# 2012 WNBA playoffs

The 2012 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2012 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a best-of-five format.
The Minnesota Lynx qualified as the overall top seed, and the Los Angeles Sparks, San Antonio Silver Stars, and Seattle Storm also qualified in the West. The Connecticut Sun were the top seed in the East, joined by the Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, and New York Liberty.
Minnesota won the Western Conference championship, and Indiana won the Eastern Conference championship. The Fever won the 2012 WNBA Finals, winning three games to the Lynx's one.

## Tiebreak procedures
### Two-team tie

* Better record in head-to-head games.
* Better winning percentage within own conference.
* Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season.
* Better point differential in games head-to-head.
* Coin toss.

### Three or more-team tie

* Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
* Better winning percentage against teams within conference (for first two rounds of playoffs) or better record against teams in the opposite conference (for Finals).
* Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
* Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
* Coin toss.

## Playoff qualifying
### Eastern Conference

| Seed | Team | W | L | Tiebreaker | Clinched | Clinched |
| Seed | Team | W | L | Tiebreaker | Playoff berth | Conference homecourt |
| 1 | Connecticut Sun | 25 | 9 | – | August 28 | September 17 |
| 2 | Indiana Fever | 22 | 12 | – | August 31 | – |
| 3 | Atlanta Dream | 19 | 15 | – | September 14 | – |
| 4 | New York Liberty | 15 | 19 | – | September 18 | – |

### Western Conference

| Seed | Team | W | L | Tiebreaker | Clinched | Clinched |
| Seed | Team | W | L | Tiebreaker | Playoff berth | League homecourt |
| 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 27 | 7 | – | August 19 | September 15 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Sparks | 24 | 10 | – | August 23 | – |
| 3 | San Antonio Silver Stars | 21 | 13 | – | August 25 | – |
| 4 | Seattle Storm | 16 | 18 | – | September 9 | – |

## Bracket

| Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | Conference Finals Best-of-3 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 | WNBA Finals Best-of-5 |
| E1 | Connecticut | 2 | | | | | | |
| E4 | New York | 0 | | | | | | |
| E4 | New York | 0 | E1 | Connecticut | 1 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E1 | Connecticut | 1 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E2 | Indiana | 2 | | | |
| E2 | Indiana | 2 | E2 | Indiana | 2 | | | |
| E3 | Atlanta | 1 | | | | | | |
| E3 | Atlanta | 1 | | | | E2 | Indiana | 3 |
| | | | | | | W1 | Minnesota | 1 |
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | | | | | | | W1 | Minnesota | 1 |
| W4 | Seattle | 1 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Seattle | 1 | W1 | Minnesota | 2 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W1 | Minnesota | 2 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W2 | Los Angeles | 0 | | | |
| W2 | Los Angeles | 2 | W2 | Los Angeles | 0 | | | |
| W3 | San Antonio | 0 | | | | | | |

## Eastern Conference
### Conference semifinals
#### (1) Connecticut Sun vs. (4) New York Liberty

* ESPN2
* September 27 8:00pm ET
* Game 1
New York Liberty 60, Connecticut Sun 65 :
| Scoring by quarter: 13–23, 21–18, 11–8, 15–16 |||
| Pts: Pondexter (14) Rebs: Pierson (9) Asts: Pondexter (6) | Pts: Charles (17) Rebs: Mims (7) Asts: Hightower, Lawson (5) |
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT Attendance: 5,520 Referees:
* 55 Eric Brewton, #24 Tony Dawkins, #34 Maj Forsberg
* NBATV
* September 29 7:00pm ET
* Game 2
Connecticut Sun 75, New York Liberty 62 :
| Scoring by quarter: 11–22, 16–11, 23–19, 25–10 |||
| Pts: Charles (25) Rebs: Charles (14) Asts: Lawson (6) | Pts: Pondexter (20) Rebs: Vaughn (9) Asts: Pierson (5) |
| Connecticut won the series, 2–0 |||
* Prudential Center, Newark, NJ Attendance: 7,854 Referees:
* 44 Felicia Grinter, #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #45 Tom Mauer

##### Regular-season series

Connecticut won the regular-season series 4–1:
* May 19, 2012
* Report
* Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
* May 20, 2012
* Report
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
* June 15, 2012
* Report
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
* August 16, 2012
* Report
* Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
* August 18, 2012
* Report
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT

#### (2) Indiana Fever vs. (3) Atlanta Dream

* ESPN2
* September 28 7:00pm ET
* Game 1
Atlanta Dream 75, Indiana Fever 66 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–15, 16–17, 18–14, 16–20 |||
| Pts: Harding (23) Rebs: Lyttle, McCoughtry (9) Asts: Harding (7) | Pts: Douglas (13) Rebs: Catchings (11) Asts: Catchings, January (3) |
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,776 Referees:
* 38 Lamont Simpson, #9 Denise Brooks, #21 Byron Jarrett
* ESPN2
* September 30 4:00pm ET
* Game 2
Indiana Fever 103, Atlanta Dream 88 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22–24, 25–21, 31–20, 25–23 |||
| Pts: Catchings (25) Rebs: Catchings (13) Asts: January (7) | Pts: McCoughtry (22) Rebs: de Souza (9) Asts: Harding (6) |
* Philips Arena, Atlanta Attendance: 6,890 Referees:
* 4 Sue Blauch, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #49 Kevin Sparrock
* NBATV
* October 2 7:00pm ET
* Game 3
Atlanta Dream 64, Indiana Fever 75 :
| Scoring by quarter: 17–25, 22–14, 12–15, 13–21 |||
| Pts: Harding (17) Rebs: de Souza, Harding (7) Asts: Price (4) | Pts: Douglas (24) Rebs: Larkins (20) Asts: January (5) |
| Indiana won the series, 2–1 |||
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 6,840 Referees:
* 39 Michael Price, #43 Brenda Pantoja, #45 Tom Mauer

##### Regular-season series

Indiana won the regular season series 3–2:
* May 19, 2012
* Report
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
* May 27, 2012
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
* June 26, 2012
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
* August 18, 2012
* Report
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
* September 6, 2011
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA

### Conference finals
#### (1) Connecticut Sun vs. (2) Indiana Fever

* ESPN2
* October 5 8:00pm ET
* Game 1
Indiana Fever 64, Connecticut Sun 76 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22–14, 8–16, 13–22, 21–24 |||
| Pts: Douglas (27) Rebs: Catchings (9) Asts: Catchings (5) | Pts: Charles (18) Rebs: Charles (15) Asts: Montgomery (7) |
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT Attendance: 7,599 Referees:
* 4 Sue Blauch, #38 Lamont Simpson, #7 Clarke Stevens
* ESPN2
* October 8 8:00pm ET
* Game 2
Connecticut Sun 76, Indiana Fever 78 :
| Scoring by quarter: 24–20, 19–26, 14–10, 19–22 |||
| Pts: Lawson (18) Rebs: Jones (10) Asts: Jones, Montgomery (4) | Pts: Douglas (24) Rebs: Larkins (11) Asts: Douglas, January (2) |
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 9,225 Referees:
* 39 Michael Price, #18 Kurt Walker, #43 Brenda Pantoja
* ESPN2
* October 11 8:30pm ET
* Game 3
Indiana Fever 87, Connecticut Sun 71 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18–10, 25–14, 25–24, 19–23 |||
| Pts: Catchings (22) Rebs: Catchings (13) Asts: Catchings, January (4) | Pts: Charles (18) Rebs: Charles (10) Asts: Lawson (4) |
| Indiana won the series, 2–1 |||
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT Attendance: 6,516 Referees:
* 55 Eric Brewton, #9 Denise Brooks, #42 Roy Gulbeyan

##### Regular-season series

The Connecticut Sun won 3–1 in the regular season series:
* June 8, 2012
* Report
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
* June 19, 2012
* Report
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
* June 21, 2012
* Report
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
* August 19, 2012
* Report
* Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT

## Western Conference
### Conference semifinals
#### (2) Los Angeles Sparks vs. (3) San Antonio Silver Stars

* ESPN2
* September 27 10:00pm ET
* Game 1*
San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Los Angeles Sparks 93 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–24, 19–16, 23–25, 19–28 |||
| Pts: Hammon (19) Rebs: Appel (7) Asts: Hammon (6) | Pts: Toliver (29) Rebs: Parker (9) Asts: Beard (3) |
* Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 5,013 Referees:
* 39 Michael Price, #53 Jeff Smith, #13 Cameron Inouye
* NBATV
* September 29 3:00pm ET
* Game 2
Los Angeles Sparks 101, San Antonio Silver Stars 94 :
| Scoring by quarter: 26–16, 25–24, 31–26, 19–28 |||
| Pts: Parker (32) Rebs: Parker (9) Asts: Parker (6) | Pts: Young (28) Rebs: Adams (8) Asts: Robinson (5) |
| Los Angeles won the series, 2–0 |||
* Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX Attendance: 5,293 Referees:
* 31 Amy Bonner, #35 Billy Smith, #55 Eric Brewton

##### Regular-season series

San Antonio won the regular-season series 3–1:
* June 16, 2012
* Report
* AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
* June 24, 2012
* Report
* Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
* June 28, 2012
* Report
* AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
* August 23, 2012
* Report
* Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

#### (1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (4) Seattle Storm

* ESPN2
* September 28 9:00pm ET
* Game 1
Seattle Storm 70, Minnesota Lynx 78 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–18, 12–15, 24–27, 19–18 |||
| Pts: Stricklen (13) Rebs: Stricklen, Thompson (7) Asts: Wright (7) | Pts: Whalen (20) Rebs: Brunson (11) Asts: Whalen (6) |
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 9,213 Referees:
* 4 Sue Blauch, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #49 Kevin Sparrock
* ESPN
* September 30 9:00pm ET
* Game 2
Minnesota Lynx 79, Seattle Storm 86 (2OT) :
| Scoring by quarter: 27–18, 10–18, 22–17, 11–17, Overtime: 9–16 |||
| Pts: Brunson (22) Rebs: Brunson (15) Asts: Whalen (5) | Pts: Bird (22) Rebs: Jackson (14) Asts: Wright (7) |
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA Attendance: 8,479 Referees:
* 7 Clarke Stevens, #39 Michael Price, #43 Brenda Pantoja
* ESPN2
* October 2 9:00 PM ET
* Game 3
Seattle Storm 72, Minnesota Lynx 73 :
| Scoring by quarter: 14–22, 21–14, 17–20, 20–17 |||
| Pts: Bird (19) Rebs: Jackson (6) Asts: Bird (11) | Pts: Augustus (21) Rebs: Brunson (9) Asts: McWilliams-Franklin (4) |
| Minnesota won the series, 2–1 |||
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 8,023 Referees:
* 55 Eric Brewton, #9 Denise Brooks, #38 Lamont Simpson

##### Regular-season series

Minnesota won the regular-season series 3–1:
* May 27, 2012
* Report
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
* June 6, 2012
* Report
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
* August 16, 2011
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA
* September 9, 2011
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA

### Conference finals
#### (1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (2) Los Angeles Sparks

* ESPN2
* October 4 8:00pm ET
* Game 1
Los Angeles Sparks 77, Minnesota Lynx 94 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–16, 16–32, 22–18, 24–28 |||
| Pts: Parker (25) Rebs: Parker (11) Asts: Parker (4) | Pts: Moore (20) Rebs: Brunson (10) Asts: Augustus (7) |
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 8,513 Referees:
* 42 Roy Gulbeyan, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #44 Felicia Grinter
* ABC
* October 7 3:30pm ET
* Game 2
Minnesota Lynx 80, Los Angeles Sparks 79 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–17, 15–22, 17–26, 23–14 |||
| Pts: Augustus (21) Rebs: Brunson (10) Asts: McWilliams-Franklin, Whalen (5) | Pts: Parker (33) Rebs: Parker (15) Asts: Beard (7) |
| Minnesota won the series, 2–0 |||
* Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 10,791 Referees:
* 55 Eric Brewton, #45 Tom Mauer, #9 Denise Brooks

##### Regular-season series

The regular season series was tied 2–2:
* May 24, 2012
* Report
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
* July 5, 2012
* Report
* Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
* August 5, 2012
* Report
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
* September 20, 2012
* Report
* Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

## WNBA Finals
### Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever

* ESPN2
* October 14 8:00pm ET
* Report
Indiana Fever 76, Minnesota Lynx 70 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–20, 18–20, 13–18, 20–12 |||
| Pts: Catchings (20) Rebs: Larkins (15) Asts: January (6) | Pts: Augustus (23) Rebs: Brunson, Moore (10) Asts: Whalen (4) |
| Indiana lead series, 1–0 |||
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 14,322 Referees:
* 4 Sue Blauch, #18 Kurt Walker, #45 Tom Mauer
* ESPN
* October 17 8:00pm ET
* Report
Indiana Fever 71, Minnesota Lynx 83 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18–11, 15–20, 22–29, 16–23 |||
| Pts: Catchings (27) Rebs: Catchings (8) Asts: Phillips (4) | Pts: Augustus (27) Rebs: Brunson (7) Asts: McWilliams-Franklin, Moore, Whalen (4) |
| Series tied 1–1 |||
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 13,478 Referees:
* 39 Michael Price, #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #43 Brenda Pantoja
* ESPN2
* October 19 8:00pm ET
* Report
Minnesota Lynx 59, Indiana Fever 76 :
| Scoring by quarter: 16–21, 11–24, 11–25, 21–6 |||
| Pts: Brunson (12) Rebs: Brunson (9) Asts: Wiggins (3) | Pts: Zellous (30) Rebs: Larkins (12) Asts: Davenport (4) |
| Indiana lead series, 2–1 |||
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 18,165 Referees:
* 9 Denise Brooks, #38 Lamont Simpson, #55 Eric Brewton
* ESPN2
* October 21 8:00pm ET
* Report
Minnesota Lynx 78, Indiana Fever 87 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18–25, 24–22, 16–18, 20–24 |||
| Pts: Whalen (24) Rebs: Augustus (7) Asts: Whalen (8) | Pts: Catchings (28) Rebs: Larkins (13) Asts: Catchings (8) |
| Indiana win series, 3–1 |||
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 15,213 Referees:
* 4 Sue Blauch, #39 Michael Price, #42 Roy Gulbeyan

#### Regular-season series

The Minnesota Lynx won the season series 2–0:
* September 14, 2012
* Report
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
* September 17, 2012
* Report
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN