The 1999 WNBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the 1999 season. The playoffs began on August 13, 1999, and concluded with the WNBA Finals, which were contested from September 7 to September 9, 1999.
Format
- A total of eight teams qualified, the top four from each of the league’s two conferences (Eastern and Western).
- All playoff rounds were conducted as best‑of‑three series: conference semifinals, conference finals, and the WNBA Finals.
- The higher‑seeded team hosted Games 1 and 3 (if necessary), while the lower‑seeded team hosted Game 2.
Qualified Teams
Eastern Conference
- New York Liberty (18–14) – 1st seed
- Charlotte Sting (15–17) – 2nd seed
- Cleveland Rockers (15–17) – 3rd seed
- Washington Mystics (12–20) – 4th seed
Western Conference
- Houston Comets (26–6) – 1st seed
- Los Angeles Sparks (20–12) – 2nd seed
- Phoenix Mercury (15–17) – 3rd seed
- Sacramento Monarchs (12–20) – 4th seed
Playoff Progression
Conference Semifinals
- Eastern: New York Liberty defeated Washington Mystics, 2–0; Charlotte Sting defeated Cleveland Rockers, 2–1.
- Western: Houston Comets defeated Sacramento Monarchs, 2–0; Los Angeles Sparks defeated Phoenix Mercury, 2–0.
Conference Finals
- Eastern Conference: New York Liberty overcame Charlotte Sting, 2–1, to claim the Eastern title.
- Western Conference: Houston Comets defeated Los Angeles Sparks, 2–0, securing the Western championship.
WNBA Finals
- The Houston Comets faced the New York Liberty in a best‑of‑three series.
- Game 1 (September 7, 1999, Houston): Houston 70, New York 61.
- Game 2 (September 8, 1999, New York): New York 68, Houston 55.
- Game 3 (September 9, 1999, Houston): Houston 70, New York 56.
The Houston Comets won the series 2–1, capturing their third consecutive WNBA championship.
Individual Honors
- WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player: Cynthia Cooper (Houston Comets), marking her third straight Finals MVP award.
Historical Significance
- The 1999 playoffs reinforced the early dominance of the Houston Comets, who had also won the inaugural WNBA championship in 1997 and repeated in 1998.
- The series featured the first WNBA Finals matchup between the Comets and the Liberty, a rivalry that would recur in subsequent seasons.
References
- Women's National Basketball Association. “1999 WNBA Playoff Archive.” Official WNBA Statistics.
- Basketball‑Reference.com. “1999 WNBA Playoffs.” Sports Reference LLC.
All information reflects data available from official league records and reputable statistical databases.