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2017 WNBA season

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2017 WNBA season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationMay 3 – September 3, 2017
Number of games34
Number of teams12
Total attendance1,574,078[1]
Average attendance7,716[1]
TV partner(s)ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV
Top draft pickUnited States Kelsey Plum
Picked bySan Antonio Stars
Season MVPUnited States Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota)
Eastern championsNew York Liberty
  Eastern runners-upConnecticut Sun
Western championsMinnesota Lynx
  Western runners-upLos Angeles Sparks
Finals championsMinnesota Lynx
  Runners-upLos Angeles Sparks
Finals MVPSylvia Fowles (Minnesota)
WNBA seasons

The 2017 WNBA season was the 21st season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Its regular season began on May 13 with three games, highlighted by the defending WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Seattle Storm. It concluded on September 3. The playoffs began on September 6, and concluded on October 4, with the Minnesota Lynx defeating the Sparks in five games to win their fourth WNBA title.[2]

It was the final season for the San Antonio Stars in the city that they had called home since 2003. After the season, parent company Spurs Sports & Entertainment sold the team to MGM Resorts International, which moved the team to Las Vegas.[3] The former Stars now play as the Las Vegas Aces.[4]

2017 WNBA draft

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Main article: 2017 WNBA draft

The San Antonio Stars selected Kelsey Plum first in the 2017 WNBA Draft.[5] The draft was televised nationally on the ESPN networks (Round 1 on ESPN2, Rounds 2 and 3 on ESPNU).

Arena changes

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Two teams announced temporary arena changes for the 2017 season, both due to their regular arenas undergoing renovations during the WNBA season.

Team standings

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Source:[8]

# Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 New York Liberty - (3) 22 12 .647 - 13–4 9–8 10–6
2 Connecticut Sun - (4) 21 13 .636 1 12–5 9–6 10–6
3 Washington Mystics - (6) 18 16 .529 4 11–6 7–10 12-4
4 Chicago Sky - e 12 22 .353 10 4–13 8–9 6–10
5 Atlanta Dream - e 12 22 .353 10 9–8 3–14 5–11
6 Indiana Fever - e 9 25 .265 13 6–11 3–14 4–12
# Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Minnesota Lynx - (1) 27 7 .794 – 15–2 12–5 13–3
2 Los Angeles Sparks - (2) 26 8 .765 1 16–1 10–7 12–4
3 Phoenix Mercury - (5) 18 16 .529 9 9–8 9–8 7–9
4 Dallas Wings - (7) 16 18 .471 11 10–7 6–11 7–9
5 Seattle Storm - (8) 15 19 .441 12 10–7 5–12 8–8
6 San Antonio Stars - e 8 26 .235 19 6–11 2–15 1–15

Notes

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

Playoffs

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See also: 2017 WNBA Finals
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 6)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 10)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 12 – Sept. 17)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 24 – Oct. 4)
2Los Angeles Sparks798689
4Connecticut Sun835Phoenix Mercury667287
5Phoenix Mercury795Phoenix Mercury881Minnesota Lynx8470648085
8Seattle Storm692Los Angeles Sparks8568756976
1Minnesota Lynx1019381
3New York Liberty686Washington Mystics818370
6Washington Mystics866Washington Mystics82
7Dallas Wings76

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Individual statistic leaders

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Regular season

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Category Player Team Statistic
Points per game Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury 21.9 PPG
Rebounds per game Jonquel Jones Connecticut Sun 11.9 RPG
Assists per game Courtney Vandersloot Chicago Sky 8.1 APG
Steals per game Alana Beard Los Angeles Sparks 2.1 SPG
Blocks per game Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury 2.5 BPG
Field goal percentage Sylvia Fowles Minnesota Lynx 65.5%
Three point percentage Chelsea Gray Los Angeles Sparks 48.2%
Free throw percentage Elena Delle Donne Washington Mystics 95.3%

Playoffs

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Category Player Team Statistic
Points per game Breanna Stewart Seattle Storm 23.0 PPG
Rebounds per game Jonquel Jones Connecticut Sun 15.0 RPG
Assists per game Chelsea Gray Los Angeles Sparks 6.7 APG
Steals per game Jewell Loyd Seattle Storm 3.0 SPG
Blocks per game Courtney Paris
Candace Parker
Breanna Stewart		 Dallas Wings
Los Angeles Sparks
Seattle Storm		 2.0 BPG
Field goal percentage 8 Tied Various 100%
Three point percentage Rebecca Allen
Rachel Banham		 New York Liberty
Connecticut Sun		 100%
Free throw percentage 18 Tied Various 100%

Season award winners

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Player of the Week Award

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For games
in week ending 		Eastern Conference Western Conference
Player Team Player Team
May 21, 2017 Layshia Clarendon Atlanta Dream Sylvia Fowles Minnesota Lynx
May 28, 2017 Epiphanny Prince New York Liberty Sylvia Fowles (2) Minnesota Lynx
June 4, 2017 Tina Charles New York Liberty Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury
June 11, 2017 Tina Charles (2) New York Liberty Sylvia Fowles (3) Minnesota Lynx
June 18, 2017 Jonquel Jones Connecticut Sun Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks
June 25, 2017 Alyssa Thomas Connecticut Sun Skylar Diggins-Smith Dallas Wings
July 2, 2017 Jasmine Thomas Connecticut Sun Candace Parker (2) Los Angeles Sparks
July 9, 2017 Alyssa Thomas (2) Connecticut Sun Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury
July 16, 2017 Stefanie Dolson Chicago Sky Breanna Stewart Seattle Storm
July 22, 2017 Tina Charles (3) New York Liberty Sylvia Fowles (4) Minnesota Lynx
July 30, 2017 Tina Charles (4) New York Liberty Candace Parker (3) Los Angeles Sparks
August 6, 2017 Courtney Vandersloot Chicago Sky Glory Johnson Dallas Wings
August 13, 2017 Jonquel Jones (2) Connecticut Sun Sylvia Fowles (5) Minnesota Lynx
August 20, 2017 Tina Charles (5) New York Liberty Breanna Stewart (2) Seattle Storm
August 27, 2017 Tina Charles (6) New York Liberty Candace Parker (4) Los Angeles Sparks
September 3, 2017 Tina Charles (7) New York Liberty Brittney Griner (2) Phoenix Mercury

Player of the Month Award

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For games played Eastern Conference Western Conference
Player Team Player Team
May 2017 Tiffany Hayes Atlanta Dream Sylvia Fowles Minnesota Lynx
June 2017 Jonquel Jones Connecticut Sun Sylvia Fowles (2) Minnesota Lynx
July 2017 Tina Charles New York Liberty Sylvia Fowles (3) Minnesota Lynx
August 2017 Tina Charles (2) New York Liberty Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks

Rookie of the Month Award

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For games played Player Team
May 2017 Allisha Gray Dallas Wings
June 2017 Allisha Gray (2) Dallas Wings
July 2017 Brittney Sykes Atlanta Dream
August 2017 Brittney Sykes (2) Atlanta Dream

Coach of the Month Award

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For games played Coach Team
May 2017 Cheryl Reeve Minnesota Lynx
June 2017 Brian Agler Los Angeles Sparks
July 2017 Curt Miller Connecticut Sun
August 2017 Bill Laimbeer New York Liberty

Postseason awards

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Award Winner Position Team Votes/Statistic
Most Valuable Player Award Sylvia Fowles Center Minnesota Lynx 35 of 40[9]
Finals MVP Award Sylvia Fowles Center Minnesota Lynx
Rookie of the Year Award Allisha Gray Guard Dallas Wings 30 of 40
Most Improved Player Award Jonquel Jones Forward/Center Connecticut Sun 32 of 40
Defensive Player of the Year Award Alana Beard Guard Los Angeles Sparks 28 of 40
Sixth Woman of the Year Award Sugar Rodgers Guard New York Liberty 15 of 40
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Sue Bird Guard Seattle Storm 20 of 40
Peak Performer: Points Brittney Griner Center Phoenix Mercury 21.9 PPG
Peak Performer: Rebounds Jonquel Jones Center Connecticut Sun 11.9 RPG
Peak Performer: Assists Courtney Vandersloot Guard Chicago Sky 8.1 APG
Coach of the Year Award Curt Miller Coach Connecticut Sun 36 of 40
Basketball Executive of the Year Award Curt Miller General manager Connecticut Sun 6 of 12
Team Guard Guard Forward Forward Center
All-WNBA First Team Skylar Diggins-Smith Maya Moore Candace Parker Tina Charles Sylvia Fowles
All-WNBA Second Team Chelsea Gray Diana Taurasi Nneka Ogwumike Jonquel Jones Brittney Griner
All-Defensive First Team Jasmine Thomas Alana Beard Nneka Ogwumike Tina Charles Sylvia Fowles
All-Defensive Second Team Briann January Maya Moore Alyssa Thomas Rebekkah Brunson Brittney Griner
All-Rookie Team Allisha Gray Brittney Sykes Kelsey Plum Kaela Davis Shatori Walker-Kimbrough

Coaches

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Eastern Conference

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Team Head coach Previous job Years with team Record with team Playoff appearances Finals Appearances WNBA Championships
Atlanta Dream Michael Cooper USC 3 51–51 1 0 0
Chicago Sky Amber Stocks Los Angeles Sparks (assistant) 0 0–0 0 0 0
Connecticut Sun Curt Miller Los Angeles Sparks (assistant) 1 14–20 0 0 0
Indiana Fever Pokey Chatman Chicago Sky 0 0–0 0 0 0
New York Liberty Bill Laimbeer Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant) 4 70–66 3 0 0
Washington Mystics Mike Thibault Connecticut Sun 4 64–72 3 0 0

Western Conference

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Team Head coach Previous job Years with team Record with team Playoff appearances Finals Appearances WNBA Championships
Dallas Wings Fred Williams Atlanta Dream 3 41–61 1 0 0
Los Angeles Sparks Brian Agler Seattle Storm 2 40–28 2 1 1
Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve Detroit Shock (assistant) 7 168–70 6 5 3
Phoenix Mercury Sandy Brondello Los Angeles Sparks (assistant) 3 65–37 3 1 1
San Antonio Stars Vickie Johnson San Antonio Stars (assistant) 0 0–0 0 0 0
Seattle Storm Jenny Boucek Seattle Storm (assistant) 10 26–42 1 0 0

Notes:

  • Year with team does not include 2017 season.
  • Records are from time at current team and are through the end the 2016 season.
  • Playoff appearances are from time at current team only.
  • WNBA Finals and Championships do not include time with other teams.
  • Coaches shown are the coaches who began the 2017 season as head coach of each team.

References

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  1. ^ a b "WNBA Scores Highest Attendance In Six Years During Record-Breaking Season". wnba.com. WNBA. September 6, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "WNBA's 2017 Season Tips Off May 13". WNBA.com. November 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "WNBA Announces Relocation of San Antonio Stars to Las Vegas" (Press release). WNBA. October 17, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "MGM Resorts Selects 'Las Vegas Aces' As New Name For WNBA Franchise" (Press release). WNBA. December 11, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  5. ^ "San Antonio Stars Select Washington's Kelsey Plum With No. 1 Pick in WNBA Draft". WNBA.com. April 13, 2017.
  6. ^ "Atlanta Dream Announces Georgia Tech as Home for 2017 & 2018 Seasons". WNBA. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  7. ^ "Lynx to play 2017 home games at Xcel Energy Center". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  8. ^ "Standings - WNBA".
  9. ^ Borzi, Pat (September 14, 2017). "Sylvia Fowles wins 1st MVP award after lifting Lynx with big year". ESPN. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
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