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1997 WNBA Season
The 1997 WNBA season was the Women's National Basketball Association's inaugural season. It started off with 8 franchises: Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and the Utah Starzz. It featured an inaugural game between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks lost to the New York Liberty, 67–57. The attendance at the Forum was 14,284. The season ended with the Comets defeating the Liberty in a one-game series 65–51. Cynthia Cooper was named MVP of the game. Regular season Standings Eastern Conference Western Conference Note: Teams with an "X" clinched playoff spots. Playoffs Awards ''Reference'': Individual Team Players of the Week Coaches Eastern Conference *Charlotte Sting: Marynell Meadors *Cleveland Rockers: Linda Hill-MacDonald *Houston Comets: Van Chancellor *New York Liberty: Nancy Darsch Western Conference *Los Angeles Sparks: Li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. The league comprises 13 teams (scheduled to expand to 15 in 2026). The WNBA is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan. The WNBA was founded on April 24, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA); league play began in 1997. The regular season runs from May to September, with each team playing 44 games. The top eight teams (regardless of conference) qualify for the playoffs, culminating in the WNBA Finals, which is played in October. The WNBA All-Star Game, All-Star Game occurs midway through the season in July. The league hosts an annual mid-season competition, the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, Commissioner's Cup. The WNBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the Sport governing body, governing body for basketball in the United States. History League foun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WNBA Most Valuable Player
The Women's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) award given since the league's inaugural season in 1997. MVP voting takes place immediately following the regular season. The award recipient is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States. Panel members were asked to select their top five choices for the award, with 10 points being awarded for a first place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth and one for fifth. In 2008, fans could also have a say in who won the award. Fans were able to vote online for their top five MVP picks. These selections accounted for 25% of the total vote, while the media panel's selections accounted for the other 75%. Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson and A'ja Wilson have won the award the most times, with three selections each. Two players have won the award with different franchises—Elena Delle Donne in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award
The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) award given since the league's inaugural season, to the player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court—ethical behavior, fair play and integrity." This is the same criterion used by the analogous NBA Sportsmanship Award, given by the NBA since its 1995–96 season. Every year, each of the WNBA teams nominates one of its players to compete for this award. From these nominees, a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters vote for first and second place winners of this award. First place selections receive two votes, while second place selections receive one. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. Since the 2000 WNBA season, the award is named for the late Kim Perrot, who helped guide the Houston Comets to their first two WNBA championships before she died in August, 1999, after suffering from cancer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1997 Los Angeles Sparks Season
The 1997 WNBA season was the first season for the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks finished in second place in the Western Division with a record of 14 wins and 14 losses. Transactions WNBA allocation draft WNBA elite draft WNBA draft Transactions Roster Schedule Regular season , - style="background:#fcc;" , 1 , June 21 , New York L 57–67, Lisa Leslie (16) , Lisa Leslie (14) , Jamila Wideman (6) , Great Western Forum , 0–1 , - style="background:#fcc;" , 2 , June 23 , @ Utah L 89–102, Lisa Leslie (22) , Lisa Leslie (10) , Jamila Wideman (7) , Delta Center , 0–2 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 3 , June 25 , Charlotte W 74–54, Lisa Leslie (19) , Leslie Toler (5) , Penny Toler (7) , Great Western Forum , 1–2 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 4 , June 27 , Sacramento W 102–92, Zheng Haixia (28) , Zheng Haixia (10) , Toler Wideman (7) , Great Western Forum , 2–2 , - style="background:#fcc;" , 5 , June 30 , @ Ho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Haixia Zheng
Zheng Haixia (; born March 7, 1967) is a Chinese retired professional women's basketball player for the China women's national basketball team and the Women's National Basketball Association. International career In 1983, Haixia made her debut at the Basketball World Championship and finished 3rd. The following year, she and her teammates finished 1st in the Asian Junior Basketball Championship and 3rd in the 23rd Olympic Games. In 1986, she led the Chinese team to fifth in the 10th World Championship, 1st in the Asian Games, and 2nd in the World Championship. In 1992, she inspired her teammates to win the silver in the Barcelona Olympics. The following year, she won the East Asian Games, the World University Games and National Games. In 1994, she claimed the titles in the Asian Championship and ranked 2nd in the World Championship, being named MVP of the event by averaging 26.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and shooting 83.5% from the field. One year later, she and her teammates ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. Both conferences currently consist of 6 teams, until 2025, when the Golden State Valkyries will join the Western Conference. From the league's second season in 1998 through 2015, the WNBA operated separate playoff brackets for its Eastern and Western Conferences. Each conference's playoff was divided into two playoff rounds, the Conference Semi-Finals and the Conference Finals, with the Conference Finals winners receiving Conference Championships and advancing to the WNBA Finals to determine the WNBA champion. In the final years of this playoff scheme, all in-conference playoff series were best-of-three. Since 2016, the league has abandoned separate conference playoffs in favor of a single league-wide playoff bracket. The top eight teams in the regular season, without regard to conference affiliation, advance to the playoffs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1997 Charlotte Sting Season
The 1997 WNBA season was the inaugural season for the Charlotte Sting. Transactions WNBA allocation draft WNBA elite draft WNBA draft Transactions Roster Schedule Regular season , - style="background:#fcc;" , 1 , June 22 , @ Phoenix L 59–76, Andrea Stinson (18) , Andrea Stinson (9) , Andrea Stinson (7) , America West Arena , 0–1 , - style="background:#fcc;" , 2 , June 25 , @ Los Angeles L 54–74, Tora Suber (13) , Vicky Bullett (11) , Vicky Bullett (3) , Great Western Forum , 0–2 , - style="background:#fcc;" , 3 , June 26 , @ Sacramento L 70–78, Andrea Stinson (17) , Andrea Stinson (5) , Andrea Stinson (5) , ARCO Arena , 0–3 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 4 , June 29 , Cleveland W 67–44, Andrea Stinson (19) , BullettMoore Suber (6) , Andrea Stinson (10) , Charlotte Coliseum , 1–3 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 5 , July 5 , Los Angeles W 78–66, Andrea Stinson (19) , ManningMoore (5) , Tor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrea Congreaves
Andrea Congreaves (born 3 June 1970) is a British former basketball player born in Epsom, Surrey who played professionally for the women's England's national team while also playing in the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Britain throughout her career.Colin Jackson, Raise Your Game: Andrea Congreaves" BBC (2012). Retrieved 5 July 2014. She is the former head coach of the Rhondda Rebels of the English Women's Basketball League (Division 1), and the current head coach of the Mansfield Giants of the English Basketball League (Division 2) as well as the women's team of the University of Nottingham. College career Congreaves graduated from Carshalton High School for Girls in Carshalton, Sutton, in 1986. She played for the Carshalton High School girls' basketball team, and through a connection with her high school coach was eventually offered an athletic scholarship to attend university in the United States. Congreaves enrolled in Mercer University, an American ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences that make up the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the other being the Western Conference. The Eastern conference consists on 6 teams whereas with the addition of Golden State Valkyries from 2025 season , Western conference will consist on 7 teams. From the league's second season in 1998 through 2015, the WNBA operated separate playoff brackets for its Eastern and Western Conferences. Each conference's playoff was divided into two playoff rounds, the Conference Semi-Finals and the Conference Finals, with the Conference Finals winners receiving Conference Championships and advancing to the WNBA Finals to determine the WNBA champion. In the final years of this playoff scheme, all in-conference playoff series were best-of-three. Since 2016, the league has abandoned separate conference playoffs in favor of a single league-wide playoff bracket. The top eight teams in the regular season, without regard to conference affil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
WNBA Peak Performers
The Women's National Basketball Association Peak Performer awards are given each year to players who lead the WNBA in scoring, rebounding, and assists. The award has been given since the league's inaugural season, but the honor has varied since then. ;Legend 1997 In 1997, the Peak Performer awards were given to the "shooting champions" from each conference. 1998–2001 From 1998 to 2001, the Peak Performer awards were given to players who had the best field goal and free throw percentages in the league. 2002–present In 2002, the WNBA changed the Peak Performer awards, to be given to the players who led the league in scoring and rebounding per game during the regular season. In 2005, a Peak Performer award was added, to be given to the player who led the league in assists per game during the regular season. See also * List of sports awards honoring women External links * (1997–2024) References {{WNBA Awards established in 1997 Peak Peak or The Peak may refe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1997 New York Liberty Season
The 1997 WNBA season was the first season for the New York Liberty. WNBA allocation draft WNBA elite draft WNBA draft Transactions Roster Schedule Regular season , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 1 , June 21 , @ Los Angeles W 67–57, Rebecca Lobo (16) , Vickie Johnson (8) , Teresa Weatherspoon (10) , Great Western Forum , 1–0 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 2 , June 23 , @ Sacramento W 73–62, Sophia Witherspoon (15) , Rebecca Lobo (9) , Vickie Johnson (3) , ARCO Arena , 2–0 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 3 , June 26 , @ Houston W 62–60 (OT), Hampton Johnson Lobo (10) , Rebecca Lobo (8) , Kisha Ford (4) , The Summit , 3–0 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 4 , June 29 , Phoenix W 65–57, Vickie Johnson (20) , Rebecca Lobo (9) , Teresa Weatherspoon (5) , Madison Square Garden , 4–0 , - style="background:#bbffbb;" , 5 , July 2 , Houston W 72–67, Sophia Witherspoon (14) , Kym Hampton (9) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Teresa Weatherspoon
Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon (born December 8, 1965) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for Vinyl BC of the Unrivaled basketball league. She was previously the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played for the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and served as the head basketball coach of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. Weatherspoon was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history. In 2016, Weatherspoon was chosen to the WNBA Top 20@20, a list of the league's best 20 players ever in celebration of the WNBA's twentieth anniversary. Professional career Born in Pineland, Texas, Weatherspoon was a health and physical education major and star basketball player at Louisiana Tech. In 1988, her senior season, she led the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
