The Connecticut Sun clinched the top overall spot in the balanced Eastern Conference. In fact, the Sun did not lose a single season series with a conference foe, sweeping Indiana, defeating Washington and Detroit 3-1 each, and splitting two wins apiece with the Liberty. The balanced Sun also sent three players to represent the WNBA squad in "WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Game at Radio City." The Mystics are perhaps the league's biggest surprise. After finishing with only nine wins last season, Washington things around in just one season and qualified for the postseason by winning seven of their final nine games.

2004 Regular Season: Connecticut Sun 3 - Washington Mystics 1
Some fast facts about the Sun-Mystics first-round matchup:

Sales
 Once again, All-Star forward Nykesha Sales had an outstanding season, leading the Sun with 15.2 ppg, and leading the WNBA is steals with 2.19 per game.
Mystics rookie sensation Alana Beard may have started the season on a rough note, but she heated up in the second half, leading the Mystics in scoring in 13 of the last 15 games, thus proving that she will be a force in the league for years to come.
Despite losing Olympian Shannon Johnson and being picked to finish last by most "experts," the Sun won the East thanks to winning five of their last six games.
Mystics forward Chamique Holdsclaw led Washington in scoring in the first three games against the Sun this season, but sat out the end of the season and will miss the playoffs due to an undisclosed medical issue.
Beard

June 4, 2004: Sun 72, Mystics 63 | Box score

Sun leaders: Wendy Palmer (21 pts., 10 reb.), Lindsay Whalen (13 pts., 6 asst.)
Mystics leaders: Chamique Holdsclaw (25 pts., 7 reb.)

June 20, 2004: Sun 75, Mystics 65 | Box score
Sun leaders: Katie Douglas (18 pts., 6 reb.), Taj McWilliams-Franklin (19 pts., 8 reb.)
Mystics leaders: Chamique Holdsclaw (20 pts., 8 reb.), Stacey Dales-Schuman (17 pts.)

June 30, 2004: Sun 78, Mystics 69 | Box score
Sun leaders: Wendy Palmer (13 pts., 8 reb.), Lindsay Whalen (10 pts., 7asst.)
Mystics leaders: Chamique Holdsclaw (21 pts., 8 reb.)

July 30, 2004: Mystics 69, Sun 68 | Box score
Sun leaders: Nykesha Sales(23 pts., 8 asst.), Lindsay Whalen (11 pts., 7 reb.)
Mystics leaders: Alana Beard (14 pts., 5 reb.), Nakia Sanford (13 pts., 10 reb.)