2016 WNBA season

The 2016 WNBA season was the 20th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Its regular season began on May 14 when the Indiana Fever hosted the Dallas Wings and concluded on September 18, with a Seattle Storm defeat of the Chicago Sky.

2016 WNBA season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationMay 14 – October 20
Number of games34
Number of teams12
Total attendance1,561,530[1]
Average attendance7,655[1]
TV partner(s)ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV
Top draft pick Breanna Stewart
Picked bySeattle Storm
Season MVP Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles)
Eastern championsNew York Liberty
  Eastern runners-upChicago Sky
Western championsMinnesota Lynx
  Western runners-upLos Angeles Sparks
Finals championsLos Angeles Sparks
  Runners-upMinnesota Lynx
Finals MVPCandace Parker

The playoffs began on September 21, with a new playoff format. To increase the level of competition, instead of the top 4 seeds from each conference advancing, the 8 teams with the best overall records, regardless of conference, advanced.

The top two teams, in this case the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks, each received a double bye to the semi-final round. The number 3 and number 4 seeds, in this case the New York Liberty and the Chicago Sky, received one bye to the second round. The playoffs began with the number 5 seed Indiana Fever facing the number 8 seed Phoenix Mercury and the number 6 seed Atlanta Dream facing the number 7 seed, the Seattle Storm. The winners of those single elimination games, Phoenix and Atlanta, advanced to a second round of single elimination. The teams were reseeded so that the team with the worse overall record played the number 3 seed and the next worse record played the number 4 seed.

The second round of playoffs saw battles between Phoenix and New York in the first game and Chicago and Atlanta in the second game. The winners, Phoenix and Chicago respectively, went on to compete with the top two teams in the league, Los Angeles and Minnesota. Minnesota swept the Phoenix Mercury in 3 games. Los Angeles faced Chicago in 4 games, winning 2 at home, losing the third, and capitalizing on the fourth.

The finals was a Western Conference showdown between the defending champions, the Minnesota Lynx, and the Los Angeles Sparks. It was the Sparks' first finals appearance since 2003, and they were seeking their first win since 2002. Los Angeles won the first game 78–76 on a buzzer beater from forward Alana Beard. Minnesota bounced back to drop the Sparks 79–60 in game 2. Back at home in Los Angeles, the Sparks clinched game 3 with the final score of 92–75, to get to one win away from the title. However, despite home court advantage, the Lynx stormed back to win game 4 at Staples Center, 85–79. In front of a sold out crowd in Minneapolis, the Sparks shocked the Lynx with a 77–76 victory in game five on October 20. The 2016 WNBA Most Valuable Player and Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike had the game-winning shot from an offensive rebound to put the Sparks ahead with 3.1 seconds remaining. It was the Los Angeles Sparks third title in franchise history.

The league took a hiatus for much of August, allowing for the participation of its players in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

2016 WNBA Draft
Main article: 2016 WNBA draft

Seattle Storm selected Breanna Stewart first in the 2016 WNBA Draft at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. The draft was televised nationally on the ESPN networks (round 1 on ESPN2, rounds 2 and 3 on ESPNU).[2]

Team standings

Source:[3]

Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
3 - New York Liberty2113.618-10-711-611-5
4 - Chicago Sky1816.529311-67-108-8
5 - Indiana Fever1717.50048-99-88-8
6 - Atlanta Dream1717.500411-66–119-7
e - Connecticut Sun1420.41278-96-114-12
e - Washington Mystics1321.38285-128-98-8
Western Conference
Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 - Minnesota Lynx286.824-15–213–415–1
2 - Los Angeles Sparks268.765214–312–511–5
7 - Seattle Storm1618.4711210–76–117–9
8 - Phoenix Mercury1618.4711211–65–126–10
e - Dallas Wings1123.324176–115–128–8
e - San Antonio Stars727.206214–133–141–15

Notes

# – Playoff seed
e – Eliminated from playoffs

Playoffs
Main article: 2016 WNBA Playoffs
 
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 24 and 25)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 28 – Oct. 6)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Oct. 9 – 20)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Minnesota Lynx		3
 
 
8
Phoenix Mercury		0
 
 
 
 
 
3
New York Liberty		94
 
 
 
8
Phoenix Mercury		101
 
5
Indiana Fever		78
 
 
 
8
Phoenix Mercury		89
 
1
Minnesota Lynx		2
 
 
 
2
Los Angeles Sparks		3
 
6
Atlanta Dream		94
 
 
 
7
Seattle Storm		85
 
4
Chicago Sky		108
 
 
6
Atlanta Dream		98
 
 
 
 
 
2
Los Angeles Sparks		3
 
 
4
Chicago Sky		1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Semifinals
Team123
1
Minnesota Lynx		1139682
8
Phoenix Mercury		958667
Team1234
2
Los Angeles Sparks		95996695
4
Chicago Sky		75847075
WNBA Finals
Team12345
1
Minnesota Lynx		7679758576
2
Los Angeles Sparks		7860927977

Notable occurrences

On March 15, the WNBA announced a new league-wide sponsor, Verizon Wireless. The Verizon logo appeared on all jerseys except those of the Stars and Sun, and Verizon received significant branding in arenas, on jerseys, and in telecasts via commercials. Verizon also sponsored the WNBA Playoffs, WNBA Finals, WNBA Tip-Off, WNBA Draft, and WNBA Inspiring Women Luncheon.[4]

On March 28, the WNBA introduced new jerseys for the 2016 season. Teams no longer had white home jerseys. Teams used the away jersey from the previous year or a secondary color-based alternate jersey. The Sparks and Stars already used their secondary colors for jerseys, and thus had no significant change. The jerseys included special patches commemorating the 20th season for the league, along with the three remaining original franchises, and showed the WNBA Championships each franchise has won by displaying the trophies on the back collar.[5]

The ESPN Networks aired 14 games (1 on ESPN, 13 on ESPN2) during the regular season and all playoff games. NBATV showed 42 games across the regular season.

On June 25, Becky Hammon's jersey no. 25 was retired by the San Antonio Stars after their game against the Atlanta Dream. Her jersey was the first to be retired by the Stars.

On July 15, Lauren Jackson returned to Seattle to see her jersey retired after the Storm defeated the Mystics. Her jersey was the first to be put in the rafters by the Seattle Storm.

Statistics

Individual statistic leaders
Category Player Team Statistic
Points per gameTina CharlesNew York Liberty21.5 PPG
Rebounds per gameTina CharlesNew York Liberty9.9 RPG
Assists per gameSue BirdSeattle Storm5.8 APG
Steals per gameTamika CatchingsIndiana Fever1.8 SPG
Blocks per gameBrittney GrinerPhoenix Mercury3.1 BPG
Three point percentageEmma MeessemanWashington Mystics44.8%
Free throw percentageShenise JohnsonIndiana Fever93.8%

Season award winners

Player of the Week award
For games
in week ending		 Eastern Conference Western Conference
Player Team Player Team
May 23, 2016Tina CharlesNew York LibertyMaya MooreMinnesota Lynx
May 29, 2016Angel McCoughtryAtlanta DreamCandace ParkerLos Angeles Sparks
June 6, 2016Tina Charles (2) New York LibertyMaya Moore (2) Minnesota Lynx
June 13, 2016Emma MeessemanWashington MysticsNneka OgwumikeLos Angeles Sparks
June 20, 2016Tina Charles (3) New York LibertyCandace Parker (2) Los Angeles Sparks
June 27, 2016Tina Charles (4) New York LibertyDiana TaurasiPhoenix Mercury
July 6, 2016Tina Charles (5) New York LibertyNneka Ogwumike (2) Los Angeles Sparks
July 11, 2016Angel McCoughtry (2) Atlanta DreamMaya Moore (3) Minnesota Lynx
July 18, 2016Elena Delle DonneChicago SkyNneka Ogwumike (3) Los Angeles Sparks
July 22, 2016Tina Charles (6) New York LibertyNneka Ogwumike (4) Los Angeles Sparks
September 6, 2016Elena Delle Donne (2) Chicago SkyNneka Ogwumike (5) Los Angeles Sparks
September 12, 2016Tina Charles (7) New York LibertyBreanna StewartSeattle Storm
September 19, 2016Jasmine ThomasConnecticut SunNneka Ogwumike (6) Los Angeles Sparks

Player of the Month award
For games played Eastern Conference Western Conference
Player Team Player Team
May 2016Tina CharlesNew York LibertyMaya MooreMinnesota Lynx
June 2016Tina Charles (2) New York LibertyNneka OgwumikeLos Angeles Sparks
July 2016Tina Charles (3) New York LibertyNneka Ogwumike (2) Los Angeles Sparks
September 2016Tina Charles (4) New York LibertyMaya Moore (2) Minnesota Lynx

Rookie of the Month award
For games played Player Team
May 2016Breanna StewartSeattle Storm
June 2016Breanna Stewart (2) Seattle Storm
July 2016Breanna Stewart (3) Seattle Storm
September 2016Breanna Stewart (4) Seattle Storm

Postseason awards
Award Winner Position Team Votes/Statistic
Most Valuable Player Award Nneka Ogwumike Forward Los Angeles Sparks 31 out of 39
Finals MVP Award Candace Parker Forward Los Angeles Sparks
Rookie of the Year Award Breanna Stewart Forward Seattle Storm 38 out of 39
Most Improved Player Award Elizabeth Williams Center Atlanta Dream 14 out of 39
Defensive Player of the Year Award Sylvia Fowles Center Minnesota Lynx 19 out of 39
Sixth Woman of the Year Award Jantel Lavender Center Los Angeles Sparks 26 out of 39
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Tamika Catchings Guard Indiana Fever 29 out of 39
Peak Performer: Points Tina Charles Center New York Liberty 21.5 PPG
Peak Performer: Rebounds Tina Charles Center New York Liberty 9.9 RPG
Peak Performer: Assists Sue Bird Guard Seattle Storm 5.8 APG
Coach of the Year Award Cheryl Reeve Coach Minnesota Lynx 17 out of 39
Team Guard Guard Forward Forward Center
All-WNBA First Team Sue Bird Elena Delle Donne Maya Moore Nneka Ogwumike Tina Charles
All-WNBA Second Team Jewell Loyd Diana Taurasi Angel McCoughtry Breanna Stewart Sylvia Fowles
All-Defensive First Team Alana Beard Briann January Angel McCoughtry Nneka Ogwumike Sylvia Fowles
All-Defensive Second Team Tanisha Wright Jasmine Thomas Tamika Catchings Breanna Stewart Brittney Griner
All-Rookie Team Tiffany Mitchell Moriah Jefferson Aerial Powers Breanna Stewart Imani Boyette

Coaches

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

References
  1. WNBA’s Record-Breaking Season Scores Highest Attendance In Five Years
  2. "Seattle Storm Win Top Pick In WNBA Draft Lottery". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  3. http://www.wnba.com/standings/#?season=2016
  4. "Verizon and WNBA Tip Off New Marquee Partnership Ahead of League's Landmark 20th Season - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
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