Sport Basketball Number of games 28 Total attendance 1,082,963 | Duration June 21 - August 30 Number of teams 8 Start date 1997 | |
Similar 1998 WNBA season, 2011 WNBA season, 2016 WNBA season, 2015 WNBA season, 1997–98 NBA season |
The 1997 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's first in existence. It started off with 8 franchises: Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and the Utah Starzz. It featured an inaugural game between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks lost to the New York Liberty, 67-57. The attendance at the Forum was 14,284. The season ended with the Comets defeating the Liberty in a one-game series 65-51. Cynthia Cooper was named MVP of the game.
Contents
Regular season standings
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
League leaders
Playoffs
There were only 8 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was in the Eastern Conference in 1997 so two Eastern Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Finals.