The WNBA Finals
The final playoff round, a best-of-five series between the victors of each conference, is known as the WNBA Finals, and is held annually, currently scheduled for October. Each player on the winning team receives a championship ring. In addition, the league awards a WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. For this round, the series follows a 2-2-1 pattern, meaning that one team will have home court in games 1, 2, and 5, while the other plays at home in games 3 and 4. The 2-2-1 pattern in the WNBA Finals has been in place since 2005.
| The WNBA Finals |
1990s
| Season |
Champion |
Runner-Up |
Format |
Result |
Finals MVP |
| Team |
Coach |
Team |
Coach |
| 1997 |
Houston Comets |
Van Chancellor |
New York Liberty |
Nancy Darsch |
Single game |
65-51 |
Cynthia Cooper |
| 1998 |
Houston Comets |
Van Chancellor |
Phoenix Mercury |
Cheryl Miller |
Best-of-three |
2-1 |
Cynthia Cooper |
| 1999 |
Houston Comets |
Van Chancellor |
New York Liberty |
Richie Adubato |
Best-of-three |
2-1 |
Cynthia Cooper |
|
2000s
| Season |
Champion |
Runner-Up |
Format |
Result |
Finals MVP |
| Team |
Coach |
Team |
Coach |
| 2000 |
Houston Comets |
Van Chancellor |
New York Liberty |
Richie Adubato |
Best-of-three |
2-0 |
Cynthia Cooper |
| 2001 |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Michael Cooper |
Charlotte Sting |
Anne Donovan |
Best-of-three |
2-0 |
Lisa Leslie |
| 2002 |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Michael Cooper |
New York Liberty |
Richie Adubato |
Best-of-three |
2-0 |
Lisa Leslie |
| 2003 |
Detroit Shock |
Bill Laimbeer |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Michael Cooper |
Best-of-three |
2-1 |
Ruth Riley |
| 2004 |
Seattle Storm |
Anne Donovan |
Connecticut Sun |
Mike Thibault |
Best-of-three |
2-1 |
Betty Lennox |
| 2005 |
Sacramento Monarchs |
John Whisenant |
Connecticut Sun |
Mike Thibault |
Best-of-five |
3-1 |
Yolanda Griffith |
| 2006 |
Detroit Shock |
Bill Laimbeer |
Sacramento Monarchs |
John Whisenant |
Best-of-five |
3-2 |
Deanna Nolan |
| 2007 |
Phoenix Mercury |
Paul Westhead |
Detroit Shock |
Bill Laimbeer |
Best-of-five |
3-2 |
Cappie Pondexter |
| 2008 |
Detroit Shock |
Bill Laimbeer |
San Antonio Silver Stars |
Dan Hughes |
Best-of-five |
3-0 |
Katie Smith |
| 2009 |
Phoenix Mercury |
Corey Gaines |
Indiana Fever |
Lin Dunn |
Best-of-five |
3-2 |
Diana Taurasi |
|
2010s
| Season |
Champion |
Runner-Up |
Format |
Result |
Finals MVP |
| Team |
Coach |
Team |
Coach |
| 2010 |
Seattle Storm |
Brian Agler |
Atlanta Dream |
Marynell Meadors |
Best-of-five |
3–0 |
Lauren Jackson |
| 2011 |
Minnesota Lynx |
Cheryl Reeve |
Atlanta Dream |
Marynell Meadors |
Best-of-five |
3–0 |
Seimone Augustus |
| 2012 |
Indiana Fever |
Lin Dunn |
Minnesota Lynx |
Cheryl Reeve |
Best-of-five |
3–1 |
Tamika Catchings |
|