Western Conference (WNBA)

Western Conference
LeagueWNBA
SportBasketball
First season1997
No. of teams9
Most recent
champion
Las Vegas Aces (2025)
Most titlesMinnesota Lynx (4)

The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference consists of 9 teams and the Eastern Conference consists of 6 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.

In the current system, the eight best teams by the regular-season record, without regard to conference alignment, qualify for the playoffs. Since 2022, the playoffs have been held in a standard knockout format, with the first round consisting of best-of-three series and the semifinals and finals being best-of-five. The higher seed will generally face a weaker team, and will have home-court advantage in each round. In 2024, all quarterfinal series used a 2–1 home-court pattern, which allowed the higher seed the opportunity to win the series without having to visit the lower seed. This in turn meant that a lower seed that won one of the first two games would host the series decider. However, the quarterfinals will return to a 1–1–1 pattern in 2025, with the higher seed hosting the first game and a potential third game.

The quarterfinals are bracketed in the normal manner for an 8-team tournament, with 1 vs. 8 and 4 vs. 5 on one side of the bracket and 2 vs. 7 and 3 vs. 6 on the other. The winners of each quarterfinal series advance to the semifinals, with the bracket not being reseeded. The semifinals use a 2–2–1 home-court pattern, meaning that the higher-seeded team will have home court in games 1, 2, and 5 while the other team plays at home in game 3 and 4. Through 2024, the finals were also played in a 2–2–1 home-court pattern. Starting in 2025, the finals will use the same 2–2–1–1–1 pattern currently used by the NBA.

Teams

Team City/Area Arena Colors Joined WNBA Head coach
Dallas Wings Arlington, Texas College Park Center Dark blue, lime green, white 1998* Jose Fernandez
Golden State Valkyries San Francisco, California Chase Center Black, purple 2025 Natalie Nakase
Houston Comets Houston, Texas Toyota Center TBA 1997 Rachid Meziane
Las Vegas Aces Paradise, Nevada Michelob Ultra Arena Red, black, gold, silver 1997* Becky Hammon
Los Angeles Sparks Los Angeles, California Crypto.com Arena Purple, gold, teal 1997 TBA
Minnesota Lynx Minneapolis, Minnesota Target Center Blue, green, white, silver 1999 Cheryl Reeve
Portland Fire Portland, Oregon Moda Center Red, brown, blue, pink 2026 Alex Sarama
Phoenix Mercury Phoenix, Arizona Mortgage Matchup Center Purple, yellow, orange, white 1997 Nate Tibbetts
Seattle Storm Seattle, Washington Climate Pledge Arena Green, red, white, gold 2000 Sonia Raman

Former teams

Defunct

Relocated

Western Conference champions

The WNBA awarded conference championships between 1998 and 2015 to the winners of the Conference Finals in the playoffs. Conference championships were not awarded in the 1997 inaugural season, and they were again discontinued since the WNBA adopted its current single-table playoff format in 2016.

WNBA champions in bold

All-time regular-season conference standings

2026 season

# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 y — Minnesota Lynx3311.750–20–315–718–46–1
2 x — Golden State Valkyries3212.727115–817–515–75–2
3 x — Las Vegas Aces3113.705217–615–716–66–1
4 x — Atlanta Dream3014.682315–515–715–74–2
5 x — Washington Mystics2816.636515–515–713–93–3
6 x — Indiana Fever2816.636514–615–713–95–1
7 x — Dallas Wings2717.614613–1016–611–114–3
8 cx – New York Liberty2618.591713–714–812–106–0
9 e — Portland Fire1727.386167–169–138–142–5
10 e — Phoenix Mercury1628.3641710–137–159–132–5
11 e — Chicago Sky1628.364174–1611–115–171–5
12 e — Los Angeles Sparks1628.364179–148–148–143–4
13 e — Toronto Tempo1133.250225–157–154–182–4
14 e — Connecticut Sun1133.250224–168–143–190–6
15 e — Seattle Storm836.182251–226–162–200–7

Notes

(#) – League Standing
c – Commissioner's Cup winner
y – Regular season champion
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2025 season

# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 yx – Minnesota Lynx3410.773–20–420–214–85–1
2 x – Las Vegas Aces3014.682416–817–513–92–4
3 x – Atlanta Dream3014.682415–616–614–83–2
4 x – Phoenix Mercury2717.614713–1115–712–104–2
5 x – New York Liberty2717.614715–517–510–124–1
6 cx – Indiana Fever2420.5451013–813–911–114–1
7 x – Seattle Storm2321.5231112–1210–1213–94–2
8 x – Golden State Valkyries2321.523119–1514–89–133–3
9 e – Los Angeles Sparks2123.4771310–149–1312–102–4
10 e – Washington Mystics1628.364188–1210–126–162–3
11 e – Connecticut Sun1133.250237–147–154–181–4
12 e – Chicago Sky1034.227244–176–164–181–4
13 e – Dallas Wings1034.227244–206–164–181–5

Notes

(#) – League Standing
c – Commissioner's Cup winners
y – Regular Season Champion
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2024 season

# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 yx – New York Liberty328.800—16–416–416–45–0
2 cx – Minnesota Lynx3010.750214–616–414–64–1
3 x – Connecticut Sun2812.700414–614–614–64–1
4 x – Las Vegas Aces2713.675512–813–714–62–3
5 x – Seattle Storm2515.625713–714–611–94–1
6 x – Indiana Fever2020.5001211–912–88–123–2
7 x – Phoenix Mercury1921.4751310–1010–109–113–2
8 x – Atlanta Dream1525.375177–138–127–131–4
9 e – Washington Mystics1426.350187–135–159–111–4
10 e – Chicago Sky1327.325195–156–147–131–4
11 e – Dallas Wings931.225236–147–132–180–5
12 e – Los Angeles Sparks832.200245–155–153–172–3

Notes

(#) – League Standing
c – Commissioner's Cup winners
y – Regular Season Champion
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2023 season

# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Las Vegas Aces346.850–18–219–115–59–1
2 x – New York Liberty328.800216–415–517–37–3
3 x – Connecticut Sun2713.675714–613–714–67–3
4 x – Dallas Wings2218.5501211–911–911–96–4
5 x – Atlanta Dream1921.4751511–911–98–126–4
6 x – Minnesota Lynx1921.4751512–89–1110–105–5
7 x – Washington Mystics1921.475159–1112–87–135–5
8 x – Chicago Sky1822.450165–157–1311–93–7
9 e – Los Angeles Sparks1723.425179–1110–107–135–5
10 e – Indiana Fever1327.325215–156–147–132–8
11 e – Seattle Storm1129.275238–124–167–134–6
12 e – Phoenix Mercury931.225252–188–121–191–9

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from postseason contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2022 season

#
Team
 W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Las Vegas Aces2610.722–15–313–513–59–1
2 x – Chicago Sky2610.722–15–314–412–69–1
3 x – Connecticut Sun2511.6941.011–713–512–65–5
4 x – Seattle Storm2214.6114.010–813–59–96–4
5 x – Washington Mystics2214.6114.011–712–610–85–5
6 x – Dallas Wings1818.5008.08–108–1010–85–5
7 x – New York Liberty1620.44410.010–89–97–116–4
8 x – Phoenix Mercury1521.41711.07–1111–74–143–7
9 e – Minnesota Lynx1422.38912.08–107–117–114–6
10 e – Atlanta Dream1422.38912.05–138–106–123–7
11 e – Los Angeles Sparks1323.36113.06–127–116–123–7
12 e – Indiana Fever531.13921.02–163–152–162–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2021 season

# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Connecticut Sun266.813–12–315–111–59–1
2 x – Las Vegas Aces248.750211–413–311–56–4
3 x – Minnesota Lynx2210.688410–513–39–77–3
4 x – Seattle Storm2111.65659–611–510–68–2
5 x – Phoenix Mercury1913.59476–97–912–45–5
6 x – Chicago Sky1616.5001010–56–1010–66–4
7 x – Dallas Wings1418.438127–87–97–93–7
8 x – New York Liberty1220.375146–97–95–115–5
9 e – Washington Mystics1220.375147–88–84–124–6
10 e – Los Angeles Sparks1220.375142–138–84–121–9
11 e – Atlanta Dream824.250186–94–124–124–6
12 e – Indiana Fever626.188204–114–122–142–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

2020 season

# Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1 x – Las Vegas Aces184.818–8–2
2 x – Seattle Storm184.818–8–2
3 x – Los Angeles Sparks157.68235–5
4 x – Minnesota Lynx148.63644–6
5 x – Phoenix Mercury139.59154–6
6 x – Chicago Sky1210.54566–4
7 x – Connecticut Sun1012.45587–3
8 x – Washington Mystics913.40996–4
9 e – Dallas Wings814.364101–9
10 e – Atlanta Dream715.318115–5
11 e – Indiana Fever616.273124–6
12 e – New York Liberty220.091162–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs
Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.
Updated to include results from September 13, 2020
Source

2019 season

# Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Los Angeles Sparks (3)2212.647–15–27–1010–6
2 Las Vegas Aces (4)2113.618113–48–911–5
3 Seattle Storm (6)1816.529411–67–1010–6
4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.529411–67–107–9
5 Phoenix Mercury (8)1519.44179–86–115–11
6 e – Dallas Wings1024.294128–92–155–11

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing, Playoff Seeds shown to the right of team name
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2018 season

# Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Seattle Storm (1)268.765–13–413–411–5
2 Phoenix Mercury (5)2014.58869–811–68–8
3 Los Angeles Sparks (6)1915.559711–68–99–7
4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.52989–89–89–7
5 Dallas Wings (8)1519.4411110–75–127–9
6 e –Las Vegas Aces1420.412128–96–114–12

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing, Playoff Seeds shown to the right of team name
x – Qualified for playoffs
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2017 season

# Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Minnesota Lynx - (1)277.794–15–212–513–3
2 Los Angeles Sparks - (2)268.765116–110–712–4
3 Phoenix Mercury - (5)1816.52999–89–87–9
4 Dallas Wings - (7)1618.4711110–76–117–9
5 Seattle Storm - (8)1519.4411210–75–128–8
6 San Antonio Stars - e826.235196–112–151–15

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing
Playoff Seeds shown next to team name
e – Eliminated from playoffs

2016 season

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

2015 season

Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
z - Minnesota Lynx2212.647–13–49–816–6
x - Phoenix Mercury2014.588213–47–1015–7
x - Tulsa Shock1816.529412–56–1111–11
x - Los Angeles Sparks1420.41289–85–1210–12
e - Seattle Storm1024.294128–92–158–14
e - San Antonio Stars826.235147–101–166–16

2014 season

# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB GP
1 y-Phoenix Mercury295.853-34
2 x-Minnesota Lynx259.7354.034
3 x-San Antonio Stars1618.47113.034
4 x-Los Angeles Sparks1618.47113.034
5 e-Tulsa Shock1222.35317.034
6 e-Seattle Storm1222.35317.034

2013 season

# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB GP
1 z-Minnesota Lynx268.765-34
2 x-Los Angeles Sparks2410.706234
3 x-Phoenix Mercury1915.559734
4 x-Seattle Storm1717.500934
5 e-San Antonio Silver Stars1222.3531434
6 e-Tulsa Shock1123.3241534

2012 season

Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Minnesota Lynx z277.794–16–111–617–5
Los Angeles Sparks x2410.7063.016–18–915–7
San Antonio Silver Stars x2113.6186.012–59–814–8
Seattle Storm x1618.47111.010–76–1111–11
Tulsa Shock o925.26518.06–113–145–17
Phoenix Mercury o727.20620.03–144–134–18

2011 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Minnesota Lynx x277.794–14–313–418–4
Seattle Storm x2113.6186.015–26–1115–7
Phoenix Mercury x1915.5598.011–68–911–11
San Antonio Silver Stars x1816.5299.09–89–811–11
Los Angeles Sparks o1519.44112.010–75–1210–12
Tulsa Shock o331.08824.02–151–161–21

2010 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Seattle Storm x286.824–17–011–620–2
Phoenix Mercury x1519.44113.09–86–1113–9
San Antonio Silver Stars x1420.41214.08–96–1111–11
Los Angeles Sparks x1321.38215.08–95–1210–12
Minnesota Lynx o1321.38215.07–106–118–14
Tulsa Shock o628.17622.04–132–154–18

2009 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Phoenix Mercury x2311.676–12–511–613–7
Seattle Storm x2014.5883.013–47–1013–7
Los Angeles Sparks x1816.5295.011–67–1011–9
San Antonio Silver Stars x1519.4418.010–75–1210–10
Minnesota Lynx o1420.4129.09–85–127–13
Sacramento Monarchs o1222.35311.07–105–126–14

2008 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
San Antonio Silver Stars x2410.706–15–29–810–10
Seattle Storm x2212.6472.016–16–1113–7
Los Angeles Sparks x2014.5884.012–58–912–8
Sacramento Monarchs x1816.5296.05–1213–49–11
Houston Comets o1717.5007.013–44–1310–10
Minnesota Lynx o1618.4718.010–76–118–12
Phoenix Mercury o1618.4718.09–87–108–12

2007 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Phoenix Mercury x2311.676–12–511–617–5
San Antonio Silver Stars x2014.5883.09–811–613–9
Sacramento Monarchs x1915.5594.012–57–1012–10
Seattle Storm x1717.5006.012–55–1211–11
Houston Comets o1321.38210.07–106–1110–12
Minnesota Lynx o1024.29413.07–103–148–14
Los Angeles Sparks o1024.29413.05–125–126–16

2006 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Los Angeles Sparks x259.735–15–210–715–5
Sacramento Monarchs x2113.6184.014–37–1010–10
Houston Comets x1816.5297.012–56–1111–9
Seattle Storm x1816.5297.09–89–810–10
Phoenix Mercury o1816.5297.010–78–98–12
San Antonio Silver Stars o1321.38212.06–117–1010–10
Minnesota Lynx o1024.29415.08–92–156–14

2005 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Sacramento Monarchs x259.735–15–210–717–5
Seattle Storm x2014.5885.014–36–1113–9
Houston Comets x1915.5596.011–68–911–11
Los Angeles Sparks x1717.5008.011–66–1112–10
Phoenix Mercury o1618.4719.011–65–1212–10
Minnesota Lynx o1420.41211.011–63–149–13
San Antonio Silver Stars o727.20618.05–122–153–19

2004 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Los Angeles Sparks x259.735–15–210–716–6
Seattle Storm x2014.5885.013–47–1013–9
Minnesota Lynx x1816.5297.011–67–1012–10
Sacramento Monarchs x1816.5297.010–78–912–10
Phoenix Mercury o1717.5008.010–77–1011–11
Houston Comets o1321.38212.09–84–137–15
San Antonio Silver Stars o925.26516.06–113–146–16

2003 season

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Los Angeles Sparks x2410.706–11–613–417–7
Houston Comets x2014.5884.014–36–1114–10
Sacramento Monarchs x1915.5595.012–57–1013–11
Minnesota Lynx x1816.5296.011–67–1014–10
Seattle Storm o1816.5296.013–45–1211–13
San Antonio Silver Stars o1222.35312.09–83–1410–14
Phoenix Mercury o826.23516.06–112–155–19

2002 season

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Los Angeles Sparks x257.78117–4–
Houston Comets x248.75016–51.0
Utah Starzz x2012.62512–95.0
Seattle Storm x1715.53110–118.0
Portland Fire o1616.5008–139.0
Sacramento Monarchs o1418.4388–1311.0
Phoenix Mercury o1121.3447–1414.0
Minnesota Lynx o1022.3136–1515.0

2001 season

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

2000 season

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Los Angeles Sparks x284.87517–4–
Houston Comets x275.84417–41.0
Sacramento Monarchs x2111.65613–87.0
Phoenix Mercury x2012.62511–108.0
Utah Starzz o1814.56313–810.0
Minnesota Lynx o1517.4695–1613.0
Portland Fire o1022.3134–1718.0
Seattle Storm o626.1884–1722.0

1999 season

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Houston Comets x266.81316–4–
Los Angeles Sparks x2012.62512–86.0
Sacramento Monarchs x1913.5949–117.0
Phoenix Mercury o1517.4697–1311.0
Minnesota Lynx o1517.4698–1211.0
Utah Starzz o1517.4698–1211.0

1998 season

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Houston Comets x273.90015–1–
Phoenix Mercury x1911.63310–68.0
Los Angeles Sparks o1218.4006–1015.0
Sacramento Monarchs o822.2675–1119.0
Utah Starzz o822.2674–1219.0

1997 season

Western Conference W L PCT Conf. GB
Phoenix Mercury x1612.5719–3–
Los Angeles Sparks o1414.5008–42.0
Sacramento Monarchs o1018.3574–86.0
Utah Starzz o721.2503–99.0

References

  1. ↑ "Tickets - WNBA".
  2. ↑ "2025 WNBA Standings & Stats | WNBA". www.wnba.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "WNBA Approves New Playoff Format". www.wnba.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV Expand to Best-of-Seven Format Beginning in 2025". www.wnba.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ Koffie, Jess (August 22, 2025). "New WNBA playoff format explained". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2025.