Mystics set to host a big game in a small arena

By the numbers: The Mystics drew nearly 9,800 fans there for last week's regular-season finale against the Chicago Sky. A playoff game would draw even more — and potentially sell out the place.

The squeeze: With only 4,200 CareFirst seats, tickets were initially going for more than $400. Now the cheapest seats are roughly $200.

The intrigue: CareFirst's intimate setup can make it loud and difficult for visiting teams. But Atlanta faced the same choice and went bigger.

• The Dream moved Game 1 from its 5,000-seat home to 17,000-seat State Farm Arena. Attendance: 9,766.

The calendar crunch: Capital One has concerts on both nights the WNBA scheduled first-round Game 2 — Phoebe Bridgers played there Tuesday.

• A Monumental Sports & Entertainment spokesperson told Axios by email that arena dates must be coordinated across "teams, leagues, promoters and other partners, often months or years in advance."
• Monumental did not answer whether the Mystics' preseason expectations affected playoff planning or what options they'd have at Capital One Arena if the team advances.

Flashback: The Mystics have couch-surfed before. During their 2018 Finals run, a scheduling conflict at their temporary home at George Washington's Smith Center forced Game 3 to George Mason's 10,000-seat EagleBank Arena.

• The Seattle Storm won that game to complete a 3-0 sweep.
• A year later, the Mystics won the WNBA title at CareFirst, then called St. Elizabeth's East Entertainment and Sports Arena.

If you go: Wednesday's game tips off at 7pm.

• If you'd rather save $200, the game will be broadcast on ESPN.