2017 WNBA playoffs

The 2017 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2017 season.

2017 WNBA Playoffs

Dates	September 6 - October 4, 2017
Final positions
Champions	Minnesota Lynx (Finals champion)
Higher seed finalist	Minnesota Lynx (Coach: Cheryl Reeve)
Lower seed finalist	Los Angeles Sparks (Coach: Brian Agler)

Format

Following the WNBA regular season, eight teams in the entire league qualified for the playoffs and were seeded one to eight. Regular season records determined the seedings of the teams. The team with the best record received seed one, the team with the next best record received seed two, and so on. The top two seeds get double byes, while the next two seeds get first-round byes.

These seedings were used to create a bracket that determines the match-ups throughout the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs consisted of two match-ups based on the seedings (5-8 and 6-7). The two winners advanced to the second round with a match-up between the number 3 seed and the lower of the advancing seeds and another match-up between the number 4 seed and the other first round winner. The winners of the first two rounds advanced to the semifinals, where the lower ranked seed of the winners faced the number 1 seed, while the other remaining team faced the number 2 seed.

The first two rounds are single elimination games played on the higher ranking seed's home court. The semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series played in a 2-2-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage (better record) hosts games 1, 2, and 5 while their opponent hosts games 3 and 4.

Tiebreak procedures

1. Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
2. Better winning percentage against teams within conference (for Finals only: better record against teams in # the opposite conference).
3. Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
4. Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
5. Coin toss (or draw of lots, if at least 3 teams are still tied after the first 4 tiebreakers fail).

Playoff qualifying

Seed	Team	Record	Clinched
			Playoff berth	Bye to Semis	Top Record
1	Minnesota Lynx	27–7
2	Los Angeles Sparks	26–8
3	New York Liberty	22–12
4	Connecticut Sun	21–13
5	Phoenix Mercury	18–16
6	Washington Mystics	18–16
7	Dallas Wings	16–18
8	Seattle Storm	15–19

Playoffs and Finals

See also: 2017 WNBA Finals

Bracket

	First round: Single elimination (Sept. 6)					Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 10)					Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 12 – Sept. 17)							WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Sept. 24 – Oct. 4)
											2	Los Angeles Sparks	79	86	89
						4	Connecticut Sun	83			5	Phoenix Mercury	66	72	87
	5	Phoenix Mercury	79			5	Phoenix Mercury	88										1	Minnesota Lynx	84	70	64	80	85
	8	Seattle Storm	69															2	Los Angeles Sparks	85	68	75	69	76
											1	Minnesota Lynx	101	93	81
						3	New York Liberty	68			6	Washington Mystics	81	83	70
	6	Washington Mystics	86			6	Washington Mystics	82
	7	Dallas Wings	76

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

First round

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(6) Washington Mystics vs. (7) Dallas Wings

ESPN2

September 6 8:00 PM

Game 1

Dallas Wings 76, Washington Mystics 86
Scoring by quarter: 12-18, 22-16, 16-25, 26-27
Pts: Powers 21 Rebs: Johnson 14 Asts: four tied 3		Pts: Delle Donne 25 Rebs: Thomas 17 Asts: Meesseman 5
Washington wins series 1-0

Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. Attendance: 6,483 Referees: Tiara Cruse, Tim Greene, Tom Nunez

Regular-season series

Dallas won 2–1 in the regular-season series
June 6, 2017 Report Washington Mystics 101, Dallas Wings 89 College Park Center, Arlington, TX June 18, 2017 Report Dallas Wings 87, Washington Mystics 83 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. August 26, 2017 Report Dallas Wings 83, Washington Mystics 78 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

(5) Phoenix Mercury vs. (8) Seattle Storm

ESPN2

September 6 10:00 PM

Game 1

Seattle Storm 69, Phoenix Mercury 79
Scoring by quarter: 17–16, 14–16, 15–24, 23-23
Pts: Stewart 23 Rebs: Stewart 8 Asts: Bird 5		Pts: Griner 23 Rebs: Griner 11 Asts: three tied 3
Phoenix wins series 1-0

Wells Fargo Arena, Temple, AZ Attendance: 5,764 Referees: Tiffany Bird, Eric Brewton, Cheryl Flores, Kurt Walker

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 2–1 in the regular-season series
June 23, 2017 Report Phoenix Mercury 85, Seattle Storm 82 KeyArena, Seattle, WA August 12, 2017 Report Seattle Storm 98, Phoenix Mercury 89 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ August 27, 2017 Report Phoenix Mercury 75, Seattle Storm 71 KeyArena, Seattle, WA

Second round

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(4) Connecticut Sun vs. (5) Phoenix Mercury

ESPN2

September 10 3:00 PM

Game 1

Phoenix Mercury 88, Connecticut Sun 83
Scoring by quarter: 18-29, 25–21, 25–18, 20-15
Pts: Griner 26 Rebs: Griner 9 Asts: Mitchell 5		Pts: A. Thomas 20 Rebs: Jones 15 Asts: J. Thomas 4
Phoenix wins series 1-0

Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT Attendance: 8,420 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Roy Gulbeyan, Byron Jarrett

Regular-season series

Connecticut won 2–1 in the regular-season series
August 4, 2017 Report Phoenix Mercury 92, Connecticut Sun 93 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT August 20, 2017 Report Phoenix Mercury 66, Connecticut Sun 94 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT September 1, 2017 Report Connecticut Sun 66, Phoenix Mercury 86 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ

(3) New York Liberty vs. (6) Washington Mystics

ESPN2

September 10 5:00 PM

Game 1

Washington Mystics 82, New York Liberty 68
Scoring by quarter: 10-21, 25–20, 25–10, 22-17
Pts: Toliver 32 Rebs: Delle Donne 10 Asts: Ruffin-Pratt & Toliver 4		Pts: Charles 18 Rebs: Charles & Zellous 6 Asts: Hartley 5
Washington wins series 1-0

Madison Square Garden New York, New York Attendance: 9,538 Referees: Sue Blauch, Billy Smith, Jeff Wooten

Regular-season series

New York won 2–1 in the regular-season series
June 29, 2017 Report New York Liberty 54, Washington Mystics 67 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. July 16, 2017 Report Washington Mystics 55, New York Liberty 85 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY August 25, 2017 Report Washington Mystics 66, New York Liberty 74 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Semifinals

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (6) Washington Mystics

ESPN2

September 12 8:00 PM

Game 1

Washington Mystics 81, Minnesota Lynx 101
Scoring by quarter: 18–26, 20-27, 18-31, 25–17
Pts: Delle Donne 17 Rebs: Delle Donne 6 Asts: Toliver 6		Pts: Augustus 24 Rebs: Fowles 7 Asts: Moore 4

Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 7,834 Referees: JB DeRosa, Maj Forsberg, Billy Smith

ESPN2

September 14 8:00 PM

Game 2

Washington Mystics 83, Minnesota Lynx 93
Scoring by quarter: 29–19, 18-26, 17–24, 19–24
Pts: Delle Donne & Toliver 25 Rebs: Thomas 7 Asts: Toliver 6		Pts: Fowles 25 Rebs: Brunson 10 Asts: Whalen 7

Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 9,033 Referees: Sue Blauch, Roy Gulbeyan, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal

ESPN

September 17 3:00 PM

Game 3

Minnesota Lynx 81, Washington Mystics 70
Scoring by quarter: 18–16, 20–23, 21–14, 22–17
Pts: Moore 21 Rebs: Fowles 14 Asts: Moore & Whalen 5		Pts: Delle Donne 15 Rebs: Delle Donne 8 Asts: Toliver 5
Minnesota wins series 3-0

Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. Attendance: 7,950 Referees: Cheryl Flores, Kurt Walker, Jeff Wooten

Regular-season series

Minnesota won 3–0 in the regular-season series
June 9, 2017 Report Minnesota Lynx 98, Washington Mystics 73 Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. June 23, 2016 Report Washington Mystics 76, Minnesota Lynx 93 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN September 3, 2017 Report Washington Mystics 72, Minnesota Lynx 86 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN

(2) Los Angeles Sparks vs. (5) Phoenix Mercury

ESPN2

September 12 10:00 PM

Game 1

Phoenix Mercury 66, Los Angeles Sparks 79
Scoring by quarter: 23–19, 19-23, 6-14, 18-23
Pts: Mitchell 19 Rebs: Little 11 Asts: Mitchell 4		Pts: Ogwumike 19 Rebs: Ogwumike 9 Asts: Gray 6

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 7,963 Referees: Tiffany Bird, Jeff Smith, Kurt Walker

ESPN2

September 14 10:00 PM

Game 2

Phoenix Mercury 72, Los Angeles Sparks 86
Scoring by quarter: 19–22, 16-21, 20-18, 17–25
Pts: Taurasi 21 Rebs: Mitchell 6 Asts: Taurasi 4		Pts: Parker 24 Rebs: Parker 13 Asts: Gray & Parker 6

Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, CA Attendance: 4,023 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Byron Jarrett, Thomas Nunez

ESPN

September 17 5:00 PM

Game 3

Los Angeles Sparks 89, Phoenix Mercury 87
Scoring by quarter: 21–25, 24–13, 18–24, 26–25
Pts: Sims 22 Rebs: Ogwumike 12 Asts: Parker 11		Pts: Taurasi 22 Rebs: Griner & Little 8 Asts: Mitchell & Taurasi 5
Los Angeles wins series 3-0

Talking Stick Resort Arena Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 12,043 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Billy Smith

Regular-season series

Los Angeles won 3–0 in the regular-season series
June 10, 2017 Report Los Angeles Sparks 89, Phoenix Mercury 87 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ June 18, 2017 Report Phoenix Mercury 59, Los Angeles Sparks 90 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA August 24, 2017 Report Los Angeles Sparks 82, Phoenix Mercury 67 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ

Finals

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (2) Los Angeles Sparks

Main article: 2017 WNBA Finals

ABC

September 24 3:30pm ET

Game 1

Los Angeles Sparks 85, Minnesota Lynx 84
Scoring by quarter: 32–11, 11–22, 25–23, 17–28
Pts: Gray 27 Rebs: Parker 12 Asts: Gray 6		Pts: Moore 27 Rebs: Fowles 13 Asts: Whalen 6

Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 11,823 Referees: Cheryl Flores, Kurt Walker, Jeff Wooten

ESPN2

September 26 8:00pm ET

Game 2

Los Angeles Sparks 68, Minnesota Lynx 70
Scoring by quarter: 10–28, 16–17, 24–15, 18–10
Pts: Parker 17 Rebs: Ogwumike 13 Asts: Parker 6		Pts: Whalen 14 Rebs: Fowles 17 Asts: Brunson, Whalen 3

Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 11,434 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Bryon Jarrett, Billy Smith

ESPN2

September 29 9:00pm ET

Game 3

Minnesota Lynx 64, Los Angeles Sparks 75
Scoring by quarter: 8–17, 18–15, 22–24, 16–19
Pts: Moore 16 Rebs: Fowles 11 Asts: Jones 4		Pts: Ogwumike, Sims 16 Rebs: Ogwumike 10 Asts: Gray 7

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 13,500 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Roy Gulbeyan

ESPN

October 1 8:30pm ET

Game 4

Minnesota Lynx 80, Los Angeles Sparks 69
Scoring by quarter: 21–16, 22–15, 18–13, 19–25
Pts: Fowles 22 Rebs: Fowles 14 Asts: Whalen 8		Pts: Sims 18 Rebs: Ogwumike, Parker 8 Asts: Gray 9

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 13,500 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Billy Smith, Kurt Walker

ESPN

October 4 8:00pm ET

Game 5

Los Angeles Sparks 76, Minnesota Lynx 85
Scoring by quarter: 19–21, 16–20, 21–19, 20–25
Pts: Parker 19 Rebs: Parker 15 Asts: Gray 8		Pts: Moore 18 Rebs: Fowles 20 Asts: Whalen 8
Minnesota wins series 3-2

Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 14,632 Referees: Sue Blauch, Roy Gulbeyan, Byron Jarrett

Regular-season series

Los Angeles won 2–1 in the regular-season series
July 6, 2017 Report Los Angeles Sparks 77, Minnesota Lynx 88 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN August 11, 2016 Report Los Angeles Sparks 70, Minnesota Lynx 64 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN August 27, 2017 Report Minnesota Lynx 67, Los Angeles Sparks 78 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA