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2001 WNBA season

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2001 WNBA season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationMay 28 - September 1, 2001
Games32
Teams16
Total attendance2,322,962
Average attendance9,074
TV partner(s)ESPN, NBC
Draft
Top draft pickAustralia Lauren Jackson
Picked bySeattle Storm
Regular season
Top seedLos Angeles Sparks
Season MVPUnited States Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles)
Top scorerUnited States Katie Smith (Minnesota)
Playoffs
Finals championsLos Angeles Sparks
  Runners-upCharlotte Sting
Finals MVPUnited States Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles)
WNBA seasons

The 2001 WNBA season was the Women's National Basketball Association's fifth season. The season ended with the Los Angeles Sparks winning their first WNBA championship.

Regular season

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Standings

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Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Cleveland Rockers x2210.68815–6–
New York Liberty x2111.65613–81.0
Miami Sol x2012.62514–72.0
Charlotte Sting x1814.56315–64.0
Orlando Miracle o1319.4069–129.0
Indiana Fever o1022.3137–1412.0
Detroit Shock o1022.3137–1412.0
Washington Mystics o1022.3134–1712.0

Western Conference

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Los Angeles Sparks x284.87519–2–
Sacramento Monarchs x2012.62513–88.0
Utah Starzz x1913.59411–109.0
Houston Comets x1913.59413–89.0
Phoenix Mercury o1319.4068–1315.0
Minnesota Lynx o1220.3759–1216.0
Portland Fire o1121.3445–1617.0
Seattle Storm o1022.3136–1518.0

Note: Teams with an "X" clinched playoff spots.

Playoffs

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The top four teams from each conference qualified for the playoffs and were seeded based on their regular season standings.

Conference semifinals
Best-of-3 		Conference finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-3
         
E1 Cleveland 1
E4 Charlotte 2
E4 Charlotte 2
Eastern Conference
E2 New York 1
E2 New York 2
E3 Miami 1
E4 Charlotte 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
W1 Los Angeles 2
W4 Houston 0
W1 Los Angeles 2
Western Conference
W2 Sacramento 1
W2 Sacramento 2
W3 Utah 0
  • Bold – Series winner
  • Italics – Team with home-court advantage

Awards

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Reference:[1]

Individual

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Award Winner Team
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
Finals MVP Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
Defensive Player of the Year Debbie Black Miami Sol
Most Improved Player Janeth Arcain Houston Comets
Shooting Champions Field goal percentage Latasha Byears Los Angeles Sparks
Free throw percentage Elena Baranova Miami Sol
Rookie of the Year Jackie Stiles Portland Fire
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Sue Wicks New York Liberty
Coach of the Year Dan Hughes Cleveland Rockers

Team

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Award Player Team
All-WNBA First Team Katie SmithMinnesota Lynx
Natalie WilliamsUtah Starzz
Lisa LeslieLos Angeles Sparks
Janeth ArcainHouston Comets
Merlakia JonesCleveland Rockers
Second Team Tina ThompsonHouston Comets
Chamique HoldsclawWashington Mystics
Yolanda GriffithSacramento Monarchs
Ticha PenicheiroSacramento Monarchs
Tamecka DixonLos Angeles Sparks

Players of the Week

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Week ending Player Team
June 3 Katie Smith Minnesota Lynx
June 10 Janeth Arcain Houston Comets
June 17 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
June 24 Tina Thompson Houston Comets
July 1 Jackie Stiles Portland Fire
July 8 Dawn Staley Charlotte Sting
July 22 Sheri Sam Miami Sol
July 29 Natalie Williams Utah Starzz
August 5 Lisa Leslie (2) Los Angeles Sparks
August 12 Andrea Stinson Charlotte Sting

Coaches

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Eastern Conference

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Western Conference

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References

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  1. ↑ "2001 WNBA Season Awards - WNBA". www.wnba.com. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
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