A three-peat once seemed relatively straightforward. But a lawsuit, an investigation and subpar play have complicated the Aces' hopes for a third straight title.

The WNBA playoffs feature an eight-team bracket; participating teams are decided based on their regular season record. During the first-round, games are played on a best-of-three series. Semifinal and final games are played as a best-of-five series.

The Las Vegas Aces are hoping to become the first WNBA team to win three consecutive championships since the Houston Comets won four in row in the league’s first seasons. It’s a tall task, and when they began the season with a 6-6 record,