Mercury embrace underdog role against top-seeded Lynx

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury have entered uncharted territory.

Every time they’ve brought home a WNBA championship in the past, the Mercury were the top-seeded team in the playoffs. This year, the eighth-seeded Mercury snuck into the playoffs during the final week of the season, despite a losing record (16-18).

And now, the Mercury hope to make history as the only WNBA team to win a championship after finishing below the .500 mark during the regular season. Only the Chicago Sky in 2014 even made it to the Finals with a losing record.

But first, the Mercury have a date with a longtime rival.

For the fourth straight year, the Mercury and Minnesota Lynx will square off with a berth in the WNBA Finals at stake. The Chicago Sky and the Los Angeles Sparks meet in the other semifinal.

The three previous meetings between the Lynx and Mercury were played in a best-of-three series under the old playoff format. This year, the semifinals have been expanded to a best-of-five set.

“I think everyone’s excited about this match up; we’ve met each other so many times,” Mercury coach Sandy Brondello said. “They’re the best team in the WNBA, so I’m excited. I’m glad it’s a best-of-five series.”

The two teams are deeply rooted in playoff history, combining to win six of the last nine WNBA championships.

In 2014, after the Mercury hung their third championship banner, Penny Taylor and Diana Taurasi decided to take time off from the WNBA. Taurasi sat out 2015 at the …

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