ESPN reveals Mercury's key advantage in WNBA playoff race -- and it's not Kelsey Plum

The Phoenix Mercury's bold trade for All-Star guard Kelsey Plum was not just made with free agency and the 2027 season in mind.

With their season teetering on the brink of disaster, the Mercury pushed their chips to the center of the table in an effort to steal the WNBA's final playoff spot.

After making the WNBA Finals last season, Phoenix lost All-Star Satou Sabally in free agency and stumbled out of the gates with a 2-8 record. Now 12-20 -- and 1-1 since pulling off the Plum trade with the Los Angeles Sparks -- the Mercury on paper face daunting odds to catch the Washington Mystics for the No.8 seed.

However, ESPN has named a key advantage for the Mercury that isn't directly tied to the Plum trade: the schedule.

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"The Mercury will face the Mystics three times and the Sparks once to have the chance to directly make up some ground," Kareem Copeland wrote. "There are (seven) current playoff teams in their final (12) games, including the Mystics."

Kelsey Plum put all her faith in Karl Smesko.pic.twitter.com/x1Zjyj1toR

Losing 96-82 to the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday wasn't the best news for the Mercury's playoff odds. Though Phoenix is five games behind Washington, the chance to play -- and beat -- the Mystics three times would instantly get the Mercury back in the hunt.

Going 10-2 the rest of the way would put the Mercury at .500 with a 22-22 record. Combined with a head-to-head advantage over the Mystics, that would be enough for Phoenix to crack the playoff field.

Still, the Mercury's chances of rallying to make the postseason remain fairly slim.

Phoenix has a 3-15 mark against teams with a winning record, and the Mercury faces teams over .500 in more than half of the remaining games. 

It's not impossible that Phoenix's All-Star trio of Plum, Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas propels the Mercury on a winning streak that gets them back in the frame.

But the Mercury's season-long weaknesses -- defensive efficiency and 3-point shooting -- would have to become strengths in a hurry if they're going to catch the Mystics.

More WNBA news:

• Why Olivia Miles was left off Team USA's roster for FIBA Women's World Cup

• We now know if Caitlin Clark made Team USA's World Cup roster

• Mystics' Shakira Austin is healthy at last and powering Washington's playoff push

• One key stat explains Valkyries' choice not to make Kelsey Plum trade