2015 WNBA playoffs

The 2015 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2015 season.

2015 WNBA Playoffs

Dates	September 17–October 14, 2015
Final positions
Champions	Minnesota Lynx (Finals Champion)
East champion	Indiana Fever (Coach: Stephanie White)
West champion	Minnesota Lynx (Coach: Cheryl Reeve)
Tournament statistics
Attendance	8,799 per game
← 2014 2016 →

Format

Following the WNBA regular season, four teams in each conference qualified for the playoffs and are seeded one to four based on their regular season record.

The first round of the playoffs, or Conference Semi-Finals, consisted of two match-ups in each conference based on the seedings (1-4 and 2-3). The two winners advanced to the second round, or Conference Finals, with a match-up between the 1-4 and 2-3 winners. At the conclusion of the Conference Finals, the winners of these series advanced to the WNBA Finals.

The Conference Semi-Finals and the Conference Finals are each best-of-three series. Series are played in a 1-1-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage (better record) hosts games 1 and 3, while their opponent hosts game 2. The WNBA Finals are a best-of-five series played in a 2-2-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage hosts games 1, 2, and 5 while their opponent hosts games 3 and 4.

Tiebreak procedures

Two-team tie

1. Better record in head-to-head games.
2. Better winning percentage within own conference.
3. Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season.
4. Better point differential in games head-to-head.
5. Coin toss.

Three or more-team tie

1. Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
2. Better winning percentage against teams within conference (for first two rounds of playoffs) or better record against teams in the opposite conference (for Finals).
3. Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
4. Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
5. Coin toss.

Playoff qualifying

Eastern Conference

Seed	Team	Record	Clinched
			Playoff berth	Best record in Conference	Best record in WNBA
1	New York Liberty	23–11	August 28	September 6	September 9
2	Chicago Sky	21–13	August 29	—	—
3	Indiana Fever	20–14	September 1	—	—
4	Washington Mystics	18–16	September 8	—	—

Western Conference

Seed	Team	Record	Clinched
			Playoff berth	Best record in Conference	Best record in WNBA
1	Minnesota Lynx	22–12	August 11	September 8	—
2	Phoenix Mercury	20–14	August 21	—	—
3	Tulsa Shock	18–16	August 30	—	—
4	Los Angeles Sparks	14–20	September 6	—	—

Bracket

See also: 2015 WNBA Finals

Conference Semi-Finals: Best-of-3

Conference Finals: Best-of-3

WNBA Finals: Best-of-5

E1

New York

2

E4

Washington

1

E1

New York

1

Eastern Conference

E3

Indiana

2

E2

Chicago

1

E3

Indiana

2

E3

Indiana

2

W1

Minnesota

3

W1

Minnesota

2

W4

Los Angeles

1

W1

Minnesota

2

Western Conference

W2

Phoenix

0

W2

Phoenix

2

W3

Tulsa

0

• Bold – Series winner
• Italics – Team with home-court advantage

Eastern Conference

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

Conference semifinals

(1) New York Liberty vs. (4) Washington Mystics

NBATV

September 18 7:00 PM

Game 1

Washington Mystics 86, New York Liberty 83 (2OT)
Scoring by quarter: 14–21, 22–15, 19–20, 14–13, Overtime: 7–7, 10–7
Pts: Latta 15 Rebs: Meesseman 10 Asts: three tied 3		Pts: Prince 26 Rebs: Swords 9 Asts: Charles 5

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 10,120 Referees: Michael Price, Cheryl Flores, Tom Mauer

ESPN

September 20 1:00 PM

Game 2

New York Liberty 86, Washington Mystics 68
Scoring by quarter: 23–15, 21–22, 26–15, 16–16
Pts: Charles 22 Rebs: Stokes 7 Asts: Wright 6		Pts: Hill 19 Rebs: Dolson, Meesseman 5 Asts: Ruffin-Pratt 4

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. Attendance: 6,619 Referees: Daryl Humphrey, Denise Brooks, Kurt Walker

ESPN2

September 22 7:00 PM

Game 3

Washington Mystics 74, New York Liberty 79
Scoring by quarter: 25-15, 12-30, 20-12, 17-22
Pts: Latta 18 Rebs: Vaughn 9 Asts: Latta 7		Pts: Charles 22 Rebs: Stokes 13 Asts: Wright 5
New York wins series 2-1

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 9,255 Referees: Roy Gulbeyan, Sue Blauch, Lamont Simpson

Regular-season series

Washington won 3–1 in the regular-season series

June 6, 2015 Report New York Liberty 62, Washington Mystics 67 Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. June 14, 2015 Report Washington Mystics 74, New York Liberty 59 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY July 9, 2015 Report New York Liberty 79, Washington Mystics 76 (OT) Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. September 11, 2015 Report Washington Mystics 82, New York Liberty 55 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

(2) Chicago Sky vs. (3) Indiana Fever

ESPN2

September 17 8:00 PM

Game 1

Indiana Fever 72, Chicago Sky 77
Scoring by quarter: 15–24, 20–12, 16–18, 21–23
Pts: Catchings 21 Rebs: Larkins 10 Asts: January 7		Pts: Quigley 20 Rebs: Delle Donne 11 Asts: Quigley 6

UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL Attendance: 4,098 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton

NBATV

September 19 7:00 PM

Game 2

Chicago Sky 82, Indiana Fever 89
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 22–24, 23–25, 17–20
Pts: Vandersloot 19 Rebs: de Souza 8 Asts: Vandersloot 6		Pts: Catchings 22 Rebs: Larkins 12 Asts: Zellous 8

Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,124 Referees: Amy Bonner, Lamont Simpson, Roy Gulbeyan

NBATV

September 21 8:00 PM

Game 3

Indiana Fever 100, Chicago Sky 89
Scoring by quarter: 28–28, 24–19, 19–16, 29–26
Pts: Catchings 27 Rebs: Catchings 9 Asts: January 8		Pts: Delle Donne 40 Rebs: Breland 8 Asts: Vandersloot 14
Indiana wins series 2–1

Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL Attendance: 2,882 Referees: Denise Brooks, Byron Jarrett, Thomas Nunez

Regular-season series

Chicago won 4–0 in the regular-season series
June 5, 2015 Report Indiana Fever 72, Chicago Sky 95 Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL June 14, 2015 Report Chicago Sky 98, Indiana Fever 72 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN June 26, 2015 Report Chicago Sky 83, Indiana Fever 77 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN August 4, 2015 Report Indiana Fever 82, Chicago Sky 106 Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL

Conference Finals: (1) New York Liberty vs. (3) Indiana Fever

ESPN2

September 23 7:00 PM

Game 1

Indiana Fever 67, New York Liberty 84
Scoring by quarter: 18–26, 24–22, 7–16, 18–20
Pts: Johnson 12 Rebs: Zellous 5 Asts: four tied 4		Pts: Stokes 21 Rebs: Charles 7 Asts: Charles 9

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 7,229 Referees: Denise Brooks, Byron Jarrett, Eric Brewton

ESPN

September 27 1:00 PM

Game 2

New York Liberty 64, Indiana Fever 70
Scoring by quarter: 22–17, 22–12, 9–13, 11–28
Pts: Charles 25 Rebs: Stokes 11 Asts: Wright 5		Pts: Tamika Catchings 25 Rebs: Catchings 7 Asts: January 4

Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,505 Referees: Sue Blauch, Maj Forsberg, Tom Mauer

ESPN2

September 29 7:00 PM

Game 3

Indiana Fever 66, New York Liberty 51
Scoring by quarter: 15–13, 18–9, 16–18, 17–11
Pts: Coleman 15 Rebs: Larkins 8 Asts: January 8		Pts: Wiggins 15 Rebs: Charles 10 Asts: Prince 4
Indiana wins series 2-1

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 10,120 Referees: Michael Price, Roy Gulbeyan, Lamont Simpson

Regular-season series

Indiana won 4–1 in the regular-season series

June 9, 2015 Report Indiana Fever 79, New York Liberty 86 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY June 19, 2015 Report Indiana Fever 80, New York Liberty 63 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY July 29, 2015 Report New York Liberty 72, Indiana Fever 84 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN August 23, 2015 Report New York Liberty 79, Indiana Fever 80 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN September 13, 2015 Report New York Liberty 76, Indiana Fever 81 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Western Conference

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

Conference semifinals

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (4) Los Angeles Sparks

NBATV

September 18 9:00 PM

Game 1

Los Angeles Sparks 65, Minnesota Lynx 67
Scoring by quarter: 15–22, 21–11, 13–22, 16–12
Pts: Parker 16 Rebs: Parker 9 Asts: Parker 4		Pts: Moore 33 Rebs: Fowles 9 Asts: Cruz 5

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 8,333 Referees: Sue Blauch, Daryl Humphrey, Jeff Wooten

ESPN

September 20 3:00 PM

Game 2

Minnesota Lynx 71, Los Angeles Sparks 81
Scoring by quarter: 23–24, 12–29, 20–10, 16–18
Pts: Moore 27 Rebs: three tied 7 Asts: Whalen 5		Pts: Parker 25 Rebs: Parker 10 Asts: Dabović 7

Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, CA Attendance: 3,112 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Billy Smith, Michael Price

ESPN2

September 22 9:00 PM

Game 3

Los Angeles Sparks 80, Minnesota Lynx 91
Scoring by quarter: 10-18, 20-25, 27-20, 23-28
Pts: Parker 28 Rebs: Parker 13 Asts: Ogwumike, Parker 4		Pts: Moore 20 Rebs: Moore 8 Asts: Brunson 5
Minnesota wins series 2-1

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 9,014 Referees: Eric Brewton, Amy Bonner, Tom Mauer

Regular-season series

Minnesota won 3–1 in the regular-season series
June 16, 2015 Report Minnesota Lynx 67, Los Angeles Sparks 52 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA July 29, 2015 Report Los Angeles Sparks 76, Minnesota Lynx 82 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN August 4, 2015 Report Minnesota Lynx 61, Los Angeles Sparks 83 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA August 9, 2015 Report Los Angeles Sparks 64, Minnesota Lynx 72 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

(2) Phoenix Mercury vs. (3) Tulsa Shock

ESPN2

September 17 10:00 PM

Game 1

Tulsa Shock 55, Phoenix Mercury 88
Scoring by quarter: 15–22, 7–30, 22–16, 11–20
Pts: Sims 18 Rebs: Paris 7 Asts: Sims 3		Pts: Griner 18 Rebs: Griner 8 Asts: Mitchell 6

Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 8,509 Referees: Denise Brooks, Byron Jarrett, Thomas Nunez

NBATV

September 19 9:00 PM

Game 2

Phoenix Mercury 91, Tulsa Shock 67
Scoring by quarter: 19–19, 22–12, 23–17, 27–19
Pts: Griner 23 Rebs: Griner 12 Asts: Xargay, Mitchell 3		Pts: Sims 22 Rebs: Paris 8 Asts: Sims 7
Phoenix wins series 2–0

BOK Center, Tulsa, OK Attendance: 3,261 Referees: Sue Blauch, Tony Dawkins, Eric Brewton

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series

July 2, 2015 Report Tulsa Shock 55, Phoenix Mercury 86 US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ July 30, 2015 Report Phoenix Mercury 78, Tulsa Shock 66 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK August 4, 2015 Report Tulsa Shock 84, Phoenix Mercury 87 (OT) US Airways Centers, Phoenix, AZ August 18, 2015 Report Phoenix Mercury 59, Tulsa Shock 74 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK September 13, 2015 Report Phoenix Mercury 87, Tulsa Shock 91 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK

Conference Finals: (1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (2) Phoenix Mercury

ESPN2

September 24 8:00 PM

Game 1

Phoenix Mercury 60, Minnesota Lynx 67
Scoring by quarter: 21–14, 11–21, 14–14, 14–18
Pts: Bonner 21 Rebs: Dupree 12 Asts: Bonner 5		Pts: Moore 19 Rebs: Brunson 19 Asts: Whalen 5

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 8,732 Referees: Michael Price, Roy Gulbeyan, Maj Forsberg

ESPN

September 27 3:00 PM

Game 2

Minnesota Lynx 72, Phoenix Mercury 71
Scoring by quarter: 25–15, 16–26, 17–18, 14–12
Pts: Moore 40 Rebs: Fowles 14 Asts: Moore, Whalen 4		Pts: Dupree 16 Rebs: Currie 7 Asts: Currie 6
Minnesota wins series 2-0

Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 9,871 Referees: Kurt Walker, Amy Bonner, Eric Brewton

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series

June 14, 2015 Report Minnesota Lynx 66, Phoenix Mercury 81 US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ June 27, 2015 Report Phoenix Mercury 56, Minnesota Lynx 71 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN August 7, 2015 Report Minnesota Lynx 66, Phoenix Mercury 73 US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ August 23, 2015 Report Minnesota Lynx 67, Phoenix Mercury 79 US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ August 30, 2015 Report Phoenix Mercury 61, Minnesota Lynx 71 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

WNBA Finals

Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever

Main article: 2015 WNBA Finals

ABC

October 4 3:00 PM

Game 1

Indiana Fever 75, Minnesota Lynx 69
Scoring by quarter: 10–10, 25–19, 19–18, 21–22
Pts: January 19 Rebs: Larkins 8 Asts: January 6		Pts: Moore 27 Rebs: Moore 12 Asts: Augustus, Whalen 4

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 11,023 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Kurt Walker

ESPN2

October 6 8:00 PM

Game 2

Indiana Fever 71, Minnesota Lynx 77
Scoring by quarter: 24–20, 17–19, 18–24, 12–14
Pts: January 17 Rebs: Catchings, Larkins 9 Asts: Catchings, January 5		Pts: Fowles 21 Rebs: Fowles 9 Asts: Cruz, Moore 5

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 12,134 Referees: Michael Price, Maj Forsberg, Lamont Simpson

ESPN2

October 9 8:00 PM

Game 3

Minnesota Lynx 80, Indiana Fever 77
Scoring by quarter: 20–19, 18–23, 21–15, 21–20
Pts: Moore 24 Rebs: Fowles 11 Asts: Cruz 5		Pts: Johnson 17 Rebs: Catchings 10 Asts: January 8

Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 16,332 Referees: Denise Brooks, Roy Gulbeyan, Tom Mauer

ESPN

October 11 8:30 PM

Game 4

Minnesota Lynx 69, Indiana Fever 75
Scoring by quarter: 20–15, 12–21, 14–22, 23–17
Pts: Moore 20 Rebs: Moore 8 Asts: six tied 2		Pts: Johnson 15 Rebs: Larkins 6 Asts: January 5

Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 10,582 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Maj Forsberg

ESPN2

October 14 8:00 PM

Game 5

Indiana Fever 52, Minnesota Lynx 69
Scoring by quarter: 17–15, 4–12, 8–21, 23–21
Pts: Catchings 18 Rebs: Catchings 11 Asts: January, Zellous 3		Pts: Fowles 20 Rebs: Brunson 14 Asts: Moore 5
Minnesota wins series 3-2

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 18,933 Referees: Michael Price, Denise Brooks, Roy Gulbeyan

Regular-season series

Minnesota won 2–0 in the regular-season series
June 6, 2015 Report Minnesota Lynx 78, Indiana Fever 69 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN September 4, 2015 Report Indiana Fever 65, Minnesota Lynx 81 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

References