The WNBA playoffs is an elimination tournament among 8 teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.
Upcoming season or competition: 2024 WNBA playoffs | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Most recent champion(s) | New York Liberty (2024) |
| Most titles | Houston Comets Minnesota Lynx Seattle Storm (4 titles each) |
Format
editIn the current format of the WNBA playoffs, the top eight teams in the regular season – regardless of conference – participate in a single-elimination tournament system. The eight teams are seeded by their regular season records, with the higher seeded team (or the team with the better record) in each series given homecourt advantage.
Round One is a best-of-three series, played with a homecourt pattern of 2–1 (the higher seed hosts games 1 and 2, while the lower seed hosts game 3, if necessary). The Semifinals and Finals are both best-of-five, played with a homecourt pattern of 2–2–1 (the higher seed hosts games 1, 2, and 5, while the lower seed hosts games 3 and 4).[1]
Beginning in 2025 the WNBA finals will expand to Best of 7 and the first round will change to a 1-1-1 format (with games 1 and 3 being hosted by the higher seed and game 2 by the lower seed)[2]
Tiebreaker procedures
editIn case of ties, the following procedures are followed:
- Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
- Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
- Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
- Better point differential in all games.
- Coin toss (or draw of lots, if at least 3 teams are still tied after the first 4 tiebreakers fail).
History
edit
The playoff format has changed throughout the years ever since the league's establishment.
In the league's first two seasons, 1997 and 1998, only the top four teams overall advanced to the playoffs, which comprised only two rounds. In 1997, only a single game was played in all matches. In 1998, each match became a best-of-three series. The homecourt pattern for best-of-three was 1–1–1.
As expansion began, the playoff format accommodated more teams. 1999 featured six teams, with the top three teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs, and the top seed of each conference getting a bye into the Conference Finals. The following season, it was expanded to eight teams with the top four teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs. In 2005, the WNBA Finals became a best-of-five series. Despite the departure of some teams later on, this format continued until 2015.
From 2016-2021, a new format was introduced, featuring a stepladder-like system. In this format, the first- and second-seeded teams entered the tournament at the Semifinals, third and fourth places started at the Second Round, and the remaining four began at the First Round. The format also eliminated conference seeding, instead having the top eight teams overall advance. The First and Second Rounds were only a single game, with the winning team immediately advancing to the next round. The Semifinals and Finals were both best-of-five series. After each round, the lower surviving seed faced the higher seed in the next round, while the higher surviving seed faced the lower seed.[1]
The current format was adopted in 2022 and features the top 8 teams in the league (regardless of conference) playing a three-round series for the championship. The first round is a best-of-three series with the higher seed hosting both of the first two games, while the Semifinals and Finals remain a best-of-five series. The higher seed hosts the first, second, and (if necessary) fifth games. Beginning in 2025, Round One will switch back to a 1–1–1 pattern, and the Finals will become a best-of-seven series, utilizing a 2–2–1–1–1 pattern similar to the NBA, with the higher seed hosting the first and second games, as well as the fifth and seventh games if necessary.[3]
Playoff series history
edit2024 season
edit| Round One: Best-of-3 | Semifinals: Best-of-5 | Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | New York Liberty | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Atlanta Dream | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Las Vegas Aces | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Seattle Storm | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Minnesota Lynx | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Minnesota Lynx | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Phoenix Mercury | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Minnesota Lynx | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Indiana Fever | 0 | ||||||||||||
Bold Series winner
2023 season
edit| Round One: Best-of-3 | Semifinals: Best-of-5 | Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Chicago Sky | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas Wings | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas Wings | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Atlanta Dream | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Washington Mystics | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Minnesota Lynx | 1 | ||||||||||||
Bold Series winner
2022 season
edit| Round One: Best-of-3 | Semifinals: Best-of-5 | Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Seattle Storm | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Seattle Storm | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Washington Mystics | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Chicago Sky | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | New York Liberty | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Chicago Sky | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Dallas Wings | 1 | ||||||||||||
Bold Series winner
2021 season
edit| First round Single elimination Sept. 23 | Second round Single elimination Sept. 26 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Las Vegas Aces | 96 | 91 | 60 | 93 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Seattle Storm | 80 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 90 | 117 | 87 | 76 | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 83 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 85OT | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 77 | 91OT | 50 | 74 | – | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | New York Liberty | 82 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 91 | 86 | 86 | 80 | – | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut Sun | 95 | 79 | 83 | 69 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 1012OT | 68 | 86 | 79 | – | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Chicago Sky | 81 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 89 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Dallas Wings | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
2020 season
edit| First round: Single elimination (September 15) | Second round: Single elimination (September 17) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (September 20–29) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (October 2–11) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 62 | 83 | 68 | 84 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Minnesota Lynx | 80 | 7 | Connecticut Sun | 87 | 75 | 77 | 75 | 63 | |||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 85 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 79 | 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 80 | 91 | 59 | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | Washington Mystics | 84 | 2 | Seattle Storm | 93 | 104 | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Seattle Storm | 88 | 89 | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Los Angeles Sparks | 59 | 4 | Minnesota Lynx | 86 | 79 | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Chicago Sky | 81 | 7 | Connecticut Sun | 73 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Connecticut Sun | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
2019 season
edit| First round: Single elimination (Sept. 11) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 15) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 17 – Sept. 24) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Sept. 29 – Oct. 10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Washington Mystics | 97 | 103 | 75 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Las Vegas Aces | 93 | 4 | Las Vegas Aces | 95 | 91 | 92 | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Chicago Sky | 105 | 5 | Chicago Sky | 92 | 1 | Washington Mystics | 95 | 87 | 94 | 86 | 89 | |||||||||||||
| 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 76 | 2 | Connecticut Sun | 86 | 99 | 81 | 90 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Connecticut Sun | 84 | 94 | 78 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Los Angeles Sparks | 92 | 3 | Los Angeles Sparks | 75 | 68 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Seattle Storm | 84 | 6 | Seattle Storm | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Minnesota Lynx | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
2018 season
edit| First round: Single elimination (Aug. 21) | Second round: Single elimination (Aug. 23) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Aug. 26 – Sept. 4) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Sept. 7 – Sept. 12) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Seattle Storm | 91 | 91 | 66 | 84 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Connecticut Sun | 86 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 87 | 87 | 86 | 86 | 84 | |||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 101 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 96 | 1 | Seattle Storm | 89 | 75 | 98 | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | Dallas Wings | 83 | 3 | Washington Mystics | 76 | 73 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Atlanta Dream | 84 | 78 | 81 | 76 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Washington Mystics | 96 | 3 | Washington Mystics | 87 | 75 | 76 | 97 | 86 | |||||||||||||||
| 6 | Los Angeles Sparks | 75 | 6 | Los Angeles Sparks | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Minnesota Lynx | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
2017 season
edit| First round: Single elimination (Sept. 6) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 10) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 12 – Sept. 17) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Sept. 24 – Oct. 4) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 79 | 86 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Connecticut Sun | 83 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 66 | 72 | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 79 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 88 | 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 84 | 70 | 64 | 80 | 85 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Seattle Storm | 69 | 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 85 | 68 | 75 | 69 | 76 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 101 | 93 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | New York Liberty | 68 | 6 | Washington Mystics | 81 | 83 | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Washington Mystics | 86 | 6 | Washington Mystics | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Dallas Wings | 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
2016 season
edit| First round: Single elimination (Sept. 21) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 24 and 25) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 9 – 20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 113 | 96 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | New York Liberty | 94 | 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 95 | 86 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Indiana Fever | 78 | 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 101 | 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 79 | 75 | 85 | 76 | |||||||||||||
| 8 | Phoenix Mercury | 89 | 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 78 | 60 | 92 | 79 | 77 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 95 | 99 | 66 | 95 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Chicago Sky | 108 | 4 | Chicago Sky | 75 | 84 | 70 | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Atlanta Dream | 94 | 6 | Atlanta Dream | 98 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Seattle Storm | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.
2015 season
edit| Conference Semi-Finals: Best-of-3 | Conference Finals: Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Chicago | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Tulsa | 0 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2014 season
editThere were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference semi-finals: best-of-3 | Conference finals: best-of-3 | WNBA finals: best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Atlanta | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Chicago | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Chicago | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Chicago | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Minnesota | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | San Antonio | 0 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2013 season
editThere were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Chicago | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Indiana | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Seattle | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2012 season
editThere were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Atlanta | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | San Antonio | 0 | ||||||||||||
2011 season
editThere were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E3 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Connecticut | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | San Antonio | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2010 season
editThere were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Starting in 2010, the first two rounds changed to a 1-1-1 format, with the higher-seeded team hosting games 1 & 3.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Atlanta | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Seattle | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | San Antonio | 0 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2009 season
editThere were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Atlanta | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | San Antonio | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2008 season
editThere were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E3 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | San Antonio | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | San Antonio | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | San Antonio | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2007 season
editThere were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Seattle | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | San Antonio | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | San Antonio | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2006 season
editThere were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Indiana | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Detroit | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Houston | 0 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2005 season
editThere were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four, this was also the first season where the WNBA finals was expanded to a best-of-5 game series.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Detroit | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Sacramento | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Houston | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2004 season
editThere were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Connecticut | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Minnesota | 0 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2003 season
editThere were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Cleveland | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E3 | Connecticut | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Connecticut | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Minnesota | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2002 season
editThere were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Indiana | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E3 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Washington | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Seattle | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Utah | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Utah | 2 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2001 season
editThere were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Cleveland | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Charlotte | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Charlotte | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Miami | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Houston | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Utah | 0 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
2000 season
editThere were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.
| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Cleveland | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Cleveland | 2 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Orlando | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Sacramento | 0 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
1999 season
editThere were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the three teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to three. The top seeded team in each conference got a bye for the first round.
There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the three teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to three. The top seeded team in each conference got a bye for the first round.
| Conference Semi-Finals Single Game | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-3 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E3 | Charlotte | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Detroit | 54 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Charlotte | 60 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Los Angeles | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Los Angeles | 71 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Sacramento | 58 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Game or Series winner
- Italics – Team with home-court advantage
1998 season
editThere were 10 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was switched to the Western Conference in 1998 so two Western Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Finals.
| Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Championship Best-of-3 | ||||||||
| 1 | Houston | 2 | |||||||
| 4 | Charlotte | 0 | |||||||
| 1 | Houston | 2 | |||||||
| 3 | Phoenix | 1 | |||||||
| 2 | Cleveland | 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Phoenix | 2 | |||||||
- Bold – Series winner
1997 season
edit
- The four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four.
- Each round of the playoffs was a single elimination game.
| Semi-Finals Single game | WNBA Championship Single game | ||||||||
| 1 | Houston | 70 | |||||||
| 4 | Charlotte | 54 | |||||||
| 1 | Houston | 65 | |||||||
| 2 | New York | 51 | |||||||
| 2 | New York | 59 | |||||||
| 3 | Phoenix | 41 | |||||||
- Bold – Game winner
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "WNBA Approves New Playoff Format" (Press release). WNBA. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ Huddleston, Ben (2024-10-11). "News: WNBA Finals format, Vince Carter, Cam Newton". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ "WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV Expand to Best-of-Seven Format Beginning in 2025". www.wnba.com. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2024-10-10.