2000 WNBA Championship
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Dates | August 24-26 | |||||||||
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MVP | Cynthia Cooper (Houston Comets) | |||||||||
Hall of Famers | Comets: Cynthia Cooper (2010) Sheryl Swoopes (2016) Tina Thompson (2018) Liberty: Becky Hammon (2023) Rebecca Lobo (2017; did not play) Teresa Weatherspoon (2019) Coaches: Van Chancellor (2007) | |||||||||
Eastern finals | New York defeated Cleveland, 2–1 | |||||||||
Western finals | Houston defeated Los Angeles, 2–0 | |||||||||
The 2000 WNBA Championship was the championship series of the 2000 WNBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Houston Comets, second-seeded champions of the Western Conference, defeated the New York Liberty, first-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, two games to none in a best-of-three series. This was Houston's fourth title.
The Comets made their fourth appearance in the Finals in franchise history. The Liberty also made their third Finals appearance.
Going into the series, no other team except the Houston Comets had won a WNBA championship (1997–1999).
The Comets had a 27–5 record (.844), good enough to receive home-court advantage over the Liberty (20–12). It did not matter, however, as the Comets swept the Liberty.
Road to the finals
[edit]Houston Comets | New York Liberty | |
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27–5 (.844) 2nd West, 2nd overall | Regular season | 20–12 (.562) 1st East, 4th overall |
Defeated the (3) Sacramento Monarchs, 2–0 | Conference Semifinals | Defeated the (4) Washington Mystics, 2–0 |
Defeated the (1) Los Angeles Sparks, 2–0 | Conference Finals | Defeated the (2) Cleveland Rockers, 2–1 |
Regular season series
[edit]The Comets and the Liberty split the regular season series:
May 29 |
Recap at the Wayback Machine (archived October 21, 2000) |
New York Liberty 68, Houston Comets 84 |
July 23 |
Recap at the Wayback Machine (archived October 22, 2000) |
Houston Comets 64, New York Liberty 69 |
Game summaries
[edit]All times listed below are Eastern Daylight Time.
Game 1
[edit]August 24 |
Recap at the Wayback Machine (archived October 23, 2000) |
Houston Comets 59, New York Liberty 52 | ||
Scoring by half: 29–22, 30–39 | ||
Pts: Cooper (20) Rebs: Swoopes, Thompson (8) Asts: Cooper (5) | Pts: Phillips (24) Rebs: Phillips (15) Asts: Weatherspoon (5) |
Game 2
[edit]August 26 |
Recap at the Wayback Machine (archived October 23, 2000) |
New York Liberty 73, Houston Comets 79 (OT) | ||
Scoring by half: 25–27, 39–37 Overtime: 9–15 | ||
Pts: Phillips (20) Rebs: Phillips (7) Asts: Weatherspoon (8) | Pts: Swoopes (31) Rebs: Thompson (8) Asts: Cooper (7) |
Rosters
[edit]2000 Houston Comets Finals roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2000 New York Liberty Finals roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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