2004 WNBA Finals
Encyclopedia
The 2004 WNBA Finals was the championship series of the 2004 WNBA season
, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs
. The Seattle Storm
, second-seeded champions of the Western Conference
, defeated the Connecticut Sun
, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference
, two games to one in a best-of-three series. This was Seattle's first title.
The Storm made their first appearance in the Finals in franchise history. The Sun made their first appearance in the Finals in franchise history.
Going into the series, neither team had won a WNBA championship. The Houston Comets
hold the record with four championships won.
The Storm had a 20-14 record (.588), good enough to receive home-court advantage over the Sun (18-16).
The 2004 Finals was the last time two teams had entered the series without having participated in them before.
and the Connecticut Sun
took care of business at home to open the WNBA Finals
. Douglas overcame an early ankle injury to score 18 points as the Sun held on for a 68-64 victory over the Seattle Storm
, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series. The win was Connecticut's fifth straight after opening the postseason with a loss.
Douglas, who suffered a minor ankle sprain in the first half, nailed three 3-pointers and hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to finish the scoring.
Wendy Palmer had 16 points and Lindsay Whalen
chipped in 11 and a franchise playoff-record nine assists for the Sun, who used a 14-7 run to close the first half to grab a 33-29 lead at intermission.
Connecticut built its edge to 63-47 on a bucket by Asjha Jones
with 7:20 remaining and survived a late 16-5 run by the Storm to get a win in its WNBA Finals debut.
Betty Lennox
scored 17 points and Lauren Jackson
had 16 for Seattle. Lennox nailed a 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining to pull the Storm to within two points, but they failed to convert their final three shots before the final buzzer.
won her shootout with Nykesha Sales
and extended the WNBA Finals to a decisive game.
Lennox scored 27 points as the Seattle Storm
survived a record-setting performance by Sales and held on for a 67-65 victory over the Connecticut Sun
that evened the WNBA Finals
at one game each.
Lennox made 11-of-16 shots. She scored 16 points in the second half, when the Sun - who never led - erased a 13-point deficit and tied the game.
Sales, who set a WNBA Finals record with 32 points, sank a jumper that evened it, 57-57, with 5:20 to go. Lennox answered with four points in a 6-0 burst that gave the Storm the lead for good.
Katie Douglas
made a 3-pointer to halve the deficit before Lennox made a jumper at the 1:41 mark. Sales had a steal and layup, but Lennox's foul line jumper pushed the lead to 67-62 with 51 seconds remaining.
Sales made a 3-pointer before Lennox missed a jumper and Connecticut forced a jump ball. The Sun gained possession with 3.1 seconds left and ran a play for Sales, who hit the side of the backboard with a potential game-winning 3-pointer from the right corner.
Lauren Jackson
had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Sue Bird
scored 10 points for the Storm, who improved to 4-0 at home in the postseason. They drew 17,072 to KeyArena
for this one.
Douglas scored 14 points for the Sun, who had won five straight playoff games but stumbled early in this one. They fell behind, 22-10, midway through the first half and trailed, 35-30, at halftime.
got to the WNBA Finals
behind stars Lauren Jackson
and Sue Bird
. They won their first title behind a player picked off the scrap heap.
Betty Lennox
scored 16 of her 23 points in the second half as the Storm won the WNBA championship with a 74-60 triumph over the Connecticut Sun
in the decisive third game.
Acquired in the dispersal draft from the defunct Cleveland Rockers
, Lennox outshined Jackson, acknowledged as the best player in the world, and Bird, a star point guard. Lennox averaged 22.3 points in the series to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
Jackson collected 13 points and seven rebounds while Bird added eight - all in the second half - and six assists.
Playing in front of their second straight sellout crowd of 17,072, the Storm improved to a perfect 5-0 at KeyArena
in the postseason. They won their last two series after losing the opener on the road.
After Nykesha Sales
hit two free throws to cut Seattle's lead to 51-46 with 13:05 left, the Storm went on a 13-2 run capped by Lennox's driving layup with 6:15 to go.
Led by center Kamila Vodichkova
, who scored 12 of her 14 points in the opening half, Seattle never trailed, opening a 26-14 lead with 10:17 left. Connecticut answered with a 15-3 surge over the next seven minutes to tie the game.
But the Sun went cold in the second half, missing 18 of 23 shots. Shooting guard Katie Douglas characterized the team's poor shooting, finishing 0-of-11 from the floor. She scored just six points after averaging 16 in the first two games.
Seattle coach Anne Donovan
made history by becoming the first female coach to guide a team to the WNBA title.
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #2E8B57; color: #FFC322; text-align: center;" | 2004 Seattle Storm Finals roster
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #092C57; color: #FFC322; text-align: center;" | 2004 Connecticut Sun Finals roster
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2004 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 Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, second-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 Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
, 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 Seattle's first title.
The Storm made their first appearance in the Finals in franchise history. The Sun made their first appearance in the Finals in franchise history.
Going into the series, neither team had won a WNBA championship. 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...
hold the record with four championships won.
The Storm had a 20-14 record (.588), good enough to receive home-court advantage over the Sun (18-16).
The 2004 Finals was the last time two teams had entered the series without having participated in them before.
Road to the finals
| Seattle Storm | Connecticut Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| 20–14 (.588) 2nd West, 2nd overall |
Regular season 2004 WNBA season -External links:***... |
18–16 (.529) 1st East, 3rd overall |
| Defeated the (3) Minnesota Lynx Minnesota Lynx The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season... , 2–0 |
Conference Semifinals | Defeated the (4) Washington Mystics Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'... , 2–1 |
| Defeated the (4) Sacramento Monarchs Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... , 2–1 |
Conference Finals | Defeated the (2) 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... , 2–0 |
Regular season series
The Sun and the Storm split the regular season series:Game 1
Katie DouglasKatie Douglas
Kathryn Elizabeth “Katie” Douglas is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA...
and the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
took care of business at home to open the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
. Douglas overcame an early ankle injury to score 18 points as the Sun held on for a 68-64 victory over the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series. The win was Connecticut's fifth straight after opening the postseason with a loss.
Douglas, who suffered a minor ankle sprain in the first half, nailed three 3-pointers and hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to finish the scoring.
Wendy Palmer had 16 points and Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Marie Whalen is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She began her pro career as a point guard for the Connecticut Sun...
chipped in 11 and a franchise playoff-record nine assists for the Sun, who used a 14-7 run to close the first half to grab a 33-29 lead at intermission.
Connecticut built its edge to 63-47 on a bucket by Asjha Jones
Asjha Jones
Asjha Takera Jones is a professional basketball player. She plays the power forward position for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-Early years:...
with 7:20 remaining and survived a late 16-5 run by the Storm to get a win in its WNBA Finals debut.
Betty Lennox
Betty Lennox
Betty Bernice Lennox is an American professional basketball player most recently playing for the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. Her nicknames include "Betty Basketball," "Betty Big Buckets," and her most popular nickname "B-Money."-Childhood:Betty grew up in the small town of Grant, OK. Daughter of...
scored 17 points and Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian professional basketball player. Jackson began her professional career at the Australian Institute of Sport in the WNBL before moving on to the Canberra Capitals. She is currently a forward/centre with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and the Australian...
had 16 for Seattle. Lennox nailed a 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining to pull the Storm to within two points, but they failed to convert their final three shots before the final buzzer.
Game 2
Betty LennoxBetty Lennox
Betty Bernice Lennox is an American professional basketball player most recently playing for the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. Her nicknames include "Betty Basketball," "Betty Big Buckets," and her most popular nickname "B-Money."-Childhood:Betty grew up in the small town of Grant, OK. Daughter of...
won her shootout with Nykesha Sales
Nykesha Sales
Nykesha Simone Sales is a former professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently for the Connecticut Sun. Her primary position is the small forward. Her second position is shooting guard. In 1999 Sales was added to the roster of the USA FIBA Senior National Team team...
and extended the WNBA Finals to a decisive game.
Lennox scored 27 points as the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
survived a record-setting performance by Sales and held on for a 67-65 victory over the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
that evened the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
at one game each.
Lennox made 11-of-16 shots. She scored 16 points in the second half, when the Sun - who never led - erased a 13-point deficit and tied the game.
Sales, who set a WNBA Finals record with 32 points, sank a jumper that evened it, 57-57, with 5:20 to go. Lennox answered with four points in a 6-0 burst that gave the Storm the lead for good.
Katie Douglas
Katie Douglas
Kathryn Elizabeth “Katie” Douglas is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA...
made a 3-pointer to halve the deficit before Lennox made a jumper at the 1:41 mark. Sales had a steal and layup, but Lennox's foul line jumper pushed the lead to 67-62 with 51 seconds remaining.
Sales made a 3-pointer before Lennox missed a jumper and Connecticut forced a jump ball. The Sun gained possession with 3.1 seconds left and ran a play for Sales, who hit the side of the backboard with a potential game-winning 3-pointer from the right corner.
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian professional basketball player. Jackson began her professional career at the Australian Institute of Sport in the WNBL before moving on to the Canberra Capitals. She is currently a forward/centre with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and the Australian...
had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
scored 10 points for the Storm, who improved to 4-0 at home in the postseason. They drew 17,072 to KeyArena
KeyArena
KeyArena at Seattle Center , is a multipurpose arena, in Seattle, Washington. It is located north of downtown in the entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, the Century 21 Exposition...
for this one.
Douglas scored 14 points for the Sun, who had won five straight playoff games but stumbled early in this one. They fell behind, 22-10, midway through the first half and trailed, 35-30, at halftime.
Game 3
The Seattle StormSeattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
got to the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
behind stars Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian professional basketball player. Jackson began her professional career at the Australian Institute of Sport in the WNBL before moving on to the Canberra Capitals. She is currently a forward/centre with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and the Australian...
and Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
. They won their first title behind a player picked off the scrap heap.
Betty Lennox
Betty Lennox
Betty Bernice Lennox is an American professional basketball player most recently playing for the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. Her nicknames include "Betty Basketball," "Betty Big Buckets," and her most popular nickname "B-Money."-Childhood:Betty grew up in the small town of Grant, OK. Daughter of...
scored 16 of her 23 points in the second half as the Storm won the WNBA championship with a 74-60 triumph over the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
in the decisive third game.
Acquired in the dispersal draft from the defunct Cleveland Rockers
Cleveland Rockers
This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which...
, Lennox outshined Jackson, acknowledged as the best player in the world, and Bird, a star point guard. Lennox averaged 22.3 points in the series to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
Jackson collected 13 points and seven rebounds while Bird added eight - all in the second half - and six assists.
Playing in front of their second straight sellout crowd of 17,072, the Storm improved to a perfect 5-0 at KeyArena
KeyArena
KeyArena at Seattle Center , is a multipurpose arena, in Seattle, Washington. It is located north of downtown in the entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, the Century 21 Exposition...
in the postseason. They won their last two series after losing the opener on the road.
After Nykesha Sales
Nykesha Sales
Nykesha Simone Sales is a former professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently for the Connecticut Sun. Her primary position is the small forward. Her second position is shooting guard. In 1999 Sales was added to the roster of the USA FIBA Senior National Team team...
hit two free throws to cut Seattle's lead to 51-46 with 13:05 left, the Storm went on a 13-2 run capped by Lennox's driving layup with 6:15 to go.
Led by center Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodičková is a Czech women's basketball player. She currently plays for the North American WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. She represented Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Summer Olympics.-WNBA career:...
, who scored 12 of her 14 points in the opening half, Seattle never trailed, opening a 26-14 lead with 10:17 left. Connecticut answered with a 15-3 surge over the next seven minutes to tie the game.
But the Sun went cold in the second half, missing 18 of 23 shots. Shooting guard Katie Douglas characterized the team's poor shooting, finishing 0-of-11 from the floor. She scored just six points after averaging 16 in the first two games.
Seattle coach Anne Donovan
Anne Donovan
Anne Donovan is an American retired basketball player and the current head coach of the women's basketball team at Seton Hall University. She was formerly an assistant coach, then interim head coach of the New York Liberty of the WNBA...
made history by becoming the first female coach to guide a team to the WNBA title.
Awards
- 2004 WNBA Champion: Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
- Finals MVP: Betty LennoxBetty LennoxBetty Bernice Lennox is an American professional basketball player most recently playing for the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. Her nicknames include "Betty Basketball," "Betty Big Buckets," and her most popular nickname "B-Money."-Childhood:Betty grew up in the small town of Grant, OK. Daughter of...
Rosters
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #2E8B57; color: #FFC322; text-align: center;" | 2004 Seattle Storm Finals roster
|- style="background-color: #B22222;color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
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| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Height !! Weight !!class="unsortable"| !! From
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{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #092C57; color: #FFC322; text-align: center;" | 2004 Connecticut Sun Finals roster
|- style="background-color: #B22222;color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
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| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Height !! Weight !!class="unsortable"| !! From
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