Western Conference (WNBA)

Last updated
Western Conference
League WNBA
Sport Basketball
First season 1997
No. of teams7
Most recent
champion(s)		 Seattle Storm (2020)
Most titles Minnesota Lynx (4)

The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. The Western Conferent consists of 7 teams and the Eastern Conference consists of 6 teams. [1] [2]

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.

In the current system, the eight best teams by the regular-season record, without regard to conference alignment, qualify for the playoffs. Since 2022, the playoffs have been held in a standard knockout format, with the first round consisting of best-of-three series and the semifinals and finals being best-of-five. [3] The higher seed will generally face a weaker team, and will have home-court advantage in each round. In 2024, all quarterfinal series used a 2–1 home-court pattern, which allowed the higher seed the opportunity to win the series without having to visit the lower seed. This in turn meant that a lower seed that won one of the first two games would host the series decider. [3] However, the quarterfinals will return to a 1–1–1 pattern in 2025, with the higher seed hosting the first game and a potential third game. [4]

The quarterfinals are bracketed in the normal manner for an 8-team tournament, with 1 vs. 8 and 4 vs. 5 on one side of the bracket and 2 vs. 7 and 3 vs. 6 on the other. The winners of each quarterfinal series advance to the semifinals, with the bracket not being reseeded. The semifinals use a 2–2–1 home-court pattern, meaning that the higher-seeded team will have home court in games 1, 2, and 5 while the other team plays at home in game 3 and 4. Through 2024, the finals were also played in a 2–2–1 home-court pattern. Starting in 2025, the finals will use the same 2–2–1–1–1 pattern currently used by the NBA. [4] [5]

Teams

TeamCity/AreaArenaColorsJoined WNBAHead coach
Dallas Wings Arlington, Texas College Park Center Dark blue, lime green, white1998* Chris Koclanes
Golden State Valkyries San Francisco, California Chase Center Black, purple2025 Natalie Nakase
Las Vegas Aces Paradise, Nevada Michelob Ultra Arena Red, black, gold, silver1997* Becky Hammon
Los Angeles Sparks Los Angeles, California Crypto.com Arena Purple, gold, teal1997 Lynne Roberts
Minnesota Lynx Minneapolis, Minnesota Target Center Blue, green, white, silver1999 Cheryl Reeve
Phoenix Mercury Phoenix, Arizona Mortgage Matchup Center Purple, yellow, orange, white1997 Nate Tibbetts
Seattle Storm Seattle, Washington Climate Pledge Arena Green, red, white, gold2000 Noelle Quinn

    Former teams

    Defunct

    Relocated

    Western 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

    2024 season

    #Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
    1yx – New York Liberty 328.800—16–416–416–45–0
    2cx – Minnesota Lynx 3010.750214–616–414–64–1
    3x – Connecticut Sun 2812.700414–614–614–64–1
    4x – Las Vegas Aces 2713.675512–813–714–62–3
    5x – Seattle Storm 2515.625713–714–611–94–1
    6x – Indiana Fever 2020.5001211–912–88–123–2
    7x – Phoenix Mercury 1921.4751310–1010–109–113–2
    8x – Atlanta Dream 1525.375177–138–127–131–4
    9e – Washington Mystics 1426.350187–135–159–111–4
    10e – Chicago Sky 1327.325195–156–147–131–4
    11e – Dallas Wings 931.225236–147–132–180–5
    12e – Los Angeles Sparks 832.200245–155–153–172–3

    Notes

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

    2023 season

    #Team
    		W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
    1x – Las Vegas Aces 346.850–18–219–115–59–1
    2x – New York Liberty 328.800216–415–517–37–3
    3x – Connecticut Sun 2713.675714–613–714–67–3
    4x – Dallas Wings 2218.5501211–911–911–96–4
    5x – Atlanta Dream 1921.4751511–911–98–126–4
    6x – Minnesota Lynx 1921.4751512–89–1110–105–5
    7x – Washington Mystics 1921.475159–1112–87–135–5
    8x – Chicago Sky 1822.450165–157–1311–93–7
    9e – Los Angeles Sparks 1723.425179–1110–107–135–5
    10e – Indiana Fever 1327.325215–156–147–132–8
    11e – Seattle Storm 1129.275238–124–167–134–6
    12e – Phoenix Mercury 931.225252–188–121–191–9

    Notes

    (#) – League Standing
    x – Clinched playoff berth
    e – Eliminated from postseason 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

    # Western Conference
    		W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    1 Los Angeles Sparks (3)2212.647–15–27–1010–6
    2 Las Vegas Aces (4)2113.618113–48–911–5
    3 Seattle Storm (6)1816.529411–67–1010–6
    4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.529411–67–107–9
    5 Phoenix Mercury (8)1519.44179–86–115–11
    6e – Dallas Wings 1024.294128–92–155–11

    Notes

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

    2018 season

    # Western Conference
    		W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    1 Seattle Storm (1)268.765–13–413–411–5
    2 Phoenix Mercury (5)2014.58869–811–68–8
    3 Los Angeles Sparks (6)1915.559711–68–99–7
    4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.52989–89–89–7
    5 Dallas Wings (8)1519.4411110–75–127–9
    6e –Las Vegas Aces 1420.412128–96–114–12

    Notes

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

    2017 season

    # Western Conference
    		W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    1 Minnesota Lynx - (1)277.794–15–212–513–3
    2 Los Angeles Sparks - (2)268.765116–110–712–4
    3 Phoenix Mercury - (5)1816.52999–89–87–9
    4 Dallas Wings - (7)1618.4711110–76–117–9
    5 Seattle Storm - (8)1519.4411210–75–128–8
    6 San Antonio Stars - e826.235196–112–151–15

    Notes

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

    2016 season

    Western Conference
    		W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    1 - Minnesota Lynx 286.824—15–213–415–1
    2 - Los Angeles Sparks 268.765214–312–511–5
    7 - Seattle Storm 1618.4711210–76–117–9
    8 - Phoenix Mercury 1618.4711211–65–126–10
    e - Dallas Wings 1123.324176–115–128–8
    e - San Antonio Stars 727.206214–133–141–15

    Notes

    # – Playoff seed
    e – Eliminated from playoffs

    2015 season

    Western Conference
    		W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    z - Minnesota Lynx 2212.647–13–49–816–6
    x - Phoenix Mercury 2014.588213–47–1015–7
    x - Tulsa Shock 1816.529412–56–1111–11
    x - Los Angeles Sparks 1420.41289–85–1210–12
    e - Seattle Storm 1024.294128–92–158–14
    e - San Antonio Stars 826.235147–101–166–16

    2014 season

    # Western Conference
    Team W L PCT GB GP
    1y-Phoenix Mercury 295.853-34
    2x-Minnesota Lynx 259.7354.034
    3x-San Antonio Stars 1618.47113.034
    4x-Los Angeles Sparks 1618.47113.034
    5e-Tulsa Shock 1222.35317.034
    6e-Seattle Storm 1222.35317.034

    2013 season

    # Western Conference
    Team W L PCT GB GP
    1z-Minnesota Lynx 268.765-34
    2x-Los Angeles Sparks 2410.706234
    3x-Phoenix Mercury 1915.559734
    4x-Seattle Storm 1717.500934
    5e-San Antonio Silver Stars 1222.3531434
    6e-Tulsa Shock 1123.3241534

    2012 season

    Western Conference
    		W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Minnesota Lynx z277.794–16–111–617–5
    Los Angeles Sparks x2410.7063.016–18–915–7
    San Antonio Silver Stars x2113.6186.012–59–814–8
    Seattle Storm x1618.47111.010–76–1111–11
    Tulsa Shock o925.26518.06–113–145–17
    Phoenix Mercury o727.20620.03–144–134–18

    2011 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Minnesota Lynx x277.794–14–313–418–4
    Seattle Storm x2113.6186.015–26–1115–7
    Phoenix Mercury x1915.5598.011–68–911–11
    San Antonio Silver Stars x1816.5299.09–89–811–11
    Los Angeles Sparks o1519.44112.010–75–1210–12
    Tulsa Shock o331.08824.02–151–161–21

    2010 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Seattle Storm x286.824–17–011–620–2
    Phoenix Mercury x1519.44113.09–86–1113–9
    San Antonio Silver Stars x1420.41214.08–96–1111–11
    Los Angeles Sparks x1321.38215.08–95–1210–12
    Minnesota Lynx o1321.38215.07–106–118–14
    Tulsa Shock o628.17622.04–132–154–18

    2009 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Phoenix Mercury x2311.676–12–511–613–7
    Seattle Storm x2014.5883.013–47–1013–7
    Los Angeles Sparks x1816.5295.011–67–1011–9
    San Antonio Silver Stars x1519.4418.010–75–1210–10
    Minnesota Lynx o1420.4129.09–85–127–13
    Sacramento Monarchs o1222.35311.07–105–126–14

    2008 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    San Antonio Silver Stars x2410.706–15–29–810–10
    Seattle Storm x2212.6472.016–16–1113–7
    Los Angeles Sparks x2014.5884.012–58–912–8
    Sacramento Monarchs x1816.5296.05–1213–49–11
    Houston Comets o1717.5007.013–44–1310–10
    Minnesota Lynx o1618.4718.010–76–118–12
    Phoenix Mercury o1618.4718.09–87–108–12

    2007 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Phoenix Mercury x2311.676–12–511–617–5
    San Antonio Silver Stars x2014.5883.09–811–613–9
    Sacramento Monarchs x1915.5594.012–57–1012–10
    Seattle Storm x1717.5006.012–55–1211–11
    Houston Comets o1321.38210.07–106–1110–12
    Minnesota Lynx o1024.29413.07–103–148–14
    Los Angeles Sparks o1024.29413.05–125–126–16

    2006 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Los Angeles Sparks x259.735–15–210–715–5
    Sacramento Monarchs x2113.6184.014–37–1010–10
    Houston Comets x1816.5297.012–56–1111–9
    Seattle Storm x1816.5297.09–89–810–10
    Phoenix Mercury o1816.5297.010–78–98–12
    San Antonio Silver Stars o1321.38212.06–117–1010–10
    Minnesota Lynx o1024.29415.08–92–156–14

    2005 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Sacramento Monarchs x259.735–15–210–717–5
    Seattle Storm x2014.5885.014–36–1113–9
    Houston Comets x1915.5596.011–68–911–11
    Los Angeles Sparks x1717.5008.011–66–1112–10
    Phoenix Mercury o1618.4719.011–65–1212–10
    Minnesota Lynx o1420.41211.011–63–149–13
    San Antonio Silver Stars o727.20618.05–122–153–19

    2004 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Los Angeles Sparks x259.735–15–210–716–6
    Seattle Storm x2014.5885.013–47–1013–9
    Minnesota Lynx x1816.5297.011–67–1012–10
    Sacramento Monarchs x1816.5297.010–78–912–10
    Phoenix Mercury o1717.5008.010–77–1011–11
    Houston Comets o1321.38212.09–84–137–15
    San Antonio Silver Stars o925.26516.06–113–146–16

    2003 season

    Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
    Los Angeles Sparks x2410.706–11–613–417–7
    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

    2002 season

    Western Conference WLPCTConf.GB
    Los Angeles Sparks x257.78117–4–
    Houston Comets x248.75016–51.0
    Utah Starzz x2012.62512–95.0
    Seattle Storm x1715.53110–118.0
    Portland Fire o1616.5008–139.0
    Sacramento Monarchs o1418.4388–1311.0
    Phoenix Mercury o1121.3447–1414.0
    Minnesota Lynx o1022.3136–1515.0

    2001 season

    Western Conference WLPCTConf.GB
    Los Angeles Sparks x284.87519–2–
    Sacramento Monarchs x2012.62513–88.0
    Utah Starzz x1913.59411–109.0
    Houston Comets x1913.59413–89.0
    Phoenix Mercury o1319.4068–1315.0
    Minnesota Lynx o1220.3759–1216.0
    Portland Fire o1121.3445–1617.0
    Seattle Storm o1022.3136–1518.0

    2000 season

    Western Conference WLPCTConf.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

    1999 season

    Western Conference WLPCTConf.GB
    Houston Comets x266.81316–4–
    Los Angeles Sparks x2012.62512–86.0
    Sacramento Monarchs x1913.5949–117.0
    Phoenix Mercury o1517.4697–1311.0
    Minnesota Lynx o1517.4698–1211.0
    Utah Starzz o1517.4698–1211.0

    1998 season

    Western Conference WLPCTConf.GB
    Houston Comets x273.90015–1–
    Phoenix Mercury x1911.63310–68.0
    Los Angeles Sparks o1218.4006–1015.0
    Sacramento Monarchs o822.2675–1119.0
    Utah Starzz o822.2674–1219.0

    1997 season

    Western Conference WLPCTConf.GB
    Phoenix Mercury x1612.5719–3–
    Los Angeles Sparks o1414.5008–42.0
    Sacramento Monarchs o1018.3574–86.0
    Utah Starzz o721.2503–99.0

    References

    1. ↑ "Tickets - WNBA".
    2. ↑ "2025 WNBA Standings & Stats | WNBA". www.wnba.com. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
    3. 1 2 "WNBA Approves New Playoff Format". www.wnba.com. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
    4. 1 2 "WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV Expand to Best-of-Seven Format Beginning in 2025". www.wnba.com. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
    5. ↑ Koffie, Jess (2025-08-22). "New WNBA playoff format explained". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
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