2002 WNBA playoffs

The 2002 WNBA playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2002 season which ended with the Western Conference champion and defending WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks beating the Eastern Conference champion New York Liberty, 2–0. Lisa Leslie was named the MVP of the Finals.

2002 WNBA playoffs

Dates	August 15–31, 2002
Final positions
Champions	Los Angeles Sparks (Finals Champion)
East champion	New York Liberty (Coach: Richie Adubato)
West champion	Los Angeles Sparks (Coach: Michael Cooper)
← 2001 2003 →

Format

• The top 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.
• All 4 teams are seeded by basis of their standings.

Regular season standings

Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference	W	L	PCT	Conf.	GB
New York Liberty x	18	14	.563	11–10	–
Charlotte Sting x	18	14	.563	12–9	–
Washington Mystics x	17	15	.531	12–9	1.0
Indiana Fever x	16	16	.500	12–9	2.0
Orlando Miracle o	16	16	.500	13–8	2.0
Miami Sol o	15	17	.469	11–10	3.0
Cleveland Rockers o	10	22	.312	7–14	8.0
Detroit Shock o	9	23	.281	6–15	9.0

Western Conference

Western Conference	W	L	PCT	Conf.	GB
Los Angeles Sparks x	25	7	.781	17–4	–
Houston Comets x	24	8	.750	16–5	1.0
Utah Starzz x	20	12	.625	12–9	5.0
Seattle Storm x	17	15	.531	10–11	8.0
Portland Fire o	16	16	.500	8–13	9.0
Sacramento Monarchs o	14	18	.438	8–13	11.0
Phoenix Mercury o	11	21	.344	7–14	14.0
Minnesota Lynx o	10	22	.313	6–15	15.0

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

Bracket

Conference semifinals 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

Conference semifinals

- New York defeats Indiana, 2–1

• Indiana 73, New York 55 (Aug. 16)
• New York 84, Indiana 65 (Aug. 18)
• New York 75, Indiana 60 (Aug. 20)

- Washington defeats Charlotte, 2–0

• Washington 74, Charlotte 62 (Aug. 15)
• Washington 62, Charlotte 59 (Aug. 17)

- Los Angeles defeats Seattle, 2–0

• Los Angeles 78, Seattle 61 (Aug. 15)
• Los Angeles 69, Seattle 59 (Aug. 17)

- Utah defeats Houston, 2–1

• Utah 66, Houston 59 (Aug. 16)
• Houston 83, Utah 77 (2OT) (Aug. 18)
• Utah 75, Houston 72 (Aug. 20)

Conference finals

- New York defeats Washington, 2–1

• Washington 79, New York 74 (Aug. 22)
• New York 96, Washington 79 (Aug. 24)
• New York 64, Washington 57 (Aug. 25)

- Los Angeles defeats Utah, 2–0

• Los Angeles 75, Utah 67 (Aug. 22)
• Los Angeles 103, Utah 77 (Aug. 24)

WNBA Finals

Main article: 2002 WNBA Finals

- Los Angeles defeats New York, 2–0

• L.A. 71, New York 63 (Aug. 29)
• L.A. 69, New York 66 (Aug. 31)^[1][2]

See also

• List of WNBA Champions