Thursday Playoff Picture

Greatest Game Ever?

WNBA Records

	Most Points, Single Game
47	Diana Taurasi, Phoenix at Houston , August 10, 2006 (3OT)
46	Katie Smith, Minnesota at Los Angeles, July 8, 2001 (OT)
44	Cynthia Cooper, Houston at Sacramento, July 25, 1997

	Most Points, Season
805	Diana Taurasi, Phoenix, 2006 *
739	Katie Smith, Minnesota, 2001
733	Seimone Augustus, Minnesota, 2006 **
	* with 2 games remaining ** with 1 game remaining

	Most Points, Both Teams, One Game
221	Phoenix - Houston, August 10, 2006 (3OT)
204	Sacramento - Detroit, July 1, 2000
202	Orlando - Cleveland, June 8, 2002 (3OT)

	Most Minutes, Game
55	Sheryl Swoopes, Houston, August 10, 2006 (3OT)
55	Vicky Bullett, Washington, July 3, 2001 (4OT)
55	Lauren Jackson, Seattle , July 3, 2001 (4OT)

	Field Goal Made, Game
17	Diana Taurasi, Phoenix, August 10, 2006 (3OT)
17	Lauren Jackson, Seattle, August 6, 2003
15	two tied

	Field Goal Attempts, Game
33	Diana Taurasi, Phoenix, August 10, 2006 (3OT)
31	Wendy Palmer, Utah, August 16, 1997
29	two tied

	Three Field Goal Made, Game
8	Diana Taurasi, Phoenix, August 10, 2006 (3OT)
7	seven tied

	Three Field Goal Made, Season
112	Diana Taurasi, Phoenix, 2006 *
88	Katie Smith, Minnesota, 2000
85	Katie Smith, Minnesota, 2001
	* with 2 games remaining

With the Phoenix Mercury's record-breaking triple overtime win over the Houston Comets, the Mercury's playoff hopes stay alive with two games to go. They must win both of their remaining games combined with a Houston loss on saturday to make the playoffs.

With Houston and Seattle both losing tonight, it comes down to their head-to-head match up on Saturday (ABC, 2 p.m. ET) to determine their fate. If Seattle wins, the Storm get the 3 seed. If Houston wins, the records would be identical, but Houston wins the tiebreaker and therefore the 3 seed.

If Houston loses and Phoenix loses one of their games, Houston still makes playoffs as 4 seed.

Of course, the Mercury's remaining outcomes also play part in the Detroit-Indiana tiebreak scenario of games over .500.

Based on Thursday's results, it appears that the following is what we know:

Playoff Scenarios

West

1. L.A. vs. 4. Houston, Seattle or Phoenix
2. Sacramento vs. 3. Seattle or Houston

Seattle or Houston will host a game on Thursday, August 17 vs. Sacramento.
Sacramento hosts Seattle or Houston on August 19 and August 21 (if necessary).
Houston, Seattle or Phoenix will host Game One on Friday, August 18 vs. Los Angeles.
Los Angeles will host Houston, Seattle or Phoenix on August 20 and August 22 (if necessary).

East

1. Connecticut vs. 4. Washington
2. Detroit or Indiana vs. 3 Indiana or Detroit

Washington will host Game One on Friday, August 18 vs. Connecticut.
Connecticut will host Washington on August 20 and August 22 (if necessary).
Indiana and Detroit will play of August 17, August 19 and August 21 with home court to be determined.

Remaining Scenarios for Each Team

Connecticut: Has clinched Eastern Conference and the best overall record in WNBA.

Detroit: Magic number is 1 to clinch second place. Any combination of Shock wins and Fever losses will get there.

Indiana: Clinched at least third place.

Washington: Clinched fourth place.

Los Angeles: Clinched Western Conference.

Sacramento: Clinched second place.

Seattle: Clinched playoff berth
Magic number is 1 to clinch third place. Storm win over the Comets on Saturday will get there.

Houston: Needs a win or Mercury loss to clinch playoff berth. Will clinch third with win over Seattle on Saturday. Will clinch at least fourth win a Mercury loss.