1998 WNBA playoffs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dates | August 22–September 1, 1998 |
|---|---|
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Houston Comets (Finals Champion) |
The 1998 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 1998 season which ended with the Houston Comets beating the Phoenix Mercury, 2-1. Cynthia Cooper was named the MVP of the Finals. The Comets repeated as champions.
Regular season standings
[edit ]Eastern Conference
| Eastern Conference | W | L | PCT | Conf. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Rockers x | 20 | 10 | .667 | 12–4 | – |
| Charlotte Sting x | 18 | 12 | .600 | 11–5 | 2.0 |
| New York Liberty o | 18 | 12 | .600 | 8–8 | 2.0 |
| Detroit Shock o | 17 | 13 | .567 | 8–8 | 3.0 |
| Washington Mystics o | 3 | 27 | .100 | 1–15 | 17.0 |
Western Conference
| Western Conference | W | L | PCT | Conf. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Comets x | 27 | 3 | .900 | 15–1 | – |
| Phoenix Mercury x | 19 | 11 | .633 | 10–6 | 8.0 |
| Los Angeles Sparks o | 12 | 18 | .400 | 6–10 | 15.0 |
| Sacramento Monarchs o | 8 | 22 | .267 | 5–11 | 19.0 |
| Utah Starzz o | 8 | 22 | .267 | 4–12 | 19.0 |
Note: Teams with an "X" clinched playoff spots.
Playoffs
[edit ]Format
[edit ]- The four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four.
- Each round of the playoffs was a best-of-three series.
Bracket
[edit ] Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 WNBA Championship
Best-of-3
Best-of-3 WNBA Championship
Best-of-3
1
Houston
2
4
Charlotte
0
1
Houston
2
3
Phoenix
1
2
Cleveland
1
3
Phoenix
2
- Bold – Series winner
Semifinals
[edit ]Houston Comets vs. Charlotte Sting
[edit ]August 22
Houston Comets 85, Charlotte Sting 71
Scoring by half: 39–37, 46–34
Pts: Cynthia Cooper 27
Rebs: Tina Thompson 10
Asts: Kim Perrot 6 Pts: Rhonda Mapp 16
Rebs: Andrea Stinson 7
Asts: Andrea Stinson 7
Rebs: Tina Thompson 10
Asts: Kim Perrot 6 Pts: Rhonda Mapp 16
Rebs: Andrea Stinson 7
Asts: Andrea Stinson 7
Houston leads series, 1–0
Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina
Attendance: 6,087
Referees: Bob Trammell, Teresa Dahlem, Sally Bell
Attendance: 6,087
Referees: Bob Trammell, Teresa Dahlem, Sally Bell
August 24
Charlotte Sting 61, Houston Comets 77
Scoring by half: 34–45, 27–32
Pts: Tracy Reid 18
Rebs: Vicky Bullett 11
Asts: Andrea Stinson 6 Pts: Cynthia Cooper 23
Rebs: Tina Thompson 14
Asts: Cooper, Perrot 5 each
Rebs: Vicky Bullett 11
Asts: Andrea Stinson 6 Pts: Cynthia Cooper 23
Rebs: Tina Thompson 14
Asts: Cooper, Perrot 5 each
Houston wins series, 2–0
Compaq Center, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 11,901
Referees: Bill Stokes, Gary Zielinski, Jason Phillips
Attendance: 11,901
Referees: Bill Stokes, Gary Zielinski, Jason Phillips
Cleveland Rockers vs. Phoenix Mercury
[edit ]August 22
Cleveland Rockers 68, Phoenix Mercury 78
Scoring by half: 31–37, 37–41
Pts: Isabelle Fijalkowski 20
Rebs: Isabelle Fijalkowski 9
Asts: Nemcova, Edwards 4 each Pts: Jennifer Gillom 21
Rebs: Gillom, Reed 5 each
Asts: Umeki Webb 6
Rebs: Isabelle Fijalkowski 9
Asts: Nemcova, Edwards 4 each Pts: Jennifer Gillom 21
Rebs: Gillom, Reed 5 each
Asts: Umeki Webb 6
Phoenix leads series, 1–0
America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 11,631
Referees: Stan Gaxiola, June Courteau, Michael Price
Attendance: 11,631
Referees: Stan Gaxiola, June Courteau, Michael Price
August 24
Phoenix Mercury 66, Cleveland Rockers 67
Scoring by half: 24–32, 42–35
Pts: Jennifer Gillom 27
Rebs: Jennifer Gillom 10
Asts: Michele Timms 6 Pts: Michelle Edwards 18
Rebs: Janice Braxton 10
Asts: Suzie McConnell-Serio 9
Rebs: Jennifer Gillom 10
Asts: Michele Timms 6 Pts: Michelle Edwards 18
Rebs: Janice Braxton 10
Asts: Suzie McConnell-Serio 9
Series tied, 1–1
Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 10,465
Referees: Scott Yarbrough, Patty Broderick, Bill Kennedy
Attendance: 10,465
Referees: Scott Yarbrough, Patty Broderick, Bill Kennedy
August 25
Phoenix Mercury 71, Cleveland Rockers 60
Scoring by half: 32–35, 39–25
Pts: Bridget Pettis 27
Rebs: Bridget Pettis 11
Asts: Michele Timms 8 Pts: Isabelle Fijalkowski 17
Rebs: Isabelle Fijalkowski 11
Asts: Eva Nemcova 5
Rebs: Bridget Pettis 11
Asts: Michele Timms 8 Pts: Isabelle Fijalkowski 17
Rebs: Isabelle Fijalkowski 11
Asts: Eva Nemcova 5
Phoenix wins series, 2–1
WNBA Championship
[edit ]Main article: 1998 WNBA Championship
August 27
Houston Comets 51, Phoenix Mercury 54
Scoring by half: 29–33, 22–21
Pts: Cynthia Cooper 29
Rebs: Sheryl Swoopes 11
Asts: Swoopes, Perrot 6 each Pts: Jennifer Gillom 15
Rebs: Michelle Griffiths 12
Asts: Michele Timms 5
Rebs: Sheryl Swoopes 11
Asts: Swoopes, Perrot 6 each Pts: Jennifer Gillom 15
Rebs: Michelle Griffiths 12
Asts: Michele Timms 5
Phoenix leads series, 1–0
America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 13,634
Referees: Bill Stokes, June Courteau, Bill Kennedy
Attendance: 13,634
Referees: Bill Stokes, June Courteau, Bill Kennedy
August 29
Phoenix Mercury 69, Houston Comets 74 (OT)
Scoring by half: 37–32, 29–34 Overtime: 3–8
Pts: Michele Timms 21
Rebs: Jennifer Gillom 9
Asts: Michelle Griffiths 3 Pts: Cynthia Cooper 27
Rebs: Sheryl Swoopes 13
Asts: Cynthia Cooper 6
Rebs: Jennifer Gillom 9
Asts: Michelle Griffiths 3 Pts: Cynthia Cooper 27
Rebs: Sheryl Swoopes 13
Asts: Cynthia Cooper 6
Series tied, 1–1
September 1
Phoenix Mercury 71, Houston Comets 80
Scoring by half: 26–32, 45–48
Pts: Michelle Griffiths 24
Rebs: Jennifer Gillom 6
Asts: Michele Timms 7 Pts: Cynthia Cooper 23
Rebs: Tina Thompson 6
Asts: Swoopes, Cooper 6 each
Rebs: Jennifer Gillom 6
Asts: Michele Timms 7 Pts: Cynthia Cooper 23
Rebs: Tina Thompson 6
Asts: Swoopes, Cooper 6 each
Houston wins series, 2–1
Compaq Center, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,285
Referees: June Courteau, Gary Zielinski, Bill Kennedy
Attendance: 16,285
Referees: June Courteau, Gary Zielinski, Bill Kennedy