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1997 WNBA season

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1997 WNBA season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball Association
SportBasketball
SeasonInaugural Season
DurationJune 21 – August 30, 1997
TvNBC, ESPN, Lifetime
ChampionsHouston Comets
Runner-upNew York Liberty
MvpCynthia Cooper (Houston Comets)
Top scorerCynthia Cooper (Houston Comets)
RoyTina Thompson (Houston Comets)

1997 WNBA season was the inaugural campaign of the Women's National Basketball Association, a landmark moment for professional women's sports in North America. The league launched with eight teams, playing a 28-game schedule that culminated in a championship series broadcast on NBC. The season was headlined by the dominant Houston Comets, led by Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes, who captured the first WNBA Finals title.

Overview

The creation of the WNBA was spearheaded by NBA Commissioner David Stern, with the league operating as a single-entity model under the NBA Board of Governors. Key figures in the launch included Val Ackerman, who served as the first WNBA President. The eight inaugural franchises were split into two conferences: the Eastern Conference featured the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, New York Liberty, and Houston Comets, while the Western Conference included the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz. A unique television deal placed games on NBC, ESPN, and Lifetime, ensuring broad exposure during the summer months opposite the NBA offseason.

Regular season

The regular season commenced on June 21, 1997, with the Los Angeles Sparks defeating the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum. Each team played a 28-game schedule, facing conference opponents four times and teams from the opposite conference twice. The Houston Comets quickly established themselves as the premier team, finishing with the best record, powered by the offensive firepower of Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes. The New York Liberty, led by point guard Teresa Weatherspoon and center Rebecca Lobo, emerged as the top team in the Eastern Conference. Other notable players included Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks and Ruthie Bolton-Holifield of the Sacramento Monarchs.

Playoffs

The inaugural playoffs featured the top two teams from each conference in a straightforward bracket. In the Western Conference Finals, the Houston Comets swept the Charlotte Sting, who had relocated conferences for the postseason. The Eastern Conference Finals saw the New York Liberty defeat the Phoenix Mercury in a single-game elimination. The first WNBA Finals was a best-of-three series between the Houston Comets and the New York Liberty. Cynthia Cooper delivered a legendary performance, scoring 25 points in the decisive Game 3 at the Compaq Center to secure the championship for Houston. Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson were also instrumental in the Comets' playoff run.

Statistical leaders

Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets led the league in scoring, averaging 22.2 points per game, and also topped the charts in assists. Rebounding was dominated by Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks, who averaged 9.5 rebounds per contest. On the defensive end, Teresa Weatherspoon of the New York Liberty led the WNBA in steals. Jennifer Gillom of the Phoenix Mercury was among the leaders in field goal percentage, while Ruthie Bolton-Holifield of the Sacramento Monarchs excelled from the three-point line. Michelle Edwards of the Cleveland Rockers was notable for her free-throw shooting accuracy.

Awards and honors

The inaugural season awards were headlined by Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets, who was named the first WNBA Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP. Tina Thompson, also of the Houston Comets, received the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. The WNBA All-Star Game was not held in 1997, but the league named its first All-WNBA Teams, with First Team honors going to stars like Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Rebecca Lobo. Vanessa Nygaard of the Utah Starzz was recognized with the WNBA Peak Performer award for three-point shooting.

Team standings

In the Eastern Conference, the New York Liberty finished first, followed by the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, and Houston Comets. The Western Conference was led by the Houston Comets, with the Phoenix Mercury, Los Angeles Sparks, and Sacramento Monarchs completing the standings. The Utah Starzz rounded out the league. The Houston Comets possessed the best overall record, while the Sacramento Monarchs and Utah Starzz struggled in their inaugural campaigns. The standings determined the seeding for the first WNBA Playoffs, which followed a straightforward top-two format from each conference.

Category:WNBA seasons Category:1997 in women's basketball Category:1997 in American sports