# 2015 WNBA playoffs

The 2015 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2015 season.

## Format

Following the WNBA regular season, four teams in each conference qualified for the playoffs and are seeded one to four based on their regular season record.
The first round of the playoffs, or Conference Semi-Finals, consisted of two match-ups in each conference based on the seedings (1-4 and 2-3). The two winners advanced to the second round, or Conference Finals, with a match-up between the 1-4 and 2-3 winners. At the conclusion of the Conference Finals, the winners of these series advanced to the WNBA Finals.
The Conference Semi-Finals and the Conference Finals are each best-of-three series. Series are played in a 1-1-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage (better record) hosts games 1 and 3, while their opponent hosts game 2. The WNBA Finals are a best-of-five series played in a 2-2-1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage hosts games 1, 2, and 5 while their opponent hosts games 3 and 4.

### 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 | Record | Clinched | Clinched | Clinched |
| Seed | Team | Record | Playoff berth | Best record in Conference | Best record in WNBA |
| 1 | New York Liberty | 23–11 | August 28 | September 6 | September 9 |
| 2 | Chicago Sky | 21–13 | August 29 | — | — |
| 3 | Indiana Fever | 20–14 | September 1 | — | — |
| 4 | Washington Mystics | 18–16 | September 8 | — | — |

### Western Conference

| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched | Clinched | Clinched |
| Seed | Team | Record | Playoff berth | Best record in Conference | Best record in WNBA |
| 1 | Minnesota Lynx | 22–12 | August 11 | September 8 | — |
| 2 | Phoenix Mercury | 20–14 | August 21 | — | — |
| 3 | Tulsa Shock | 18–16 | August 30 | — | — |
| 4 | Los Angeles Sparks | 14–20 | September 6 | — | — |

## 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 | New York | 2 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Washington | 1 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Washington | 1 | E1 | New York | 1 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E1 | New York | 1 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E3 | Indiana | 2 | | | |
| E2 | Chicago | 1 | E3 | Indiana | 2 | | | |
| E3 | Indiana | 2 | | | | | | |
| E3 | Indiana | 2 | | | | E3 | Indiana | 2 |
| | | | | | | W1 | Minnesota | 3 |
| W1 | Minnesota | 2 | | | | | | | W1 | Minnesota | 3 |
| W4 | Los Angeles | 1 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Los Angeles | 1 | W1 | Minnesota | 2 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W1 | Minnesota | 2 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W2 | Phoenix | 0 | | | |
| W2 | Phoenix | 2 | W2 | Phoenix | 0 | | | |
| W3 | Tulsa | 0 | | | | | | |
* Bold – Series winner
* Italics – Team with home-court advantage

## Eastern Conference

    All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

### Conference semifinals
#### (1) New York Liberty vs. (4) Washington Mystics

* NBATV
* September 18 7:00 PM
* Game 1
Washington Mystics 86, New York Liberty 83 (2OT) :
| Scoring by quarter: 14–21, 22–15, 19–20, 14–13, Overtime: 7–7, 10–7 |||
| Pts: Latta 15 Rebs: Meesseman 10 Asts: three tied 3 | Pts: Prince 26 Rebs: Swords 9 Asts: Charles 5 |
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 10,120 Referees: Michael Price, Cheryl Flores, Tom Mauer
* ESPN
* September 20 1:00 PM
* Game 2
New York Liberty 86, Washington Mystics 68 :
| Scoring by quarter: 23–15, 21–22, 26–15, 16–16 |||
| Pts: Charles 22 Rebs: Stokes 7 Asts: Wright 6 | Pts: Hill 19 Rebs: Dolson, Meesseman 5 Asts: Ruffin-Pratt 4 |
* Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. Attendance: 6,619 Referees: Daryl Humphrey, Denise Brooks, Kurt Walker
* ESPN2
* September 22 7:00 PM
* Game 3
Washington Mystics 74, New York Liberty 79 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25-15, 12-30, 20-12, 17-22 |||
| Pts: Latta 18 Rebs: Vaughn 9 Asts: Latta 7 | Pts: Charles 22 Rebs: Stokes 13 Asts: Wright 5 |
| New York wins series 2-1 |||
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 9,255 Referees: Roy Gulbeyan, Sue Blauch, Lamont Simpson
Washington won 3–1 in the regular-season series :
June 6, 2015
Report
New York Liberty 62, Washington Mystics 67
Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
June 14, 2015
Report
Washington Mystics 74, New York Liberty 59
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
July 9, 2015
Report
New York Liberty 79, Washington Mystics 76 (OT)
Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
September 11, 2015
Report
Washington Mystics 82, New York Liberty 55
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY :

#### (2) Chicago Sky vs. (3) Indiana Fever

* ESPN2
* September 17 8:00 PM
* Game 1
Indiana Fever 72, Chicago Sky 77 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–24, 20–12, 16–18, 21–23 |||
| Pts: Catchings 21 Rebs: Larkins 10 Asts: January 7 | Pts: Quigley 20 Rebs: Delle Donne 11 Asts: Quigley 6 |
* UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL Attendance: 4,098 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton
* NBATV
* September 19 7:00 PM
* Game 2
Chicago Sky 82, Indiana Fever 89 :
| Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 22–24, 23–25, 17–20 |||
| Pts: Vandersloot 19 Rebs: de Souza 8 Asts: Vandersloot 6 | Pts: Catchings 22 Rebs: Larkins 12 Asts: Zellous 8 |
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,124 Referees: Amy Bonner, Lamont Simpson, Roy Gulbeyan
* NBATV
* September 21 8:00 PM
* Game 3
Indiana Fever 100, Chicago Sky 89 :
| Scoring by quarter: 28–28, 24–19, 19–16, 29–26 |||
| Pts: Catchings 27 Rebs: Catchings 9 Asts: January 8 | Pts: Delle Donne 40 Rebs: Breland 8 Asts: Vandersloot 14 |
| Indiana wins series 2–1 |||
* Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL Attendance: 2,882 Referees: Denise Brooks, Byron Jarrett, Thomas Nunez
Chicago won 4–0 in the regular-season series :
June 5, 2015
Report
Indiana Fever 72, Chicago Sky 95
Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
June 14, 2015
Report
Chicago Sky 98, Indiana Fever 72
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
June 26, 2015
Report
Chicago Sky 83, Indiana Fever 77
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
August 4, 2015
Report
Indiana Fever 82, Chicago Sky 106
Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL :

### Conference Finals: (1) New York Liberty vs. (3) Indiana Fever

* ESPN2
* September 23 7:00 PM
* Game 1
Indiana Fever 67, New York Liberty 84 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18–26, 24–22, 7–16, 18–20 |||
| Pts: Johnson 12 Rebs: Zellous 5 Asts: four tied 4 | Pts: Stokes 21 Rebs: Charles 7 Asts: Charles 9 |
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 7,229 Referees: Denise Brooks, Byron Jarrett, Eric Brewton
* ESPN
* September 27 1:00 PM
* Game 2
New York Liberty 64, Indiana Fever 70 :
| Scoring by quarter: 22–17, 22–12, 9–13, 11–28 |||
| Pts: Charles 25 Rebs: Stokes 11 Asts: Wright 5 | Pts: Tamika Catchings 25 Rebs: Catchings 7 Asts: January 4 |
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 7,505 Referees: Sue Blauch, Maj Forsberg, Tom Mauer
* ESPN2
* September 29 7:00 PM
* Game 3
Indiana Fever 66, New York Liberty 51 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–13, 18–9, 16–18, 17–11 |||
| Pts: Coleman 15 Rebs: Larkins 8 Asts: January 8 | Pts: Wiggins 15 Rebs: Charles 10 Asts: Prince 4 |
| Indiana wins series 2-1 |||
* Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Attendance: 10,120 Referees: Michael Price, Roy Gulbeyan, Lamont Simpson
Indiana won 4–1 in the regular-season series :
June 9, 2015
Report
Indiana Fever 79, New York Liberty 86
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
June 19, 2015
Report
Indiana Fever 80, New York Liberty 63
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
July 29, 2015
Report
New York Liberty 72, Indiana Fever 84
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
August 23, 2015
Report
New York Liberty 79, Indiana Fever 80
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
September 13, 2015
Report
New York Liberty 76, Indiana Fever 81
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN :

## Western Conference

    All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

### Conference semifinals
#### (1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (4) Los Angeles Sparks

* NBATV
* September 18 9:00 PM
* Game 1
Los Angeles Sparks 65, Minnesota Lynx 67 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–22, 21–11, 13–22, 16–12 |||
| Pts: Parker 16 Rebs: Parker 9 Asts: Parker 4 | Pts: Moore 33 Rebs: Fowles 9 Asts: Cruz 5 |
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 8,333 Referees: Sue Blauch, Daryl Humphrey, Jeff Wooten
* ESPN
* September 20 3:00 PM
* Game 2
Minnesota Lynx 71, Los Angeles Sparks 81 :
| Scoring by quarter: 23–24, 12–29, 20–10, 16–18 |||
| Pts: Moore 27 Rebs: three tied 7 Asts: Whalen 5 | Pts: Parker 25 Rebs: Parker 10 Asts: Dabović 7 |
* Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, CA Attendance: 3,112 Referees: Maj Forsberg, Billy Smith, Michael Price
* ESPN2
* September 22 9:00 PM
* Game 3
Los Angeles Sparks 80, Minnesota Lynx 91 :
| Scoring by quarter: 10-18, 20-25, 27-20, 23-28 |||
| Pts: Parker 28 Rebs: Parker 13 Asts: Ogwumike, Parker 4 | Pts: Moore 20 Rebs: Moore 8 Asts: Brunson 5 |
| Minnesota wins series 2-1 |||
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 9,014 Referees: Eric Brewton, Amy Bonner, Tom Mauer
Minnesota won 3–1 in the regular-season series :
June 16, 2015
Report
Minnesota Lynx 67, Los Angeles Sparks 52
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
July 29, 2015
Report
Los Angeles Sparks 76, Minnesota Lynx 82
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
August 4, 2015
Report
Minnesota Lynx 61, Los Angeles Sparks 83
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
August 9, 2015
Report
Los Angeles Sparks 64, Minnesota Lynx 72
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN :

#### (2) Phoenix Mercury vs. (3) Tulsa Shock

* ESPN2
* September 17 10:00 PM
* Game 1
Tulsa Shock 55, Phoenix Mercury 88 :
| Scoring by quarter: 15–22, 7–30, 22–16, 11–20 |||
| Pts: Sims 18 Rebs: Paris 7 Asts: Sims 3 | Pts: Griner 18 Rebs: Griner 8 Asts: Mitchell 6 |
* Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 8,509 Referees: Denise Brooks, Byron Jarrett, Thomas Nunez
* NBATV
* September 19 9:00 PM
* Game 2
Phoenix Mercury 91, Tulsa Shock 67 :
| Scoring by quarter: 19–19, 22–12, 23–17, 27–19 |||
| Pts: Griner 23 Rebs: Griner 12 Asts: Xargay, Mitchell 3 | Pts: Sims 22 Rebs: Paris 8 Asts: Sims 7 |
| Phoenix wins series 2–0 |||
* BOK Center, Tulsa, OK Attendance: 3,261 Referees: Sue Blauch, Tony Dawkins, Eric Brewton
Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series :
July 2, 2015
Report
Tulsa Shock 55, Phoenix Mercury 86
US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
July 30, 2015
Report
Phoenix Mercury 78, Tulsa Shock 66
BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
August 4, 2015
Report
Tulsa Shock 84, Phoenix Mercury 87 (OT)
US Airways Centers, Phoenix, AZ
August 18, 2015
Report
Phoenix Mercury 59, Tulsa Shock 74
BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
September 13, 2015
Report
Phoenix Mercury 87, Tulsa Shock 91
BOK Center, Tulsa, OK :

### Conference Finals: (1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (2) Phoenix Mercury

* ESPN2
* September 24 8:00 PM
* Game 1
Phoenix Mercury 60, Minnesota Lynx 67 :
| Scoring by quarter: 21–14, 11–21, 14–14, 14–18 |||
| Pts: Bonner 21 Rebs: Dupree 12 Asts: Bonner 5 | Pts: Moore 19 Rebs: Brunson 19 Asts: Whalen 5 |
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 8,732 Referees: Michael Price, Roy Gulbeyan, Maj Forsberg
* ESPN
* September 27 3:00 PM
* Game 2
Minnesota Lynx 72, Phoenix Mercury 71 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–15, 16–26, 17–18, 14–12 |||
| Pts: Moore 40 Rebs: Fowles 14 Asts: Moore, Whalen 4 | Pts: Dupree 16 Rebs: Currie 7 Asts: Currie 6 |
| Minnesota wins series 2-0 |||
* Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ Attendance: 9,871 Referees: Kurt Walker, Amy Bonner, Eric Brewton
Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series :
June 14, 2015
Report
Minnesota Lynx 66, Phoenix Mercury 81
US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
June 27, 2015
Report
Phoenix Mercury 56, Minnesota Lynx 71
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
August 7, 2015
Report
Minnesota Lynx 66, Phoenix Mercury 73
US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
August 23, 2015
Report
Minnesota Lynx 67, Phoenix Mercury 79
US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
August 30, 2015
Report
Phoenix Mercury 61, Minnesota Lynx 71
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN :

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

* ABC
* October 4 3:00 PM
* Game 1
Indiana Fever 75, Minnesota Lynx 69 :
| Scoring by quarter: 10–10, 25–19, 19–18, 21–22 |||
| Pts: January 19 Rebs: Larkins 8 Asts: January 6 | Pts: Moore 27 Rebs: Moore 12 Asts: Augustus, Whalen 4 |
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 11,023 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Kurt Walker
* ESPN2
* October 6 8:00 PM
* Game 2
Indiana Fever 71, Minnesota Lynx 77 :
| Scoring by quarter: 24–20, 17–19, 18–24, 12–14 |||
| Pts: January 17 Rebs: Catchings, Larkins 9 Asts: Catchings, January 5 | Pts: Fowles 21 Rebs: Fowles 9 Asts: Cruz, Moore 5 |
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 12,134 Referees: Michael Price, Maj Forsberg, Lamont Simpson
* ESPN2
* October 9 8:00 PM
* Game 3
Minnesota Lynx 80, Indiana Fever 77 :
| Scoring by quarter: 20–19, 18–23, 21–15, 21–20 |||
| Pts: Moore 24 Rebs: Fowles 11 Asts: Cruz 5 | Pts: Johnson 17 Rebs: Catchings 10 Asts: January 8 |
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 16,332 Referees: Denise Brooks, Roy Gulbeyan, Tom Mauer
* ESPN
* October 11 8:30 PM
* Game 4
Minnesota Lynx 69, Indiana Fever 75 :
| Scoring by quarter: 20–15, 12–21, 14–22, 23–17 |||
| Pts: Moore 20 Rebs: Moore 8 Asts: six tied 2 | Pts: Johnson 15 Rebs: Larkins 6 Asts: January 5 |
* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 10,582 Referees: Sue Blauch, Eric Brewton, Maj Forsberg
* ESPN2
* October 14 8:00 PM
* Game 5
Indiana Fever 52, Minnesota Lynx 69 :
| Scoring by quarter: 17–15, 4–12, 8–21, 23–21 |||
| Pts: Catchings 18 Rebs: Catchings 11 Asts: January, Zellous 3 | Pts: Fowles 20 Rebs: Brunson 14 Asts: Moore 5 |
| Minnesota wins series 3-2 |||
* Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Attendance: 18,933 Referees: Michael Price, Denise Brooks, Roy Gulbeyan
Minnesota won 2–0 in the regular-season series :
June 6, 2015
Report
Minnesota Lynx 78, Indiana Fever 69
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
September 4, 2015
Report
Indiana Fever 65, Minnesota Lynx 81
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN :