2000 WNBA season

2000 WNBA season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationMay 29 - August 26, 2000
Games32
Teams16
Total attendance2,322,822
Average attendance9,074
TV partner(s)ESPN, NBC, Lifetime
Draft
Top draft pickBelgium Ann Wauters
Picked byCleveland Rockers
Regular season
Top seedLos Angeles Sparks
Season MVPUnited States Sheryl Swoopes (Houston)
Top scorerUnited States Sheryl Swoopes (Houston)
Playoffs
Finals championsHouston Comets
  Runners-upNew York Liberty
Finals MVPUnited States Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (Houston)

The 2000 WNBA season was the Women's National Basketball Association's fourth season. The 2000 season saw four expansion teams join the league, the Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and Seattle Storm. The 2000 WNBA expansion draft took place on December 15, 1999.[1][2] The season ended with the Houston Comets winning their fourth WNBA championship.

Regular season

Standings

Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
New York Liberty x2012.62514–7–
Cleveland Rockers x1715.53113–83.0
Orlando Miracle x1616.50013–84.0
Washington Mystics x1418.43813–86.0
Detroit Shock o1418.43810–116.0
Miami Sol o1319.4069–127.0
Indiana Fever o923.2817–1411.0
Charlotte Sting o824.2505–1612.0

Western Conference

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Los Angeles Sparks x284.87517–4–
Houston Comets x275.84417–41.0
Sacramento Monarchs x2111.65613–87.0
Phoenix Mercury x2012.62511–108.0
Utah Starzz o1814.56313–810.0
Minnesota Lynx o1517.4695–1613.0
Portland Fire o1022.3134–1718.0
Seattle Storm o626.1884–1722.0

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

Playoffs

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 semifinals
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

Awards

Reference:[3]

Individual

Award Winner Team
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets
Finals MVP Cynthia Cooper Houston Comets
Defensive Player of the Year Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets
Most Improved Player Tari Phillips New York Liberty
Shooting Champions Field goal percentage Murriel Page Washington Mystics
Free throw percentage Jennifer Azzi Utah Starzz
Rookie of the Year Betty Lennox Minnesota Lynx
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Suzie McConnell Serio Cleveland Rockers
Entrepreneurial Achievement Award Monica Lamb Houston Comets
Coach of the Year Michael Cooper Los Angeles Sparks

Team

Award Player Team
All-WNBA First Team Sheryl SwoopesHouston Comets
Natalie WilliamsUtah Starzz
Lisa LeslieLos Angeles Sparks
Cynthia CooperHouston Comets
Ticha PenicheiroSacramento Monarchs
Second Team  Katie SmithMinnesota Lynx
Tina ThompsonHouston Comets
Yolanda GriffithSacramento Monarchs
Teresa WeatherspoonNew York Liberty
Betty Lennox (tied)Minnesota Lynx
Shannon Johnson (tied)Orlando Miracle

Players of the Week

Week ending Player Team
June 5 Brandy Reed Phoenix Mercury
June 12 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets
June 19 Katie Smith Minnesota Lynx
June 26 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
July 3 Tari Phillips New York Liberty
July 10 Lisa Leslie (2) Los Angeles Sparks
July 17 Natalie Williams Utah Starzz
July 24 Lisa Leslie (3) Los Angeles Sparks
July 31 Adrienne Goodson Utah Starzz
August 7 Yolanda Griffith Sacramento Monarchs

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

References

  1. ↑ "W.N.B.A.: EXPANSION DRAFT; Indiana Chooses Guard From L.A." The New York Times. December 16, 1999. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ Gustkey, Earl (December 16, 1999). "Sparks Lose Starting Guard in Expansion Draft". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  3. ↑ "2000 WNBA Season Awards - WNBA". www.wnba.com. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
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