1999 WNBA Championship
Encyclopedia
The 1999 WNBA Championship was the championship series of the 1999 WNBA season
, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs
. The Houston Comets
, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference
, defeated the New York Liberty
, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference
, two games to one in a best-of-three series. This was Houston's third title.
The Comets made their third appearance in the Finals in franchise history. The Liberty made their second Finals appearance.
Going into the series, no other team except the Houston Comets
had ever won a WNBA championship (1997
and 1998
).
The Comets had a 26-6 record (.813), good enough to receive home-court advantage over the Liberty (18-14).
who took a couple dribbles and let the ball fly 50 feet away from the basket. To the awe and ire of the Houston fans, the ball smacked off the backboard and banked into the basket and the Liberty won the game 68-67. The lasting image of this moment is Weatherspoon falling over on the ground smiling as her teammates mob her from the bench.
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #B22222; color: #D3D3D3; text-align: center;" | 1999 Houston Comets Finals roster
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #0047AB; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;" | 1999 New York Liberty Finals roster
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1999 WNBA season
-External links:**...
, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
. The Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
, defeated the New York Liberty
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
, two games to one in a best-of-three series. This was Houston's third title.
The Comets made their third appearance in the Finals in franchise history. The Liberty made their second Finals appearance.
Going into the series, no other team except the Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
had ever won a WNBA championship (1997
1997 WNBA Championship
The 1997 WNBA Championship was the championship game of the 1997 WNBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Houston Comets, top-seeded team of the league, defeated the New York Liberty, second-seeded team, 65-51 to win the league's inaugural championship.The Comets' 18-10 record...
and 1998
1998 WNBA Championship
The 1998 WNBA Championship was the championship series of the 1998 WNBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Houston Comets, top-seeded team of the league, defeated the Phoenix Mercury, third-seeded team of the league, two games to one in a best-of-three series...
).
The Comets had a 26-6 record (.813), good enough to receive home-court advantage over the Liberty (18-14).
Road to the finals
| Houston Comets | New York Liberty | |
|---|---|---|
| 26–6 (.813) 1st West, 1st overall |
Regular season 2001 WNBA season -External links:**... |
28–14 (.563) 1st East, 4th overall |
| Received a bye | Conference Semifinals | Received a bye |
| Defeated the (2) Los Angeles Sparks Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... , 2–1 |
Conference Finals | Defeated the (3) Charlotte Sting Charlotte Sting The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007.... , 2–1 |
Regular season series
The Comets and the Liberty split the regular season series:Game 1
Game 2
With Houston leading 67-65 over New York and the Liberty out of timeouts with only 2.4 seconds remaining on the clock, New York would have to go the length of the court if they had any hope of winning. Kym Hampton inbounded the ball to Teresa WeatherspoonTeresa Weatherspoon
-Personal:Weatherspoon was born to Charles and Rowena Weatherspoon in Pineland, Texas. Her father, Charles Sr., played minor league baseball in the Minnesota Twins' farm system, and holds the record for the most grand slams in a minor league game. Weatherspoon has two brothers and three sisters...
who took a couple dribbles and let the ball fly 50 feet away from the basket. To the awe and ire of the Houston fans, the ball smacked off the backboard and banked into the basket and the Liberty won the game 68-67. The lasting image of this moment is Weatherspoon falling over on the ground smiling as her teammates mob her from the bench.
Game 3
Quotes
Awards
- 1999 WNBA Champion: Houston CometsHouston CometsThe Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
- Finals MVP: Cynthia CooperCynthia CooperCynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
Rosters
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #B22222; color: #D3D3D3; text-align: center;" | 1999 Houston Comets Finals roster
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #0047AB; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;" | 1999 New York Liberty Finals roster
|- style="background-color: #66CDAA;color: #FF4500; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
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{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
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