1997 WNBA playoffs

1997 WNBA Playoffs

Dates	August 28–30, 1997
Final positions
Champions	Houston Comets (Finals Champion)
East champion	New York Liberty (Coach: Nancy Darsch)
West champion	Houston Comets (Coach: Van Chancellor)

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

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

Format

• 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

	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

Charlotte Sting vs. Houston Comets

August 28

Recap

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

August 28

Recap

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

Main article: 1997 WNBA Championship

August 30

Recap

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

^[1]

References

1. WNBA.com: WNBA Playoffs History: 1997