WNBA Finals: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Revision as of 04:51, 11 October 2013 edit Jefferythegambler2 (talk \| contribs) 642 edits →History ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 10:29, 23 November 2024 edit undo Assadzadeh (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users 2,552 edits Tried to improve sentences Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
(258 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: {{Short description\|Championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association}} ~~{{unreferenced\|date=October 2011}}~~ {{Infobox recurring event ~~[[Image:WNBA Finals logo.png\|thumb\|right\|WNBA Finals logo]]~~ \| name = WNBA Finals \| logo = \| logo_size = \| status = Active \| genre = Sporting event \| date = \| frequency = Annual \| sponsor = [[YouTube TV]] (2018–present) \| country = [[United States]] \| first = {{Start date\|1997}} \| free_label = Most titles \| free_text = [[Houston Comets]]<br>[[Minnesota Lynx]]<br>[[Seattle Storm]]<br>(4 titles each) \| current = }} The '''WNBA Finals''' is the championship series of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) and the conclusion of the league's [[WNBA Playoffs\|postseason]] each fall. The series was named the '''WNBA Championship''' until 2002. The series is played between the winners of the playoff semifinals. At the conclusion of the championship round, the winner of the WNBA Finals is presented the championship trophy. The WNBA Finals has been played at the conclusion of every WNBA season in history, the first being held in [[1997 WNBA Championship\|1997]]. The '''WNBA Finals''' is the championship series of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) and the conclusion of the sport's [[WNBA Playoffs\|postseason]] each fall. The series was named the '''WNBA Championship''' until 2002. Since 2005, the winner of the WNBA Finals has been determined through a 2–2–1 format. The first, second, and fifth games of the series are played at the arena of the team who earned home court advantage by having the better record during the regular season. Beginning in 2025, the Finals will switch to a [[best-of-seven series]] with a 2–2–1–1–1 format similar to that of the [[NBA Finals]]. The series is played between the winners of the [[Western Conference (WNBA)\|Western Conference]] and the [[Eastern Conference (WNBA)\|Eastern Conference]]. At the conclusion of the championship round, the winner of the WNBA Finals is presented the championship trophy. The WNBA Finals has been played at the conclusion of every WNBA season in history, the first being held in [[1997 WNBA Championship\|1997]]. == History == Since 2005, the winner of the WNBA Finals has been determined through a 2–2–1 format. The first, second, and fifth games of the series are played at the arena of the team who earned home court advantage by having the better record during the regular season. [[Image:WNBA Finals logo.png\|thumb\|right\|WNBA Finals logo used until 2018.]] {{Further\|WNBA Playoffs}} The WNBA's playoff format has changed several times in the league's history. In 1997, a [[Playoff format#Single elimination\|single championship game]] was held to decide the champion. In 1998, after the addition of two teams, the WNBA finals were turned into a [[best-of-three series]]. The finale series was known as the '''WNBA Championship''' from 1997 to 2001, before changing to '''WNBA Finals''' to reflect its [[National Basketball Association\|NBA]] [[NBA Finals\|counterpart]]. In 2005, the WNBA Finals adopted a [[best-of-five]] format. In 2016, the WNBA began seeding teams #1 through #8 regardless of conference making it possible for two Eastern Conference or two Western Conference teams to meet in the Finals. In 2025, the WNBA Finals will become a [[best-of-seven series]] and a homecourt system of 2–2–1–1–1 similar to the NBA Finals, where the team with homecourt advantage hosts games 1 and 2, and if necessary, games 5 and 7.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2024-10-10 \|title=WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV Expand to Best-of-Seven Format Beginning in 2025 \|url=https://www.wnba.com/webview/news/wnba-finals-format-expansion-2025 \|access-date=2024-10-10 \|website=www.wnba.com}}</ref> ~~==History==~~ ~~{{further\|WNBA Playoffs}}~~ ~~{{see also\|List of WNBA franchise post-season droughts}}~~ The WNBA Finals were originally a single championship game to decide the WNBA champion. However, in 1998, after the addition of two teams, the WNBA Finals were turned into a best-of-three games series. In 2005, the WNBA Finals adopted a best-of-five format. This finale series was known as the '''WNBA Championship''' from 1997 to 2001, before changing to reflect its [[National Basketball Association\|NBA]] [[NBA Finals\|counterpart]]. == Map of champions == ~~{\| class="wikitable sortable" width=75%~~ {{Location map+\|USA\|width=500\|float=center\|caption=Location of WNBA Champions # titles: 1-white 2-blue 3-green 4-yellow denotes defunct\|places= {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=blue pog.svg\|lat_deg=36.13\|lon_deg=-115.088\|position=right\|label=Aces\|link=Las Vegas Aces}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=white pog.svg\|lat_deg=38.8\|lon_deg=-76.85\|position=right\|label=Mystics\|link=Washington Mystics}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=white pog.svg\|lat_deg=41.94\|lon_deg=-87.72\|position=left\|label=Sky\|link=Chicago Sky}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=yellow pog.svg\|lat_deg=29.51\|lon_deg=-95.24\|position=right\|label=Comets\|link=Houston Comets}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=green pog.svg\|lat_deg=42.22\|lon_deg=-83.03\|position=left\|label=Shock\|link=Detroit Shock}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=white pog.svg\|lat_deg=39.92\|lon_deg=-86.11\|position=left\|label=Fever\|link=Indiana Fever}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=white pog.svg\|lat_deg=40.41\|lon_deg=-73.59\|position=left\|label=Liberty\|link=New York Liberty}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=yellow pog.svg\|lat_deg=44.95\|lon_deg=-93.18\|position=left\|label=Lynx\|link=Minnesota Lynx}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=yellow pog.svg\|lat_deg=47.42\|lon_deg=-122.22\|position=right\|label=Storm\|link=Seattle Storm}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=green pog.svg\|lat_deg=34.05\|lon_deg=-118.18\|position=right\|label=Sparks\|link=Los Angeles Sparks}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=green pog.svg\|lat_deg=33.29\|lon_deg=-112.05\|position=top\|label=Mercury\|link=Phoenix Mercury}} {{Location map~\|USA\|mark=white pog.svg\|lat_deg=38.38\|lon_deg=-121.32\|position=right\|label=Monarchs\|link=Sacramento Monarchs}} }} == Results == {\| class="wikitable sortable" \|- bgcolor="#efefef" !~~width=8%\|~~ Year ! Winner ~~!width=30%\| Western champion~~ !~~width=8%~~ class="unsortable"\|Result ! Runner-up ~~!width=30%\| Eastern champion~~ !~~width=15%~~ ~~class="unsortable"\|~~Finals MVP ! TV \|- \| align=center\|[[1997 WNBA Championship\|1997]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\| '''[[~~New~~1997 ~~York~~Houston ~~Liberty~~Comets season\|Houston Comets]]'''{{#tag:ref\|Due to the WNBA's playoff structure in 1997, two Eastern Conference teams met in the championship game\|group=lower-alpha}} \|\| align=center\| ~~51–65~~1–0 \|\| ~~style="background:#ff9"\|'''~~[[~~Houston~~1997 ~~Comets~~New York Liberty season\|New York Liberty]]~~'''~~ \|\| [[Cynthia Cooper (basketball)\|Cynthia Cooper]] \|\| [[NBC]] \|- \| align=center\|[[1998 WNBA Championship\|1998]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[1998 Houston Comets~~]]'''~~ season\|\|Houston ~~align=center\|2–1 \|\| [[Phoenix Mercury~~Comets]]'''{{#tag:ref\|Due to the WNBA's playoff structure in 1998, two Western Conference teams met in the championship series\|group=lower-alpha}}\|\| align=center\|2–1 \|\|[[1998 Phoenix Mercury season\|Phoenix Mercury]]\|\|[[Cynthia Cooper (basketball)\|Cynthia Cooper]] \|\| Game 1 and 3: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 2: [[NBC]] \|- \| align=center\|[[1999 WNBA Championship\|1999]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[1999 Houston Comets season\|Houston Comets]]''' \|\| align=center\|2–1 \|\| [[1999 New York Liberty season\|New York Liberty]] \|\| [[Cynthia Cooper (basketball)\|Cynthia Cooper]] \|\| Game 1: [[WNBA on Lifetime\|Lifetime]]<br />Game 2 and 3: [[NBC]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2000 WNBA Championship\|2000]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2000 Houston Comets season\|Houston Comets]]''' \|\| align=center\|2–0 \|\| [[2000 New York Liberty season\|New York Liberty]] \|\| [[Cynthia Cooper (basketball)\|Cynthia Cooper]] \|\| Game 1: [[WNBA on Lifetime\|Lifetime]]<br />Game 2: [[NBC]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2001 WNBA Championship\|2001]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2001 Los Angeles Sparks season\|Los Angeles Sparks]]''' \|\| align=center\|2–0 \|\| [[2001 Charlotte Sting season\|Charlotte Sting]] \|\| [[Lisa Leslie]] \|\| Game 1: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 2: [[NBC]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2002 WNBA Finals\|2002]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2002 Los Angeles Sparks season\|Los Angeles Sparks]]''' \|\| align=center\|2–0 \|\| [[2002 New York Liberty season\|New York Liberty]] \|\| [[Lisa Leslie]] \|\| Game 1: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 2: [[NBC]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2003 WNBA Finals\|2003]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[~~Los~~2003 ~~Angeles~~Detroit ~~Sparks~~Shock season\|Detroit Shock]]''' \|\| align=center\|12–21 \|\|[[2003 ~~style="background:#ff9"~~Los Angeles Sparks season\|Los Angeles Sparks]]\|\|~~'''~~[[~~Detroit~~Ruth ~~Shock~~Riley]]~~'''~~ \|\| rowspan=2\|[[~~Ruth Riley~~ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2004 WNBA Finals\|2004]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2004 Seattle Storm season\|Seattle Storm]]''' \|\| align=center\|2–1 \|\| [[2004 Connecticut Sun season\|Connecticut Sun]] \|\| [[Betty Lennox]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2005 WNBA Finals\|2005]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2005 Sacramento Monarchs season\|Sacramento Monarchs]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–1 \|\| [[2005 Connecticut Sun season\|Connecticut Sun]] \|\| [[Yolanda Griffith]] \|\| Game 1, 2 and 4: [[ESPN2]]<br />Game 3: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2006 WNBA Finals\|2006]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[~~Sacramento~~2006 ~~Monarchs~~Detroit Shock season\|Detroit Shock]] '''\|\| align=center\|23–32 \|\| ~~style="background:#ff9"\|'''~~[[~~Detroit~~2006 ~~Shock~~Sacramento Monarchs season\|Sacramento Monarchs]]~~'''~~ \|\| [[Deanna Nolan]] \|\| rowspan=4\| [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2007 WNBA Finals\|2007]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2007 Phoenix Mercury season\|Phoenix Mercury]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–2 \|\|[[2007 Detroit Shock season\|Detroit Shock]] \|\| [[Cappie Pondexter]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2008 WNBA Finals\|2008]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[~~San~~2008 ~~Antonio~~Detroit ~~Silver~~Shock ~~Stars~~season\|Detroit Shock]]''' \|\| align=center\|03–30 \|\| ~~style="background:#ff9"\|'''~~[[~~Detroit~~2008 ~~Shock]]'''~~San Antonio Silver Stars season\|\|San Antonio Silver Stars]]\|\|[[Katie Smith]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2009 WNBA Finals\|2009]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2009 Phoenix Mercury season\|Phoenix Mercury]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–2 \|\| [[2009 Indiana Fever season\|Indiana Fever]] \|\| [[Diana Taurasi]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2010 WNBA Finals\|2010]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2010 Seattle Storm season\|Seattle Storm]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–0 \|\| [[2010 Atlanta Dream season\|Atlanta Dream]] \|\| [[Lauren Jackson]] \|\| Game 1: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2 and 3: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2011 WNBA Finals\|2011]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2011 Minnesota Lynx season\|Minnesota Lynx]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–0 \|\| [[2011 Atlanta Dream season\|Atlanta Dream]] \|\| [[Seimone Augustus]] \|\| Game 1: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 2 and 3: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2012 WNBA Finals\|2012]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[~~Minnesota~~2012 ~~Lynx~~Indiana Fever season\|Indiana Fever]]''' \|\| align=center\|13–31 \|\| ~~style="background:#ff9"\|'''~~[[~~Indiana~~2012 ~~Fever~~Minnesota Lynx season\|Minnesota Lynx]]~~'''~~ \|\| [[Tamika Catchings]] \|\| Game 1, 3 and 4: [[ESPN2]]<br />Game 2: [[ESPN]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2013 WNBA Finals\|2013]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2013 Minnesota Lynx season\|Minnesota Lynx]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–0 \|\| [[2013 Atlanta Dream season\|Atlanta Dream]] \|\| [[Maya Moore]] \|\| Game 1: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 2 and 3: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2014 WNBA Finals\|2014]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2014 Phoenix Mercury season\|Phoenix Mercury]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–0 \|\| [[2014 Chicago Sky season\|Chicago Sky]] \|\| [[Diana Taurasi]] \|\| Game 1: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 3: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2015 WNBA Finals\|2015]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2015 Minnesota Lynx season\|Minnesota Lynx]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–2 \|\| [[2015 Indiana Fever season\|Indiana Fever]] \|\| [[Sylvia Fowles]] \|\| Game 1: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2, 3 and 5: [[ESPN2]]<br />Game 4: [[ESPN]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2016 WNBA Finals\|2016]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2016 Los Angeles Sparks season\|Los Angeles Sparks]]'''{{#tag:ref\|Due to the WNBA's playoff structure in 2016, two Western Conference teams met in the Finals.\|group=lower-alpha}} \|\| align=center\| 3–2\|\| [[2016 Minnesota Lynx season\|Minnesota Lynx]] \|\| [[Candace Parker]] \|\| Game 1: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2, 4 and 5: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 3: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2017 WNBA Finals\|2017]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2017 Minnesota Lynx season\|Minnesota Lynx]]'''{{#tag:ref\|Due to the WNBA's playoff structure in 2017, two Western Conference teams met in the Finals.\|group=lower-alpha}} \|\| align=center\|3–2 \|\| [[2017 Los Angeles Sparks season\|Los Angeles Sparks]] \|\| [[Sylvia Fowles]] \|\| Game 1: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2 and 3: [[ESPN2]]<br />Game 4 and 5: [[ESPN]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2018 WNBA Finals\|2018]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2018 Seattle Storm season\|Seattle Storm]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–0 \|\| [[2018 Washington Mystics season\|Washington Mystics]] \|\| [[Breanna Stewart]] \|\| Game 1: [[ESPNews]]<br />Game 2: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 3: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2019 WNBA Finals\|2019]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2019 Washington Mystics season\|Washington Mystics]]'''{{#tag:ref\|Due to the WNBA's playoff structure in 2019, two Eastern Conference teams met in the Finals.\|group=lower-alpha}}\|\| align=center\|3–2 \|\| [[2019 Connecticut Sun season\|Connecticut Sun]] \|\| [[Emma Meesseman]] \|\| Game 1 and 2: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 3: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 4 and 5: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2020 WNBA Finals\|2020]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[2020 Seattle Storm season\|Seattle Storm]]'''{{#tag:ref\|Due to the WNBA's playoff structure in 2020, two Western Conference teams met in the Finals.\|group=lower-alpha}}\|\| align=center\| 3–0 \|\| [[2020 Las Vegas Aces season\|Las Vegas Aces]] \|\| [[Breanna Stewart]] \|\| Game 1: [[ESPN2]]<br />Game 2: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 3: [[ESPN]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2021 WNBA Finals\|2021]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\| [[2021 Chicago Sky season\|'''Chicago Sky''']]\|\| align="center" \| 3–1 \|\| [[2021 Phoenix Mercury season\|Phoenix Mercury]]\|\| [[Kahleah Copper]]\|\| Game 1: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2 and 4: [[ESPN]]<br /> Game 3: [[ESPN2]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2022 WNBA Finals\|2022]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\| [[2022 Las Vegas Aces season\|'''Las Vegas Aces''']]\|\| align="center" \| 3–1 \|\| [[2022 Connecticut Sun season\|Connecticut Sun]]\|\| [[Chelsea Gray]]\|\| Game 1: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2–4: [[ESPN]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2023 WNBA Finals\|2023]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\| [[2023 Las Vegas Aces season\|'''Las Vegas Aces''']]\|\| align="center" \| 3–1 \|\| [[2023 New York Liberty season\|New York Liberty]]\|\| [[A'ja Wilson]]\|\| Game 1 and 3: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]]<br />Game 2 and 4: [[ESPN]] \|- \| align=center\|[[2024 WNBA Finals\|2024]] \|\|style="background:#ff9"\| [[2024 New York Liberty season\|'''New York Liberty''']]\|\| align="center" \| 3–2 \|\| [[2024 Minnesota Lynx season\|Minnesota Lynx]] \|\| [[Jonquel Jones]] \|\| Games 1, 3–5: [[ESPN]]<br />Game 2: [[American Broadcasting Company\|ABC]] \|- ~~\| align=center\|[[2013 WNBA Finals\|2013]] \|\| style="background:#ff9"\|'''[[Minnesota Lynx]]''' \|\| align=center\|3–0 \|\| [[Atlanta Dream]] \|\| [[Maya Moore]]~~ \|} {{reflist\|group=lower-alpha}} ===Highlights=== In 2001, the #4 seed Charlotte Sting were the lowest seed to make the WNBA Finals in the conference playoff format. The 2003 WNBA Finals was best known for rekindling a heated rivalry between the two teams' head coaches, Los Angeles Sparks head coach [[Michael Cooper]] and ~~former~~ Detroit Shock head coach [[Bill Laimbeer]]. Both coaches were fierce NBA competitors who played in the NBA Finals against each other in [[1988 NBA Finals\|1988]] and [[1989 NBA Finals\|1989]]. 2006 marked the first time that a #1 seed did not participate in the WNBA Finals. Detroit and Sacramento were both #2 seeds. 2006 also marked the first time that the team with the best point-differential in the regular-season did not win the WNBA Finals or even advance to the WNBA Finals. The Connecticut Sun had the best point differential in '06 but were ousted by the Shock in the Eastern Conference Finals. In 2001, the #4 seed Charlotte Sting was the lowest seed ever to make the WNBA Finals. The Detroit Shock hosted the largest crowd in Finals History (tied, 22,076 in Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals and in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals). 2006 marked the first time that a #1 seed did not participate in the WNBA Finals. Detroit and Sacramento were both 2 seeds. The New York Liberty have the most Finals appearances (4) without winning a championship. The Detroit Shock are the 3rd team to win multiple championships (following Houston and Los Angeles respectively). However, they are the first team to win non-consecutive championships. 2006 marked the first time that the team with the best point-differential in the regular-season didn't win the WNBA Finals or even advance to the WNBA finals. The Connecticut Sun had the best point differential in '06 but was ousted by the Shock in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Detroit Shock hosted the three largest crowds in Finals History (22,076 in Game 3 of 2003 WNBA Finals, 19,671 in Game 5 of 2006 WNBA Finals and 22,076 in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals) Only three Eastern Conference franchises have won the WNBA Finals: the 1997 Houston Comets (who moved to the Western Conference the following year); the Detroit Shock (who are now in the Western Conference as Tulsa) and the Indiana Fever in 2012. The 2007 game-five win by the Phoenix Mercury marked the first time in WNBA history that a team won the Finals while playing on their opponent's home court. In 2008 the San Antonio Silver Stars became the first team in WNBA Finals history to be swept in a five-game series, losing to the Detroit Shock. In 2008 the San Antonio Silver Stars became the first team in the history of the WNBA Finals to be swept in a five game series losing to the Detroit Shock. The 2009 Finals series saw around a 60% increase in viewership from the previous season's series. The 2011 WNBA Finals was the first coached by two women. In 2014, the Chicago Sky became the first team to appear in the WNBA Finals with a sub-.500 record. * In 2016, the Los Angeles Sparks won by one point despite a later announcement by the WNBA that officials missed an earlier shot-clock violation at 1:14, which should not have counted.<ref>[http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2016/10/21/wnba-ogwumikes-shot-should-not-have-counted/ WNBA Ogwunikes' shot should not have counted] October 21, 2016</ref> In 2021, the #6 seed Chicago Sky were the lowest seed to make the WNBA Finals in the current playoff format. The New York Liberty have lost the most championships (5) before winning their first one in 2024. ==Finals appearances== The [[Houston Comets]], [[Minnesota Lynx]], and [[Seattle Storm]] hold the distinction of having won the most championships with four titles each. The [[New York Liberty]] have lost the most championships with five. The Lynx have the most appearances in the championships with seven (including 2024). ''Highlighted teams have folded and can no longer reach the WNBA Finals.'' ~~{{see also\|List of WNBA franchise post-season droughts}}~~ Statistics below refer to series wins and losses, not individual game wins and losses. {\| class="~~navbox~~ wikitable sortable" style="~~width~~text-align:~~80%~~center" !Teams!!\|Win!!\|Loss!!\|Total ~~!Finals!!Team!!Wins!!Losses!!Pct.!!class="unsortable"\|Years Won!!class="unsortable"\|Years Lost~~ !Win %!!\|Year(s) won!!\|Year(s) lost \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Minnesota Lynx]]\|\|4\|\|3\|\|7 ~~\| 4 \|\| [[Houston Comets]] <sup>2</sup> \|\| 4 \|\| 0 \|\| 1.000 \|\| 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000\|\|~~ \|{{winpct\|4\|3}} \|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2011 WNBA Finals\|2011]], [[2013 WNBA Finals\|2013]], [[2015 WNBA Finals\|2015]], [[2017 WNBA Finals\|2017]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2012 WNBA Finals\|2012]], [[2016 WNBA Finals\|2016]], [[2024 WNBA Finals\|2024]] \|-style="background: #ffdfdf;" \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Houston Comets]] {{#tag:ref\|disbanded in December 2008\|group=lower-alpha}}\|\|4\|\|0\|\|4 \|{{winpct\|4\|0}} \|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[1997 WNBA Finals\|1997]], [[1998 WNBA Finals\|1998]], [[1999 WNBA Finals\|1999]], [[2000 WNBA Finals\|2000]]\|\|- \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Seattle Storm]]\|\|4\|\|0\|\|4 ~~\| 4 \|\| [[Detroit Shock]] <sup>3</sup> \|\| 3 \|\| 1 \|\| .750 \|\| 2003, 2006, 2008 \|\| 2007~~ \|{{winpct\|4\|0}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2004 WNBA Finals\|2004]], [[2010 WNBA Finals\|2010]], [[2018 WNBA Finals\|2018]], [[2020 WNBA Finals\|2020]] \|\|- \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Los Angeles Sparks]]\|\|3\|\|2\|\|5 ~~\| 4 \|\| [[New York Liberty]] \|\| 0 \|\| 4 \|\| .000 \|\| \|\|1997, 1999, 2000, 2002~~ \|{{winpct\|3\|2}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2001 WNBA Finals\|2001]], [[2002 WNBA Finals\|2002]], [[2016 WNBA Finals\|2016]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2003 WNBA Finals\|2003]], [[2017 WNBA Finals\|2017]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Phoenix Mercury]]\|\|3\|\|2\|\|5 ~~\| 3 \|\| [[Los Angeles Sparks]] \|\| 2 \|\| 1 \|\| .667 \|\| 2001, 2002 \|\| 2003~~ \|{{winpct\|3\|2}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2007 WNBA Finals\|2007]], [[2009 WNBA Finals\|2009]], [[2014 WNBA Finals\|2014]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[1998 WNBA Finals\|1998]], [[2021 WNBA Finals\|2021]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Detroit Shock]] {{#tag:ref\|now known as [[Dallas Wings]]\|group=lower-alpha}} \|\|3\|\|1\|\|4 ~~\| 3 \|\| [[Phoenix Mercury]] \|\| 2\|\| 1 \|\| .667 \|\| 2007, 2009 \|\| 1998~~ \|{{winpct\|3\|1}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2003 WNBA Finals\|2003]], [[2006 WNBA Finals\|2006]], [[2008 WNBA Finals\|2008]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2007 WNBA Finals\|2007]] \|- \| style="text-align:left" \|[[Las Vegas Aces]] {{#tag:ref\|previously known as San Antonio Silver Stars (2003–2013) and [[San Antonio Stars]] (2014–2017)\|group=lower-alpha}}\|\|2\|\|2\|\|4 ~~\| 3 \|\| [[Atlanta Dream]] \|\| 0 \|\| 2 \|\| .000 \|\| \|\| 2010, 2011~~ \|{{winpct\|2\|2}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2022 WNBA Finals\|2022]], [[2023 WNBA Finals\|2023]]\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2008 WNBA Finals\|2008]], [[2020 WNBA Finals\|2020]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[New York Liberty]]\|\|1\|\|5\|\|6 ~~\| 3 \|\| [[Minnesota Lynx]] \|\| 2 \|\| 1 \|\| .667 \|\| 2011, 2013 \|\| 2012~~ \|{{winpct\|1\|5}}\|\| style="text-align:left"\|[[2024 WNBA Finals\|2024]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[1997 WNBA Finals\|1997]], [[1999 WNBA Finals\|1999]], [[2000 WNBA Finals\|2000]], [[2002 WNBA Finals\|2002]], [[2023 WNBA Finals\|2023]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Indiana Fever]]\|\|1\|\|2\|\|3 ~~\| 2 \|\| [[Seattle Storm]] \|\| 2 \|\| 0 \|\| 1.000 \|\| 2004, 2010 \|\|~~ \|{{winpct\|1\|2}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2012 WNBA Finals\|2012]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2009 WNBA Finals\|2009]], [[2015 WNBA Finals\|2015]] \|-style="background: #ffdfdf;" \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Sacramento Monarchs]] {{#tag:ref\|folded on November 20, 2009\|group=lower-alpha}}\|\|1\|\|1\|\|2 \|{{winpct\|1\|1}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2005 WNBA Finals\|2005]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2006 WNBA Finals\|2006]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Washington Mystics]]\|\|1\|\|1\|\|2 ~~\| 2 \|\| [[Sacramento Monarchs]] <sup>4</sup> \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| .500 \|\| 2005 \|\| 2006~~ \|{{winpct\|1\|1}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2019 WNBA Finals\|2019]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2018 WNBA Finals\|2018]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Chicago Sky]]\|\|1\|\|1\|\|2 ~~\| 2 \|\| [[Connecticut Sun]] \|\| 0 \|\| 2 \|\| .000 \|\| \|\| 2004, 2005~~ \|{{winpct\|1\|1}}\|\| style="text-align:left" \|[[2021 WNBA Finals\|2021]]\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2014 WNBA Finals\|2014]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Connecticut Sun]]\|\|0\|\|4\|\|4 ~~\| 2 \|\| [[Indiana Fever]] \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| .500 \|\| 2012 \|\| 2009~~ \|{{winpct\|0\|4}}\|\|-\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2004 WNBA Finals\|2004]], [[2005 WNBA Finals\|2005]], [[2019 WNBA Finals\|2019]], [[2022 WNBA Finals\|2022]] \|- \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Atlanta Dream]]\|\|0\|\|3\|\|3 ~~\| 1 \|\| [[San Antonio Silver Stars]] \|\| 0 \|\| 1 \|\|.000 \|\| \|\| 2008~~ \|{{winpct\|0\|3}}\|\|-\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2010 WNBA Finals\|2010]], [[2011 WNBA Finals\|2011]], [[2013 WNBA Finals\|2013]] \|-style="background: #ffdfdf;" \|style="text-align:left"\|[[Charlotte Sting]] {{#tag:ref\|folded on January 3, 2007\|group=lower-alpha}}\|\|0\|\|1\|\|1 \|{{winpct\|0\|1}}\|\|-\|\|style="text-align:left"\|[[2001 WNBA Finals\|2001]] \|- ~~\| 1 \|\| [[Charlotte Sting]] <sup>1</sup> \|\| 0 \|\| 1 \|\| .000 \|\| \|\|2001~~ \|} {{reflist\|group=lower-alpha}} <sup>1</sup>Folded following [[2006 WNBA season\|2006 season]] <sup>2</sup>Folded following [[2008 WNBA season\|2008 season]] <sup>3</sup>Relocated to [[Tulsa Shock\|Tulsa]] following [[2009 WNBA season\|2009 season]] <sup>4</sup>Folded following [[2009 WNBA season\|2009 season]] ~~===Active~~Former ~~franchises~~teams ~~with~~that had no '''WNBA Finals''' appearances~~===~~: [[Cleveland Rockers]] (1997–2003) [[Chicago Sky]] - founded in 2006 [[Miami Sol]] (2000–2002) [[Washington Mystics]] - founded in 1998 [[Portland Fire]] (2000–2002) ==Records== This table shows a list of records through the history of the WNBA Finals. {\| class="~~navbox~~ wikitable" ~~style="width: 80%"~~ !colspan=5\|Finals records \|- Line 133 ⟶ 196: !Team !Date !Statistic ~~!Information~~ \|- \| Points, individual Line 142 ⟶ 205: \|- \| Rebounds, individual \| [[~~Taj~~Sylvia ~~McWilliams-Franklin~~Fowles]] \| [[~~Connecticut~~Minnesota ~~Sun~~Lynx]] \| ~~September~~October 154, ~~2005~~2017 \| 1620 rebounds \|- \| Assists, individual \| [[~~Nikki~~Sue ~~Teasley~~Bird]] \| [[~~Los~~Seattle ~~Angeles Sparks~~Storm]] \| ~~August~~October 292, ~~2002~~2020 \| 1116 assists \|- \| Steals, individual \| [[~~Kristin~~Breanna ~~Haynie~~Stewart]] \| [[~~Sacramento~~New ~~Monarchs~~York Liberty]] \| ~~August~~October 3013, ~~2006~~2024 \| 57 steals \|- \| Blocks, individual \| [[~~Lisa~~Brittney ~~Leslie~~Griner]] \| [[~~Los~~Phoenix ~~Angeles Sparks~~Mercury]] \| September 17, ~~2001~~2014 \| 78 blocks \|- \| Points, team Line 169 ⟶ 232: \| [[Phoenix Mercury]] \| September 29, 2009 \| 120 points vs. [[Indiana Fever\|Indiana]] (OT) \|- \| Rebounds, team Line 175 ⟶ 238: \| [[Detroit Shock]] \| September 8, 2007 \| 50 rebounds vs. [[Phoenix Mercury\|Phoenix]] \|- \| Assists, team \| N/A \| [[~~Los~~Seattle ~~Angeles Sparks~~Storm]] \| ~~September~~October 14, ~~2001~~2020 \| 2433 assists vs. ~~Charlotte~~[[Las Vegas Aces\|Las Vegas]] \|- \| Steals, team Line 187 ⟶ 250: \| [[Connecticut Sun]] \| October 8, 2004 \| 15 steals vs. [[Seattle Storm\|Seattle]] \|- \| Blocks, team Line 193 ⟶ 256: \| [[Minnesota Lynx]] \| October 2, 2011 \| 11 blocks vs. [[Atlanta Dream\|Atlanta]] \|- \| Career wins, coach \| [[Van Chancellor]]<br />[[Cheryl Reeve]] \| [[Houston Comets]]<br />[[Minnesota Lynx]] \| 1997-2000<br />2011-2017 \| 4 wins \|- \| Margin of victory \| N/A \| [[Seattle Storm]] ~~\| [[Los Angeles Sparks]]<BR>[[Phoenix Mercury]]~~ \| October 6, 2020 ~~\| September 1, 2001<BR>September 8, 2007~~ \| 2833-point win (8292-5459) ~~over~~<br ~~[[Charlotte Sting\|Charlotte]]<BR~~/>~~28-point win (98-70)~~ over [[~~Detroit~~Las ~~Shock~~Vegas Aces\|~~Detroit~~Las Vegas]] \|- \| Attendance, one game \| N/A \| [[Detroit Shock]] \| September 16, 2003<BRbr />September 16, 2007 \| 22,076 \|} ==See also== {{columns-list\|colwidth=30em\| [[WNBA Playoffs]] [[:Category:~~Women's National Basketball Association~~WNBA seasons]] [[WNBA Coach of the Year Award\|WNBA Coach of the Year]] [[WNBA Finals MVP Award\|WNBA Finals MVP]] Line 224 ⟶ 288: [[WNBA Rookie of the Year Award\|WNBA Rookie of the Year]] *[[Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award]] }} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== Line 232 ⟶ 300: [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1997]] [[Category:~~Women's National Basketball Association~~WNBA Finals\| ]] [[Category:Lists of basketball champions]]