Eastern Conference (WNBA)

Last updated
Eastern Conference
League WNBA
Sport Basketball
Inaugural season 1997
No. of teams6
Most recent
champion(s)		 Indiana Fever (2015)
Most titles Detroit Shock (4)

The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams. [1]

Contents

From the league's second season in 1998 through 2015, the WNBA operated separate playoff brackets for its Eastern and Western Conferences. Each conference's playoff was divided into two playoff rounds, the Conference Semi-Finals and the Conference Finals, with the Conference Finals winners receiving Conference Championships and advancing to the WNBA Finals to determine the WNBA champion. In the final years of this playoff scheme, all in-conference playoff series were best-of-three.

Since 2016, the league has abandoned separate conference playoffs in favor of a single league-wide playoff bracket. The top eight teams in the regular season, without regard to conference affiliation, advance to the playoffs, which are seeded based strictly on regular-season record (with tiebreakers as needed). The bottom four playoff teams play single-elimination games (5 vs. 8, 6 vs. 7) in the first round, with the higher seeds (5 and 6) hosting the games. The first-round winners advance to the second round, where they play the 3 and 4 seeds in single-elimination games. The 3 seed hosts the lower seed among the first-round winners, with the 4 seed hosting the other first-round survivor. The winners of these games advance to the WNBA Semifinals, where they face the top two seeds in best-of-five series. In this round, the 1 seed plays the lower seed among the second-round winners, and the 2 seed plays the other second-round winner. Both series are best-of-five and played in a 2–2–1 formet, with the higher seeds (1 and 2) hosting the first two games plus a possible fifth game. The winners of these series advance to the best-of-five WNBA Finals.

Teams

TeamCity/AreaArenaColorsJoined WNBAHead coach
Atlanta Dream College Park, Georgia Gateway Center Arena Sky blue, red, white2008 Tanisha Wright
Chicago Sky Chicago, Illinois Wintrust Arena Sky blue, yellow, white2006 James Wade
Connecticut Sun Uncasville, Connecticut Mohegan Sun Arena Navy blue, red, gold, white1999* Curt Miller
Indiana Fever Indianapolis, Indiana Hinkle Fieldhouse [lower-alpha 1] Navy blue, gold, red, white2000 Carlos Knox
New York Liberty Brooklyn, New York Barclays Center Black, green, orange, white1997 Sandy Brondello
Washington Mystics Washington, D.C. Entertainment and Sports Arena Navy, gray, white, red1998 Mike Thibault
  1. ↑ Temporary home during renovation of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Former teams

Defunct

Changed to Western Conference

Relocated

Eastern Conference champions

The WNBA awarded conference championships between 1998 and 2015 to the winners of the Conference Finals in the playoffs. Conference championships were not awarded in the 1997 inaugural season, and they were again discontinued since the WNBA adopted its current single-table playoff format in 2016.

WNBA champions in bold

All-time regular-season conference standings

2023 season

#Team
W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 Las Vegas Aces 192.905–11–111–08–29–1
2 New York Liberty 144.7783.58–37–27–27–3
3 Connecticut Sun 155.7503.58–37–38–27–3
4 Atlanta Dream 118.57977–54–57–36–4
5 Washington Mystics 118.57976–67–24–65–5
6 Dallas Wings 119.5507.57–57–24–76–4
7 Minnesota Lynx 911.4509.57–64–75–45–5
8 Chicago Sky 812.40010.53–104–74–53–7
9 Los Angeles Sparks 713.35011.56–85–62–75–5
10 Indiana Fever 515.26313.53–81–74–82–8
11 Phoenix Mercury 415.211142–113–61–91–9
12 Seattle Storm 416.20014.54–62–92–74–6

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2022 season

#
Team
 W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1x – Las Vegas Aces 2610.722–15–313–513–59–1
2x – Chicago Sky 2610.722–15–314–412–69–1
3x – Connecticut Sun 2511.6941.011–713–512–65–5
4x – Seattle Storm 2214.6114.010–813–59–96–4
5x – Washington Mystics 2214.6114.011–712–610–85–5
6x – Dallas Wings 1818.5008.08–108–1010–85–5
7x – New York Liberty 1620.44410.010–89–97–116–4
8x – Phoenix Mercury 1521.41711.07–1111–74–143–7
9e – Minnesota Lynx 1422.38912.08–107–117–114–6
10e – Atlanta Dream 1422.38912.05–138–106–123–7
11e – Los Angeles Sparks 1323.36113.06–127–116–123–7
12e – Indiana Fever 531.13921.02–163–152–162–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2021 season

#Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1x – Connecticut Sun 266.813–12–315–111–59–1
2x – Las Vegas Aces 248.750211–413–311–56–4
3x – Minnesota Lynx 2210.688410–513–39–77–3
4x – Seattle Storm 2111.65659–611–510–68–2
5x – Phoenix Mercury 1913.59476–97–912–45–5
6x – Chicago Sky 1616.5001010–56–1010–66–4
7x – Dallas Wings 1418.438127–87–97–93–7
8x – New York Liberty 1220.375146–97–95–115–5
9e – Washington Mystics 1220.375147–88–84–124–6
10e – Los Angeles Sparks 1220.375142–138–84–121–9
11e – Atlanta Dream 824.250186–94–124–124–6
12e – Indiana Fever 626.188204–114–122–142–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2020 season

#Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1x – Las Vegas Aces 184.818–8–2
2x – Seattle Storm 184.818–8–2
3x – Los Angeles Sparks 157.68235–5
4x – Minnesota Lynx 148.63644–6
5x – Phoenix Mercury 139.59154–6
6x – Chicago Sky 1210.54566–4
7x – Connecticut Sun 1012.45587–3
8x – Washington Mystics 913.40996–4
9e – Dallas Wings 814.364101–9
10e – Atlanta Dream 715.318115–5
11e – Indiana Fever 616.273124–6
12e – New York Liberty 220.091162–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs
Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.
Updated to include results from September 13, 2020
Source

2019 season

# Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Washington Mystics (1)268.765–14–312–513–3
2 Connecticut Sun (2)2311.676315–28–911–5
3 Chicago Sky (5)2014.588612–58–911–5
4e –Indiana Fever 1321.382137–106–117–9
5e –New York Liberty 1024.294164–136–113–13
6e –Atlanta Dream 826.235185–123–143–13

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing, Playoff Seeds shown to the right of team name
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2018 season

# Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Atlanta Dream (2)2311.676–13–410–712–4
2 Washington Mystics (3)2212.647112–510–712–4
3 Connecticut Sun (4)2113.618213–48–99–7
4e – Chicago Sky 1321.382107–106–116–10
5e – New York Liberty 727.206164–133–146–10
6e – Indiana Fever 628.176172–154–133–13

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing, Playoff Seeds shown to the right of team name
x – Clinched Playoff Berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2017 season

# Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 New York Liberty - (3)2212.647-13–49–810–6
2 Connecticut Sun - (4)2113.636112–59–610–6
3 Washington Mystics - (6)1816.529411–67–1012-4
4 Chicago Sky - e1222.353104–138–96–10
5 Atlanta Dream - e1222.353109–83–145–11
6 Indiana Fever - e925.265136–113–144–12

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing
Playoff Seeds shown next to team name
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2016 season

Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
3 - New York Liberty 2113.618-10-711-611-5
4 - Chicago Sky 1816.529311-67-108-8
5 - Indiana Fever 1717.50048-99-88-8
6 - Atlanta Dream 1717.500411-66–119-7
e - Connecticut Sun 1420.41278-96-114-12
e - Washington Mystics 1321.38285-128-98-8

Notes

# – Playoff seed
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2015 season

Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
x - New York Liberty 2311.676–12–511–613–9
x - Chicago Sky 2113.618213–48–914–8
x - Indiana Fever 2014.588311–69–813–9
x - Washington Mystics 1816.529511–67–1010–12
e - Atlanta Dream 1519.44189–86–1110–12
e - Connecticut Sun 1519.44188–97–106–16

Notes

x – Clinched playoff spot
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2014 season

# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB GP
1y- Atlanta Dream 1915.559-34
2x- Indiana Fever 1618.4713.034
3x-Washington Mystics 1618.4713.034
4x-Chicago Sky 1519.4414.034
5e-New York Liberty 1519.4414.034
6e-Connecticut Sun 1321.3826.034

2013 season

# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB GP
1z-Chicago Sky 2410.706-34
2x-Atlanta Dream 1717.500734
3x-Washington Mystics 1717.500734
4x-Indiana Fever 1618.471834
5e-New York Liberty 1123.3241334
6e-Connecticut Sun 1024.2941434

2012 season

Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Connecticut Sun y259.735–12–513–418–4
Indiana Fever x2212.6473.013–49–815–7
Atlanta Dream x1915.5596.011–68–912–10
New York Liberty x1519.44110.09–86–1110–12
Chicago Sky o1420.41211.07–107–108–14
Washington Mystics o529.14720.04–131–163–19

2011 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Indiana Fever x2113.618–13–48–913–9
Connecticut Sun x2113.618–15–26–1114–8
Atlanta Dream x2014.5881.011–69–814–8
New York Liberty x1915.5592.012-57–1011–11
Chicago Sky o1420.4127.010–74–1310–12
Washington Mystics o628.17615.04–132–154–18

2010 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Washington Mystics x2212.647–13–49–813–9
New York Liberty x2212.647–13–49–814–8
Indiana Fever x2113.6181.013–48–913–9
Atlanta Dream x1915.5593.010–79–810–12
Connecticut Sun o1717.5005.012–55–129–13
Chicago Sky o1420.4128.07–107–107–15

2009 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Indiana Fever x2212.647–14–38–917–5
Atlanta Dream x1816.5294.012–56–1110–12
Detroit Shock x1816.5294.011–67–1011–11
Washington Mystics x1618.4716.011–65–1210–12
Chicago Sky o1618.4716.012–54–1310–12
Connecticut Sun o1618.4716.012–54–139–12
New York Liberty o1321.3829.08–95–128–13

2008 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Detroit Shock x2212.647–14–38–916–4
Connecticut Sun x2113.6181.013–48–913–7
New York Liberty x1915.5593.011–68–911–9
Indiana Fever x1717.5005.011–66–1112–8
Chicago Sky o1222.35310.08–94–1310–10
Washington Mystics o1024.29412.06–114–136–14
Atlanta Dream o430.11818.01–163–142–18

2007 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Detroit Shock x2410.706–12–512–514–6
Indiana Fever x2113.6183.012–59–812–8
Connecticut Sun x1816.5296.08–910–710–10
New York Liberty x1618.4718.010–76–1110–10
Washington Mystics o1618.4718.08–98–98–12
Chicago Sky o1420.41210.06–118–96–14

2006 season

Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
z - Connecticut Sun 268.765–14–312–515–5
x - Detroit Shock 2311.6763.014–39–814–6
x - Indiana Fever 2113.6185.012–59–812–8
x - Washington Mystics 1816.5298.013–45–1212–8
e - New York Liberty 1123.32415.07–104–137–13
e - Charlotte Sting 1123.32415.07–104–36–14
e - Chicago Sky 529.14721.03–142–154–16

2005 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Connecticut Sun x268.765–14–312–513–7
Indiana Fever x2113.6185.014–37–1014–6
New York Liberty x1816.5298.010–78–99–11
Detroit Shock x1618.47110.012–54–1311–9
Washington Mystics o1618.47110.010–76–119–11
Charlotte Sting o628.17620.05–121–164–16

2004 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Connecticut Sun x1816.529–10–78–914–6
New York Liberty x1816.529–11–67–1010–10
Detroit Shock x1717.5001.08–99–811–9
Washington Mystics x1717.5001.011–66–119–11
Charlotte Sting o1618.4712.010–76–118–12
Indiana Fever o1519.4413.010–75–128–12

2003 season

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Detroit Shock x259.735–13–412–518–6
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

2002 season

Eastern Conference WLPCTConf.GB
New York Liberty x1814.56311–10–
Charlotte Sting x1814.56312–9–
Washington Mystics x1715.53112–91.0
Indiana Fever x1616.50012–92.0
Orlando Miracle o1616.50013–82.0
Miami Sol o1517.46911–103.0
Cleveland Rockers o1022.3127–148.0
Detroit Shock o923.2816–159.0

2001 season

Eastern Conference WLPCTConf.GB
Cleveland Rockers x2210.68815–6–
New York Liberty x2111.65613–81.0
Miami Sol x2012.62514–72.0
Charlotte Sting x1814.56315–64.0
Orlando Miracle o1319.4069–129.0
Indiana Fever o1022.3137–1412.0
Detroit Shock o1022.3137–1412.0
Washington Mystics o1022.3134–1712.0

2000 season

Eastern Conference WLPCTConf.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

1999 season

Eastern Conference WLPCTConf.GB
New York Liberty x1814.56312–8–
Detroit Shock x1517.46912–83.0
Charlotte Sting x1517.46912–83.0
Orlando Miracle o1517.4699–113.0
Washington Mystics o1220.37510–106.0
Cleveland Rockers o725.2195–1511.0

1998 season

Eastern Conference WLPCTConf.GB
Cleveland Rockers x2010.66712–4–
Charlotte Sting x1812.60011–52.0
New York Liberty o1812.6008–82.0
Detroit Shock o1713.5678–83.0
Washington Mystics o327.1001–1517.0

1997 season

Eastern Conference WLPCTConf.GB
Houston Comets x1810.6436–6–
New York Liberty x1711.6078–41.0
Charlotte Sting x1513.5365–73.0
Cleveland Rockers o1513.5365–73.0

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References

  1. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions: WNBA".
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