2012 WNBA Playoffs
DatesSeptember 27 – October, 2012
Final positions
ChampionsIndiana Fever (Finals Champion)
East championIndiana Fever (Coach: Lin Dunn)
West championMinnesota Lynx (Coach: Cheryl Reeve)
← 2011
2013 →
Standings
Eastern Conference Western Conference
1st Connecticut 1st Minnesota
2nd Indiana 2nd Los Angeles
3rd Atlanta 3rd San Antonio
4th New York 4th Seattle

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.[1][2]

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

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

Three or more-team tie

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

Playoff qualifying

Eastern Conference

Seed Team W L Tiebreaker Clinched
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
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 –

Playoffs and Finals

See also: 2012 WNBA Finals
Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3 		Conference Finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 Connecticut 2
E4 New York 0
E1 Connecticut 1
Eastern Conference
E2 Indiana 2
E2 Indiana 2
E3 Atlanta 1
E2 Indiana 3
W1 Minnesota 1
W1 Minnesota 2
W4 Seattle 1
W1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
W2 Los Angeles 0
W2 Los Angeles 2
W3 San Antonio 0

Eastern Conference

Conference semifinals

(1) Connecticut Sun vs. (4) New York Liberty

September 27
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 55 Eric Brewton, #24 Tony Dawkins, #34 Maj Forsberg
September 29
7:00pm ET
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:
  1. 44 Felicia Grinter, #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #45 Tom Mauer
Regular-season series

Connecticut won the regular-season series 4–1:

May 19, 2012
Connecticut Sun 78, New York Liberty 73
May 20, 2012
New York Liberty 77, Connecticut Sun 92
June 15, 2012
New York Liberty 55, Connecticut Sun 97
August 16, 2012
Connecticut Sun 66, New York Liberty 79
August 18, 2012
New York Liberty 74, Connecticut Sun 85

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

September 28
7:00pm ET
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:
  1. 38 Lamont Simpson, #9 Denise Brooks, #21 Byron Jarrett
September 30
4:00pm ET
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:
  1. 4 Sue Blauch, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #49 Kevin Sparrock
October 2
7:00pm ET
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:
  1. 39 Michael Price, #43 Brenda Pantoja, #45 Tom Mauer
Regular-season series

Indiana won the regular season series 3–2:

May 19, 2012
Atlanta Dream 84, Indiana Fever 92
May 27, 2012
Indiana Fever 78, Atlanta Dream 62
June 26, 2012
Indiana Fever 58, Atlanta Dream 70
August 18, 2012
Atlanta Dream 72, Indiana Fever 86
September 6, 2011
Indiana Fever 64, Atlanta Dream 71

Conference finals

(1) Connecticut Sun vs. (2) Indiana Fever

October 5
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 4 Sue Blauch, #38 Lamont Simpson, #7 Clarke Stevens
October 8
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 39 Michael Price, #18 Kurt Walker, #43 Brenda Pantoja
October 11
8:30pm ET
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:
  1. 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
Connecticut Sun 89, Indiana Fever 81
June 19, 2012
Indiana Fever 85, Connecticut Sun 88
June 21, 2012
Connecticut Sun 61, Indiana Fever 95
August 19, 2012
Indiana Fever 67, Connecticut Sun 73

Western Conference

Conference semifinals

(2) Los Angeles Sparks vs. (3) San Antonio Silver Stars

September 27
10:00pm ET
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:
  1. 39 Michael Price, #53 Jeff Smith, #13 Cameron Inouye
September 29
3:00pm ET
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:
  1. 31 Amy Bonner, #35 Billy Smith, #55 Eric Brewton
Regular-season series

San Antonio won the regular-season series 3–1:

June 16, 2012
Los Angeles Sparks 85, San Antonio Silver Stars 98
June 24, 2012
San Antonio Silver Stars 91, Los Angeles Sparks 71
June 28, 2012
Los Angeles Sparks 80, San Antonio Silver Stars 94
August 23, 2012
San Antonio Silver Stars 77, Los Angeles Sparks 101

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

September 28
9:00pm ET
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:
  1. 4 Sue Blauch, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #49 Kevin Sparrock
September 30
9:00pm ET
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:
  1. 7 Clarke Stevens, #39 Michael Price, #43 Brenda Pantoja
October 2
9:00 PM ET
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:
  1. 55 Eric Brewton, #9 Denise Brooks, #38 Lamont Simpson
Regular-season series

Minnesota won the regular-season series 3–1:

May 27, 2012
Seattle Storm 71, Minnesota Lynx 84
June 6, 2012
Seattle Storm 55, Minnesota Lynx 79
August 16, 2011
Minnesota Lynx 62, Seattle Storm 55
September 9, 2011
Minnesota Lynx 86, Seattle Storm 73

Conference finals

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (2) Los Angeles Sparks

October 4
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 42 Roy Gulbeyan, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #44 Felicia Grinter
October 7
3:30pm ET
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:
  1. 55 Eric Brewton, #45 Tom Mauer, #9 Denise Brooks
Regular-season series

The regular season series was tied 2–2:

May 24, 2012
Los Angeles Sparks 84, Minnesota Lynx 92
July 5, 2012
Minnesota Lynx 90, Los Angeles Sparks 96
August 5, 2012
Los Angeles Sparks 77, Minnesota Lynx 88
September 20, 2012
Minnesota Lynx 76, Los Angeles Sparks 92

WNBA Finals

Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever

Main article: 2012 WNBA Finals
October 14
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 4 Sue Blauch, #18 Kurt Walker, #45 Tom Mauer
October 17
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 39 Michael Price, #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #43 Brenda Pantoja
October 19
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 9 Denise Brooks, #38 Lamont Simpson, #55 Eric Brewton
October 21
8:00pm ET
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:
  1. 4 Sue Blauch, #39 Michael Price, #42 Roy Gulbeyan
Regular-season series

The Minnesota Lynx won the season series 2–0:

September 14, 2012
Minnesota Lynx 66, Indiana Fever 64
September 17, 2012
Indiana Fever 79, Minnesota Lynx 86

References

  1. ^ "Lynx beat Shock 83–59, clinch playoff berth". Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  2. ^ WNBA Standings Archived November 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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