Place Clinch Scenario for Phoenix The Phoenix Mercury's traditional magic number (relative to second-place Minnesota) is 3 + 41 - 2 + 1 = 43. As shown below, Phoenix's first-place clinch number is 41. If Phoenix wins 41 more games, their final win total will be at least 43. The table below shows the best case scenario for each of the other teams if Phoenix wins 41 of their remaining 42 games and loses the other 1. For each team, the table shows the current record (number of wins (W) and losses (L)) and the number of games that team has left to play (GL) in the regular season. Taking the schedule of games left to play into account, the 'Losses to Phoenix' column gives the minimum number of games that each team will lose to Phoenix if Phoenix wins 41 more games. Assuming that each team wins all of its remaining games except for the games it loses to Phoenix, the resulting maximum number of wins is shown in the 'Maximum W' column. Team W L GL Losses to Phoenix Maximum W Indiana 2 1 41 3 - 1 = 2 41 Minnesota 3 0 41 4 - 1 = 3 41 New York 2 0 42 4 - 1 = 3 41 Seattle 1 1 42 3 - 1 = 2 41 Washington 2 1 41 3 - 1 = 2 41 Atlanta 1 2 41 3 - 1 = 2 40 Connecticut 0 2 42 3 - 1 = 2 40 Golden State 1 1 42 4 - 1 = 3 40 Las Vegas 1 1 42 4 - 1 = 3 40 Los Angeles 1 2 41 3 - 1 = 2 40 Chicago 0 2 42 4 - 1 = 3 39 Dallas 0 3 41 4 - 1 = 3 38 The table above shows that if Phoenix wins 41 more games (43 total), then they will finish the season in first place. To see that Phoenix's first-place clinch number cannot be less than 41, consider the following scenario in which Phoenix wins 40 more games (42 total) but does not finish in first place. Final standings: Team W L PCT GB Washington 42 2 0.955 0.0 Phoenix 42 2 0.955 0.0 Minnesota 32 12 0.727 10.0 New York 28 16 0.636 14.0 Los Angeles 23 21 0.523 19.0 Seattle 23 21 0.523 19.0 Indiana 21 23 0.477 21.0 Dallas 14 30 0.318 28.0 Las Vegas 14 30 0.318 28.0 Atlanta 13 31 0.295 29.0 Chicago 13 31 0.295 29.0 Connecticut 11 33 0.250 31.0 Golden State 10 34 0.227 32.0 Explanation of tiebreakers: Phoenix's record against teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season: 17 wins and 2 losses (0.895) Tiebreaker with Washington: Phoenix loses the series with Washington 1 to 2. Phoenix loses the tiebreaker. To construct the scenario, we start with the current standings: Team W L GL PCT GB Minnesota 3 0 41 1.000 0.0 New York 2 0 42 1.000 0.5 Phoenix 2 0 42 1.000 0.5 Indiana 2 1 41 0.667 1.0 Washington 2 1 41 0.667 1.0 Golden State 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Las Vegas 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Seattle 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Atlanta 1 2 41 0.333 2.0 Los Angeles 1 2 41 0.333 2.0 Chicago 0 2 42 0.000 2.5 Connecticut 0 2 42 0.000 2.5 Dallas 0 3 41 0.000 3.0 Next, we show how the remaining series of games in the season plays out: Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Chicago and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 2 additional games against Chicago and loses 2. Atlanta and Chicago split their series 2 games to 2. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Connecticut and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 4 additional games against Connecticut and loses 1. Atlanta wins the series with Connecticut 4 games to 1. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 4 additional games against Dallas and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Dallas 4 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 1 win(s) against Indiana and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 2. Atlanta loses the series with Indiana 1 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 2 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 1. Atlanta wins the series with Las Vegas 2 games to 1. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Atlanta loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Atlanta loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Connecticut and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Connecticut and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Connecticut 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 3 additional games against Dallas and loses 0. Chicago wins the series with Dallas 3 games to 0. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 5. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 3 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 0. Chicago wins the series with Las Vegas 3 games to 0. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 2 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 1. Chicago wins the series with Los Angeles 2 games to 1. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 3 additional games against New York and loses 0. Chicago wins the series with New York 3 games to 1. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 3 additional games against Dallas and loses 0. Connecticut wins the series with Dallas 3 games to 0. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 3 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 0. Connecticut wins the series with Las Vegas 3 games to 1. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 4 additional games against Golden State and loses 0. Dallas wins the series with Golden State 4 games to 0. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 2 additional games against Indiana and loses 2. Dallas and Indiana split their series 2 games to 2. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 4 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 0. Dallas wins the series with Las Vegas 4 games to 0. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 2 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 1 additional games against Minnesota and loses 1. Dallas loses the series with Minnesota 1 games to 3. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Dallas loses the series with New York 0 games to 3. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 3 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Dallas wins the series with Seattle 3 games to 1. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Dallas loses the series with Washington 0 games to 3. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 3. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 1 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Washington 1 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 3. Indiana loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 4 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 0. Indiana wins the series with Los Angeles 4 games to 0. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Indiana loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Indiana loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Indiana loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 3. Indiana loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Indiana loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 4 additional games against Minnesota and loses 0. Las Vegas wins the series with Minnesota 4 games to 0. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 1 additional games against New York and loses 1. Las Vegas loses the series with New York 1 games to 2. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Las Vegas loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with New York 0 games to 3. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 4 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Los Angeles wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Los Angeles loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 4 additional games against New York and loses 0. Minnesota wins the series with New York 4 games to 0. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Minnesota loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 4 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Minnesota wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Minnesota loses the series with Washington 0 games to 3. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. New York loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 3 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. New York wins the series with Seattle 3 games to 0. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. New York loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Phoenix currently has 1 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Phoenix wins 3 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Phoenix wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Phoenix currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Phoenix wins 1 additional games against Washington and loses 2. Phoenix loses the series with Washington 1 games to 2. Seattle currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Seattle wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Seattle loses the series with Washington 0 games to 3. # Phoenix Mercury's magic number # Phoenix's magic number # Mercury's magic number # WNBA Playoff Race