PHOENIX, Sept. 17 (Ticker) -- Diana Taurasi may have been the No. 1 pick, but Alana Beard is the one leading her team into the playoffs.

NBA TV highlights from Mystics-Mercury: 56k | 300k Washington is in the postseason thanks to Alana Beard's strong play. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

The second pick behind Taurasi in this year's draft, Beard scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Washington Mystics clinched a playoff berth with a 74-67 win over the Phoenix Mercury.

Taurasi scored nine of her 25 points in a 16-3 Phoenix run to close out the first half, taking a 39-28 lead into the locker room. The Mystics (17-16), however, began the second half with 9-2 outburst to close the deficit.

Washington trailed 48-43 before rattling off a 14-2 run to take the lead for good. Tamicha Jackson and Beard scored five points apiece in the spurt.

The rookie forward assumed the mantle of leadership for the Mystics after leading scorer Chamique Holdsclaw was sidelined with an undisclosed problem. Beard has averaged 22.4 points a game in Washington's five-game winning streak.

Losers of its last four, Phoenix (16-17) finds its playoff hopes in serious peril. The Mercury must win its final game Sunday and the Sacramento Monarchs must lose their last two games in order for Phoenix to reach the postseason.