en.wikipedia.org

WNBA playoffs - Wikipedia

  • ️Fri Oct 11 2024

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WNBA playoffs
Most recent season or competition:
2024 WNBA playoffs
SportBasketball
Founded1997
No. of teams8
Most recent
champion(s)		New York Liberty
(2024)
Most titlesHouston Comets
Minnesota Lynx
Seattle Storm
(4 titles each)
TV partner(s)ESPN, ESPN2, ABC

The WNBA playoffs is an elimination tournament among eight teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.

In 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

[edit]

In case of ties, the following procedures are followed:

  1. Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
  2. Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
  3. Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
  4. Better point differential in all games.
  5. Coin toss (or draw of lots, if at least 3 teams are still tied after the first 4 tiebreakers fail).
WNBA playoffs logo until 2018.

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

[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

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

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

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

There 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

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 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

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 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

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

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

There 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

This was the first year of existence for the WNBA. There were only 8 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was in the Eastern Conference in 1997 so two Eastern Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Championship.

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
  1. ^ a b "WNBA Approves New Playoff Format" (Press release). WNBA. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  2. ^ Huddleston, Ben (2024-10-11). "News: WNBA Finals format, Vince Carter, Cam Newton". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  3. ^ "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.