WNBA Playoffs: Players to watch and keys to victory for each team

Playoff road: The Storm have a bye to the semifinals, where they will face the lowest seed remaining from the first two rounds in a best-of-five series. They will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Players to watch: Breanna Stewart is the MVP front-runner, and she has the ability to take over games on the offensive and defensive ends, in the paint and beyond the arch. Sue Bird has absolutely turned back the clock this season — she's averaging 7.1 assists per game, the highest total in her 16-year, record-shattering career. Guard Jewell Loyd had another All-Star season, averaging 15.5 points per game, and Natasha Howard has become the team's glue in her first year in Seattle.

Keys to victory: Speed. The Storm's fast-paced offense has kept its opponents on their heels all season long, and it's crucial that they keep that pace going so they can keep the crowd engaged and take full advantage of their home fans.

2. Atlanta Dream (23-11)

Playoff road: The Dream also have a bye to the semifinals, where they'll face the highest seed remaining.

Players to watch: Angel McCoughtry tore ligaments in her knee a couple of weeks ago, so the Dream are missing a crucial piece. However, the team has not missed a beat; they've won 14 of their last 16 games. A big reason why the Dream haven't missed a beat is the play of guard Tiffany Hayes, the biggest All-Star snub in the league this season. Also keep an eye on center Elizabeth Williams in the post; she's fourth in the league in blocks this year. But don't take your eye off of her teammate Jessica Breland, either; she's third in the league in blocks.

Keys to victory: This is going to sound ridiculously obvious, but the Dream players just need to make their shots. Their defense and pace are solid, but they're second-to-last in the league in field-goal percentage, at 42.6 percent. They've been much better on offense over the last month of the season, and need to make sure the break before the semifinals doesn't cause them to revert to their early-season form.

3. Washington Mystics (22-12)

Playoff road: The Washington Mystics have a first-round bye, then await the lowest seed remaining after the two first-round games. That means if the Dallas Wings beat the Phoenix Mercury, the Wings will come to Washington, D.C. for the second round. If the Mercury win, then the Mystics will host the winner of the game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx. If the Mystics advance to the semifinals, they would play Atlanta, since they'd be the highest seed remaining.

Players to watch: Elena Delle Donne has had an MVP-esque season, averaging 20.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Guard Kristi Toliver just completed second All-Star season of her career, and is the team's reliable second option. Especially watch out for Toliver behind the arc — she averages 2.2 3-pointers per game, and is certainly capable of going off for much more.

Keys to victory: Delle Donne and Toliver will definitely have an impact in the playoffs, but defenses will also focus in on them, so it's key for the Mystics to have other players really step up on offense. Point guard Natasha Cloud and center LaToya Sanders are two of the most improved players in the league, and both have the ability to make defenses pay if they start double teaming Delle Donne and Toliver. And rookie Ariel Atkins, the Mystics' fifth starter, is one of the most versatile players in the league on offense and defense.

4. Connecticut Sun (21-11)

Playoff road: The Sun have a bye to the second round of the playoffs, where they will host the highest remaining seed. That's the Mercury if Phoenix wins. If Phoenix loses, the Sun will host the winner of the Sparks vs. Lynx matchup.

Players to watch: The Sun have two of the best centers in the league, Chiney Ogwumike and Jonquel Jones. Keep an eye out for how head coach Curt Miller manages his rotations in the post  — if Ogwumike is healthy; she missed the last two games of the year.

Keys to victory: The Sun lead the league in field goal attempts and total rebounds, so the statistics would say they're in pretty good shape. But memories of last year's second-round home loss to the Mercury will be fresh, so the Sun are going to need to really focus in on getting Shekinna

Stricklen, Jasmine Thomas and Jones going beyond the arch. And they have to stay out of foul trouble in what is sure to be a physical game — they lead the league in fouls.

5. Phoenix Mercury (20-14)

Playoff road: The Mercury host the Dallas Wings in a first-round game. If they win that one game, they will travel to Connecticut to face the Sun in the second round.

Players to watch: The Mercury are not hard to figure out. They're all about the Big Three: Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner. Both Griner and Taurasi are averaging over 20 points per game, and Bonner is averaging 17.3 points per game, which is staggering considering she just gave birth to twins last summer.

Keys to victory: Rebounding. The Mercury struggled mightily in the post when starter Sancho Lyttle tore her ACL last month, and have just found their footing again in the last four games, since moving Bonner from the No. 3 to the No. 4. Bonner's ability to rebound was a key to their four-game winning streak to close the season; she averaged 11 rebounds during that stretch. If the Mercury are going to advance, she has to keep that up.

6. Los Angeles Sparks (19-15)

Playoff road: The Sparks start off the playoffs by hosting the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in the first round. The Sparks and the Lynx have faced off in the last two WNBA Finals, and both series have gone late into Game 5.

Players to watch: Candace Parker, Candace Parker and Candace Parker. She hasn't gotten that much attention this season, but her statistics have been absolutely phenomenal. She leads the team in points (17.9) and rebounds (8.2), and is second in assists (4.7). She does it all.

Keys to victory: Nneka Ogwumike has been battling a mysterious flu-like illness all season; it caused her to miss the All-Star Game in July, and while she came back for a while, her symptoms flared up again at the end of the regular season. Ogwumike is absolutely crucial for the Sparks, particularly going up against Sylvia Fowles and Minnesota. Her health has to be the main concern for the team right now. As of Monday night, she's listed as questionable for Tuesday's game.

7. Minnesota Lynx (18-16)

Playoff road: The Lynx will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Sparks in the first round. If they win that game, they'd travel to Washington, D.C. or Connecticut for the second round.

Players to watch: Don't take your eyes off of the MVPs, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles. Fowles had a quietly dominant season, following up her 2017 MVP campaign by setting the single-season rebounding record, with 404 in 34 games. And while this has been an off season by Moore's lofty standards, an intense playoff game on the road against a fierce rival is the perfect stage for her to remind everyone of her greatness.

Keys to victory: Passion and energy. The Lynx know how to play and win championships. But this season, due primarily to age and a lack of athleticism, they've simply been sluggish on offense — their 102.8 offensive rating is 10th in a 12-team league. They're going to need to find another gear. There's a good chance this team could use the emotion from Lindsay Whalen's final playoffs to fuel a run. They could also use the return of Rebekkah Brunson, who has been out with a concussion the last few games. Her status on Tuesday is questionable as of Monday evening.

8. Dallas Wings (15-19)

Playoff road: The Wings head to Phoenix to take on the Mercury in the first round. If they win, they'd head to the nation's capital to face the Mystics in the second round.

Players to watch: Liz Cambage and Skylar Diggins-Smith. Cambage, the enigmatic Australian center, leads the league in points this season, with 23 per game, and she's second in the league in rebounds, with 9.7. Diggins-Smith, meanwhile, is averaging 17.9 points and 6.2 assists per game. They are the heart and soul of this team.

Keys to victory: Defense. Cambage and Diggins-Smith will have their moments offensively, but the Wings will have to find a way to contain the firepower from the Mercury's Big Three if they hope to advance. This season, their defensive rating is 107.5, ninth in the league.