2003 WNBA season

Last updated

2003 WNBA season
League Women's National Basketball Association
Sport Basketball
DurationMay 22 - August 25, 2003
Number of games34
Number of teams14
Total attendance2,100,630
Average attendance8,826
TV partner(s) ABC, ESPN, Oxygen
2003 WNBA Draft
Top draft pick Flag of the United States.svg LaToya Thomas
Picked by Cleveland Rockers
Regular season
Season MVP Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lauren Jackson (Seattle)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Detroit Shock
  Eastern runners-up Connecticut Sun
Western champions Los Angeles Sparks
  Western runners-up Sacramento Monarchs
Finals
Champions Detroit Shock
  Runners-up Los Angeles Sparks
Finals MVP Flag of the United States.svg Ruth Riley (Detroit)
WNBA seasons

The 2003 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's seventh season. It was first season in which teams either folded or relocated, as well as the first to have teams that were not co-owned with NBA teams. The Orlando Miracle relocated to Connecticut and became the Connecticut Sun, the Utah Starzz relocated to San Antonio, Texas and became the San Antonio Silver Stars. Meanwhile, both the Miami Sol and the Portland Fire folded, while the Charlotte Sting became the second WNBA team without a brother NBA team. The schedule increased from 32 games per team to 34. The season ended with the Detroit Shock winning their first WNBA Championship.

Contents

Regular season standings

Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Detroit Shock x259.73513–412–518–6
Charlotte Sting x1816.5297.013–45–1212–12
Connecticut Sun x1816.5297.010–78–911–13
Cleveland Rockers x1717.5008.011–66–1113–11
Indiana Fever o1618.4719.011–65–1212–12
New York Liberty o1618.4719.011–65–1211–13
Washington Mystics o925.26516.03–146–117–17

Western Conference

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Los Angeles Sparks x2410.70611–613–417–7
Houston Comets x2014.5884.014–36–1114–10
Sacramento Monarchs x1915.5595.012–57–1013–11
Minnesota Lynx x1816.5296.011–67–1014–10
Seattle Storm o1816.5296.013–45–1211–13
San Antonio Silver Stars o1222.35312.09–83–1410–14
Phoenix Mercury o826.23516.06–112–155–19

Season award winners

AwardWinnerTeam
WNBA Finals MVP Award Ruth Riley Detroit Shock
WNBA Most Valuable Player Award Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets
WNBA Most Improved Player Award Michelle Snow Houston Comets
WNBA Peak Performer Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm
WNBA Peak Performer Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award Cheryl Ford Detroit Shock
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Edna Campbell Sacramento Monarchs
WNBA Coach of the Year Award Bill Laimbeer Detroit Shock

Playoffs

First Round
Best of 3
Conference Finals
Best of 3
WNBA Finals
Best of 3
         
E1 Detroit 2
E4 Cleveland 1
E1 Detroit 2
Eastern Conference
E3 Connecticut 0
E2 Charlotte 0
E3 Connecticut 2
E1 Detroit 2
W1 Los Angeles 1
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Minnesota 1
W1 Los Angeles 2
Western Conference
W3 Sacramento 1
W2 Houston 1
W3 Sacramento 2

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

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