# 2010 WNBA playoffs

The 2010 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2010 season.

## Format

* The top 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.
** All 4 teams are seeded by basis of their standings.
* The series for rounds one and two are in a best-of-three format with Games 1 and 3 on the home court of the team with the higher seed. In previous years, the higher seed would play the first game on the road, then games 2 and (if needed) 3 at home.
* The series for the WNBA Finals is in a best-of-five format with Games 1, 2 and 5 on the home court of the team with the higher seed.

### 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 | Conf. Homecourt |
| 1 | Washington Mystics | 22 | 12 | 3–2 vs. NYL | August 15 | August 22 |
| 2 | New York Liberty | 22 | 12 | 2–3 vs. WAS | August 14 | — |
| 3 | Indiana Fever | 21 | 13 | — | August 13 | — |
| 4 | Atlanta Dream | 19 | 15 | — | August 14 | — |

### Western Conference

| Seed | Team | W | L | Tiebreaker | Clinched | Clinched |
| Seed | Team | W | L | Tiebreaker | Playoff berth | Playoffs Homecourt |
| 1 | Seattle Storm | 28 | 6 | — | July 22 | August 10 |
| 2 | Phoenix Mercury | 15 | 19 | — | August 13 | — |
| 3 | San Antonio Silver Stars | 14 | 20 | — | August 22 | — |
| 4 | Los Angeles Sparks | 13 | 21 | 4–0 vs. MIN | August 20 | — |

## 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 | Washington | 0 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Atlanta | 2 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Atlanta | 2 | E4 | Atlanta | 2 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E4 | Atlanta | 2 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E2 | New York | 0 | | | |
| E2 | New York | 2 | E2 | New York | 0 | | | |
| E3 | Indiana | 1 | | | | | | |
| E3 | Indiana | 1 | | | | E4 | Atlanta | 0 |
| | | | | | | W1 | Seattle | 3 |
| W1 | Seattle | 2 | | | | | | | W1 | Seattle | 3 |
| W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Los Angeles | 0 | W1 | Seattle | 2 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W1 | Seattle | 2 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W2 | Phoenix | 0 | | | |
| W2 | Phoenix | 2 | W2 | Phoenix | 0 | | | |
| W3 | San Antonio | 0 | | | | | | |
* Bold – Series winner
* Italics – Team with home-court advantage

## Eastern Conference
### Conference semifinals
#### (1) Washington Mystics vs. (4) Atlanta Dream

* NBATV
* August 25 7:00pm
* Game 1
Atlanta Dream 95, Washington Mystics 90 :
| Scoring by quarter: 17–19, 31–14, 20–25, 27–32 |||
| Pts: McCoughtry (28) Rebs: de Souza, Lyttle (9) Asts: Price (8) | Pts: Coleman (18) Rebs: Currie (11) Asts: Harding (5) |
* Verizon Center, Washington D.C. Attendance: 10,322 Referees: Michael Price, Tony Dawkins, Cameron Inouye
* NBATV FSSO
* August 27 7:30pm
* Report
Washington Mystics 77, Atlanta Dream 101 :
| Scoring by quarter: 21–17, 7–33, 15–25, 34–26 |||
| Pts: Ajavon (20) Rebs: Currie, Langhorne (7) Asts: Ajavon (3) | Pts: Castro Marques, McCoughtry (21) Rebs: Lyttle (10) Asts: Lehning (9) |
| Atlanta won the series 2–0 |||
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Attendance: 7,890 Referees: Eric Brewton, Amy Bonner, Kevin Sparrock

##### Regular-season series

The Washington Mystics won 3–1 in the regular-season series:
* June 5, 2010
* Report
* Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
* July 21, 2010
* Report
* Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
* August 3, 2010
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
* August 22, 2010
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA

#### (2) New York Liberty vs. (3) Indiana Fever

* NBATV MSG
* August 26 7:00pm
* Game 1
Indiana Fever 73, New York Liberty 85 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22–21, 25–27, 12–18, 14–19 |||
| Pts: Catchings (18) Rebs: Davenport (8) Asts: Catchings (6) | Pts: Pondexter (28) Rebs: McWilliams-Franklin (10) Asts: McCarville (7) |
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 14,624 Referees: Sue Blauch, Jeff Smith, Daryl Humphrey
* ESPN2
* August 29 8:00pm
* Game 2
New York Liberty 67, Indiana Fever 75 :
| Scoring by quarter: 8–21, 19–18, 19–25, 21–11 |||
| Pts: Pondexter (24) Rebs: McCarville (11) Asts: Mitchell, Pondexter (2) | Pts: Catchings (17) Rebs: Catchings (13) Asts: Douglas (5) |
* Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,535 Referees: Kurt Walker, Roy Gulbeyan, Felicia Grinter
* NBATV MSG
* September 1 7:30pm
* Game 3
Indiana Fever 74, New York Liberty 77 :
| Scoring by quarter: 26–21, 21–25, 19–17, 8–14 |||
| Pts: Douglas (24) Rebs: Catchings (6) Asts: Douglas (4) | Pts: Pondexter (30) Rebs: McWilliams-Franklin (11) Asts: McWilliams-Franklin, Mitchell, Pondexter (4) |
| New York won the series 2–1 |||
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 16,682 Referees: Eric Brewton, Denise Brooks, Lamont Simpson

##### Regular-season series

The teams were tied 2–2 in the regular-season series:
* June 5, 2010
* Report
* Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
* July 18, 2010
* Report
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
* August 3, 2010
* Report
* Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
* August 17, 2010
* Report
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

### Conference finals
#### (2) New York Liberty vs. (4) Atlanta Dream

* NBATV MSG
* September 5 7:00pm
* Report
Atlanta Dream 81, New York Liberty 75 :
| Scoring by quarter: 27–21, 17–18, 12–17, 25–19 |||
| Pts: McCoughtry (21) Rebs: Lyttle (13) Asts: Lehning (5) | Pts: Pondexter (24) Rebs: McWilliams-Franklin (11) Asts: Mitchell (6) |
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 14,248 Referees: Michael Price, Cameron Inouye, Clarke Stevens
* NBATV FSSO, MSG
* September 7 7:30pm
* Report
New York Liberty 93, Atlanta Dream 105 :
| Scoring by quarter: 21–32, 23–23, 29–18, 20–32 |||
| Pts: Pondexter (36) Rebs: McWilliams-Franklin (6) Asts: Pondexter (9) | Pts: McCoughtry (42) Rebs: de Souza (6) Asts: Castro Marques (5) |
| Atlanta won the series 2–0 |||
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Attendance: 9,045 Referees: Sue Blauch, Scott Twardoski, Lamont Simpson

##### Regular-season series

The teams were tied 2–2 in the regular season series
* May 23, 2010
* Report
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
* June 11, 2010
* Report
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
* July 25, 2010
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
* August 13, 2010
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA

## Western Conference
### Conference semifinals
#### (1) Seattle Storm vs. (4) Los Angeles Sparks

* ESPN2
* August 25 11:00pm
* Game 1
Los Angeles Sparks 66, Seattle Storm 79 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–25, 18–18, 15–16, 18–20 |||
| Pts: Ferdinand-Harris (18) Rebs: Milton-Jones (8) Asts: Toliver (5) | Pts: Cash (20) Rebs: Jackson (9) Asts: Bird (12) |
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA Attendance: 10,589 Referees: Lamont Simpson, Denise Brooks-Clauser, Roy Gulbeyan
* ESPN2
* August 28 3:00pm
* Report
Seattle Storm 81, Los Angeles Sparks 66 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–20, 27–16, 22–18, 17–12 |||
| Pts: Jackson (24) Rebs: Jackson (9) Asts: Cash (5) | Pts: Thompson (18) Rebs: Milton-Jones (9) Asts: Thompson (5) |
| Seattle won the series 2–0 |||
* STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 8,326 Referees: Michael Price, Cameron Inouye, Tom Mauer

##### Regular-season series

The Seattle Storm won 5–0 in the regular-season series:
* May 16, 2010
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA
* June 5, 2010
* Report
* Home Depot Center, Carson, CA
* June 11, 2010
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA
* July 3, 2010
* Report
* STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
* August 21, 2010
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA

#### (2) Phoenix Mercury vs. (3) San Antonio Silver Stars

* ESPN2
* August 26 9:00pm
* Game 1
San Antonio Silver Stars 93, Phoenix Mercury 106 :
| Scoring by quarter: 16–25, 23–21, 24–31, 30–29 |||
| Pts: Hammon (19) Rebs: Young (9) Asts: Snow, Hammon (4) | Pts: Dupree (32) Rebs: Dupree (8) Asts: Taurasi (10) |
* US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 8,927 Referees: Scott Twardoski, Kurt Walker, Brenda Pantoja
* ESPN2
* August 28 1:00pm
* Game 2
Phoenix Mercury 92, San Antonio Silver Stars 73 :
| Scoring by quarter: 30–15, 18–15, 20–21, 24–22 |||
| Pts: Taurasi (23) Rebs: Dupree (11) Asts: Taylor (12) | Pts: Hammon (21) Rebs: Young (9) Asts: Hammon (7) |
| Phoenix won the series 2–0 |||
* AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX Attendance: 6,763 Referees: Clarke Stevens, Daryl Humphrey, Sue Blauch

##### Regular-season series

The teams were tied 2–2 in the regular-season series:
* June 18, 2010
* Report
* US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
* August 3, 2010
* Report
* AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
* August 6, 2010
* Report
* US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
* August 22, 2010
* Report
* AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

### Conference finals
#### (1) Seattle Storm vs. (2) Phoenix Mercury

* NBATV
* September 2 10:00pm
* Game 1
Phoenix Mercury 74, Seattle Storm 82 :
| Scoring by quarter: 14–23, 19–24, 22–17, 19–18 |||
| Pts: Taylor (16) Rebs: Dupree (11) Asts: Johnson (7) | Pts: Jackson (23) Rebs: Jackson (17) Asts: Bird (10) |
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA Attendance: 9,686 Referees: Sue Blauch, Daryl Humphrey, Kurt Walker
* ABC
* September 5 3:00pm
* Game 2
Seattle Storm 91, Phoenix Mercury 88 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22–24, 18–24, 21–23, 30–17 |||
| Pts: Cash (23) Rebs: Cash, Jackson, Little (8) Asts: Bird (8) | Pts: Taurasi (28) Rebs: Smith (7) Asts: Johnson (12) |
| Seattle won the series 2–0 |||
* US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 9,010 Referees: Eric Brewton, Denise Brooks, Roy Gulbeyan

##### Regular-season series

The Seattle Storm won 5–0 in the regular-season series:
* May 22, 2010
* Report
* US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
* June 6, 2010
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA
* July 14, 2010
* Report
* US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
* July 27, 2010
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA
* August 20, 2010
* Report
* US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ

## WNBA Finals
### Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream

* ABC
* September 12 3:00pm
* Report
Atlanta Dream 77, Seattle Storm 79 :
| Scoring by quarter: 17–22, 22–17, 14–20, 24–20 |||
| Pts: McCoughtry, Marques (19) Rebs: Lyttle (14) Asts: Price (3) | Pts: Jackson (26) Rebs: Little (11) Asts: Bird (8) |
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA Attendance: 15,084 Referees: Daryl Humphrey, Denise Brooks, Michael Price
* ESPN2
* September 14 9:00pm
* Report
Atlanta Dream 84, Seattle Storm 87 :
| Scoring by quarter: 21–19, 26–30, 18–20, 19–18 |||
| Pts: McCoughtry, Marques (21) Rebs: McCoughtry (9) Asts: Miller (8) | Pts: Jackson (26) Rebs: Little (9) Asts: Bird (5) |
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA Attendance: 13,898 Referees: Eric Brewton, Cameron Inouye, Scott Twardoski
* ESPN2
* September 16 8:00pm
* Report
Seattle Storm 87, Atlanta Dream 84 :
| Scoring by quarter: 28–24, 15-20, 24-16, 20-24 |||
| Pts: Cash (18) Rebs: Jackson (9) Asts: Bird (7) | Pts: McCoughtry (35) Rebs: de Souza (14) Asts: C. Miller (5) |
| Seattle won the series 3–0 |||
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Attendance: 10,522 Referees: Sue Blauch, Lamont Simpson, Kurt Walker

#### Regular-season series

The Seattle Storm won 2–0 in the regular-season series:
* June 1, 2010
* Report
* KeyArena, Seattle, WA
* August 10, 2010
* Report
* Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA