2001 WNBA season

2001 WNBA season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationMay 28 - August 14, 2001
Number of games32
Number of teams16
Total attendance2,322,962
Average attendance9,074
TV partner(s)ESPN, NBC
2001 WNBA Draft
Top draft pickAustralia Lauren Jackson
Picked bySeattle Storm
Regular season
Season MVPUnited States Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles)
Playoffs
Eastern championsCharlotte Sting
  Eastern runners-upNew York Liberty
Western championsLos Angeles Sparks
  Western runners-upSacramento Monarchs
Finals
ChampionsLos Angeles Sparks
  Runners-upCharlotte Sting
Finals MVPUnited States Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles)
WNBA seasons

The 2001 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's fifth season. The season ended with the Los Angeles Sparks winning their first WNBA championship.

Regular season standings

Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Cleveland Rockers x 22 10 .688 15–6 –
New York Liberty x 21 11 .656 13–8 1.0
Miami Sol x 20 12 .625 14–7 2.0
Charlotte Sting x 18 14 .563 15–6 4.0
Orlando Miracle o 13 19 .406 9–12 9.0
Indiana Fever o 10 22 .313 7–14 12.0
Detroit Shock o 10 22 .313 7–14 12.0
Washington Mystics o 10 22 .313 4–17 12.0

Western Conference

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Los Angeles Sparks x 28 4 .875 19–2 –
Sacramento Monarchs x 20 12 .625 13–8 8.0
Utah Starzz x 19 13 .594 11–10 9.0
Houston Comets x 19 13 .594 13–8 9.0
Phoenix Mercury o 13 19 .406 8–13 15.0
Minnesota Lynx o 12 20 .375 9–12 16.0
Portland Fire o 11 21 .344 5–16 17.0
Seattle Storm o 10 22 .313 6–15 18.0

Note: Teams with an "X" clinched playoff spots.

Season award winners

Award Winner Team
WNBA Finals MVP Award Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
WNBA Most Valuable Player Award Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Debbie Black Miami Sol
WNBA Most Improved Player Award Janeth Arcain Houston Comets
WNBA Peak Performer Latasha Byears Los Angeles Sparks
WNBA Peak Performer Elena Baranova Miami Sol
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award Jackie Stiles Portland Fire
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Sue Wicks New York Liberty
WNBA Coach of the Year Award Dan Hughes Cleveland Rockers

Playoffs

Main article: 2001 WNBA Playoffs
Main article: 2001 WNBA Finals
First Round
Best of 3 		Conference Finals
Best of 3 		WNBA Finals
Best of 3
         
E1 Cleveland 1
E4 Charlotte 2
E4 Charlotte 2
Eastern Conference
E2 New York 1
E2 New York 2
E3 Miami 1
E4 Charlotte 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Houston 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
Western Conference
W2 Sacramento 1
W2 Sacramento 2
W3 Utah 0

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference