The 2001 WNBA playoffs concluded the 2001 Women's National Basketball Association season. Sixteen teams competed in the regular season, and the top four teams from each conference qualified for the postseason, resulting in eight playoff participants.
Playoff format
- First‑round (Conference Quarterfinals): Best‑of‑three series.
- Conference semifinals: Best‑of‑three series.
- WNBA Finals: Best‑of‑three series, with the winner crowned league champion.
Qualified teams
| Eastern Conference | Seed | Western Conference | Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Liberty | 1 | Los Angeles Sparks | 1 |
| Charlotte Sting | 2 | Sacramento Monarchs | 2 |
| Detroit Shock | 3 | Utah Starzz | 3 |
| Washington Mystics | 4 | Houston Comets | 4 |
Series results
Conference quarterfinals
- Eastern: New York Liberty defeated Washington Mystics, 2–0; Charlotte Sting defeated Detroit Shock, 2–1.
- Western: Los Angeles Sparks defeated Houston Comets, 2–0; Sacramento Monarchs defeated Utah Starzz, 2–0.
Conference semifinals
- Eastern: Charlotte Sting defeated New York Liberty, 2–0.
- Western: Los Angeles Sparks defeated Sacramento Monarchs, 2–0.
WNBA Finals (best‑of‑three)
- Los Angeles Sparks defeated Charlotte Sting, 2–0 to win the league championship.
Champion
- Los Angeles Sparks (second consecutive WNBA title).
Finals MVP
- Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks).
The 2001 playoffs marked the Sparks’ back‑to‑back championships and featured the league’s first Finals sweep since the three‑game format was adopted. All series were played in a 2‑1 home‑court arrangement, with the higher‑seeded team hosting games 1 and 3 (if necessary).
