1997 WNBA playoffs

1997 WNBA Playoffs
DatesAugust 28–30, 1997
Final positions
ChampionsHouston Comets (Finals Champion)
East championNew York Liberty (Coach: Nancy Darsch)
West championHouston Comets (Coach: Van Chancellor)
1998 →

The 1997 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 1997 season which ended with the Houston Comets beating the New York Liberty, 1-0 (65-51). Cynthia Cooper was named the MVP of the Finals. This was the first year of WNBA playoffs.

Regular season standings

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Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Houston Comets x 18 10 .643 6–6
New York Liberty x 17 11 .607 8–4 1.0
Charlotte Sting x 15 13 .536 5–7 3.0
Cleveland Rockers o 15 13 .536 5–7 3.0

Western Conference

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Phoenix Mercury x 16 12 .571 9–3
Los Angeles Sparks o 14 14 .500 8–4 2.0
Sacramento Monarchs o 10 18 .357 4–8 6.0
Utah Starzz o 7 21 .250 3–9 9.0

Note: Teams with an "X" clinched playoff spots.

Playoffs

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Format

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  • 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.

Bracket

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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

Semifinals

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Charlotte Sting vs. Houston Comets

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August 28
Charlotte Sting 54, Houston Comets 70
Scoring by half: 33–29, 21–41
Pts: Congreaves, Mapp 12 each
Rebs: Vicky Bullett 9
Asts: Rhonda Mapp 5
Pts: Cynthia Cooper 31
Rebs: Tina Thompson 12
Asts: Cynthia Cooper 5
The Summit, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 11,510
Referees: Sally Bell, Scott Yarbrough, Patty Broderick

New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury

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August 28
New York Liberty 59, Phoenix Mercury 41
Scoring by half: 23–18, 36–23
Pts: Rebecca Lobo 16
Rebs: Kym Hampton 14
Asts: Teresa Weatherspoon 5
Pts: Gillom, Askamp 9 each
Rebs: Jennifer Gillom 7
Asts: Webb, Pettis 2 each
America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 16,751
Referees: Bob Trammel, June Courteau, Violet Palmer

WNBA Championship

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August 30
New York Liberty 51, Houston Comets 65
Scoring by half: 24–28, 27–37
Pts: Kym Hampton 13
Rebs: Kym Hampton 13
Asts: Teresa Weatherspoon 5
Pts: Cynthia Cooper 25
Rebs: Tammy Jackson 11
Asts: Cynthia Cooper 4
The Summit, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,285
Referees: Violet Palmer, June Courteau, Sally Bell

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References

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