For the first time since 2013, the Phoenix Mercury have captured a top-four seed in the WNBA playoffs and will have homecourt advantage in the first round, which starts Sunday.

The team turned its roster almost completely over the offseason, saying goodbye to franchise stalwarts Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner . In place of these two legends, the Mercury acquired perennial MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas and then built a team around her elite playmaking and defense. Thomas, surrounded by two younger stars and a cast of rookies and undervalued role players, has arguably been even better than her days with the Connecticut Sun, with a record eight triple-doubles this season for the 27-17 Mercury.

Now, the Mercury have their sights set on their first championship since 2014 — and what wo

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