2003 WNBA season

August 2023 March 2026 2003 WNBA season Women's National Basketball Association Basketball 75px The WNBA logo. May 22 - September 16, 2003 34 14 2,100,630 8,826 ABC, ESPN, Oxygen Draft 2003 WNBA Draft USA LaToya Thomas Cleveland Rockers Regular season Detroit Shock AUS Lauren Jackson (Seattle) Women's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award AUS Lauren Jackson (Seattle) Playoffs Detroit Shock Los Angeles Sparks USA Ruth Riley (Detroit) WNBA Finals MVP Award List of WNBA seasons WNBA 2002 WNBA season 2002 2004 WNBA season 2004 The 2003 WNBA season was the Women's National Basketball Association's seventh season. It was the first season in which teams either folded or relocated, as well as the first to have teams that were not co-owned with NBA teams. The Orlando Miracle relocated to Connecticut and became the Connecticut Sun, the Utah Starzz relocated to San Antonio, Texas and became the San Antonio Silver Stars. Meanwhile, both the Miami Sol and the Portland Fire folded, while the Charlotte Sting became the second WNBA team without a brother NBA team. A one-round dispersal draft was held on April 24, 2003 to reassign former Sol and Fire players.PLUS: W.N.B.A.; Dispersal Draft Scatters 2 Rosters https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/25/sports/plus-wnba-dispersal-draft-scatters-2-rosters.html The New York Times April 25, 2003 May 21, 2025 The schedule increased from 32 games per team to 34. The season ended with the Detroit Shock winning their first WNBA Championship. Miami Sol and Portland Fire dispersal draft 2003 WNBA dispersal draft On April 24, 2003, the dispersal draft for the Miami Sol and Portland Fire was held. This draft consisted of one round to re-assign the 26 players from the Sol and Fire rosters, who both folded after the end of 2002 WNBA season. The remaining fourteen teams in the WNBA were able to select one player from either roster in the draft.Three Former Lady Techsters Selected in WNBA Dispersal Draft https://latechsports.com/news/2003/4/25/Three_Former_Lady_Techsters_Selected_in_WNBA_Dispersal_Draft LA Tech Sports April 25, 2003 May 21, 2025 The order of selection was determined by teams' 2002 regular season records, going from worst to first.Detroit adds Riley with top pick https://www.espn.com/wnba/news/2003/0424/1544361.html ESPN April 25, 2003 May 23, 2025 Former Sol and Fire players not selected in the dispersal draft became unrestricted free agents. The top four picks were: Pick Player Nationality New team Former team Ref. Reference(s) 1 Ruth Riley Detroit Shock Miami Sol 2 Sheri Sam Minnesota Lynx 3 Betty Lennox Cleveland Rockers 4 Tamicha Jackson Phoenix Mercury Portland Fire Regular season Standings Eastern Conference Western Conference Playoffs 2003 WNBA playoffs 2003 WNBA Finals Bracket Awards Reference:2003 WNBA Season Awards - WNBA https://www.wnba.com/awards2003 2025-05-28 www.wnba.com en Individual Award Winner Team Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Finals MVP Ruth Riley Detroit Shock Defensive Player of the Year Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets Most Improved Player Michelle Snow Houston Comets Peak Performers Scoring Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Rebounding Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics Rookie of the Year Cheryl Ford Detroit Shock Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Edna Campbell Sacramento Monarchs Coach of the Year Bill Laimbeer Detroit Shock Team Award Player Team All-WNBA First Team Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks Katie Smith Minnesota Lynx Sue Bird Seattle Storm Second Team Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets Swin Cash Detroit Shock Cheryl Ford Detroit Shock Nikki Teasley Los Angeles Sparks Deanna Nolan Detroit Shock Players of the Week Week endingPlayerTeamJune 1Lisa LeslieLos Angeles SparksJune 8Lauren JacksonSeattle StormJune 15Lisa Leslie (2)Los Angeles SparksJune 22Swin CashDetroit ShockJune 29Tamika CatchingsIndiana FeverJuly 6Sheryl SwoopesHouston CometsJuly 20Chamique HoldsclawWashington MysticsJuly 27Lauren JacksonSeattle StormAugust 3Swin Cash (2)Detroit ShockAugust 10Lauren Jackson (2)Seattle StormAugust 17DeLisha MiltonLos Angeles SparksAugust 25Anna DeForgePhoenix Mercury Coaches Eastern Conference Charlotte Sting: Trudi Lacey Cleveland Rockers: Dan Hughes Connecticut Sun: Mike Thibault Detroit Shock: Bill Laimbeer Indiana Fever: Nell Fortner New York Liberty: Richie Adubato Washington Mystics: Marianne Stanley Western Conference Houston Comets: Van Chancellor Los Angeles Sparks: Michael Cooper Minnesota Lynx: Suzie McConnell Serio Phoenix Mercury: John Shumate Sacramento Monarchs: Maura McHugh and John Whisenant San Antonio Silver Stars: Candi Harvey and Shell Dailey Seattle Storm: Anne Donovan References External links 2003 WNBA Final Standings 2003 Category:2003 in American women's basketball Category:2002–03 in American basketball by league Category:2003–04 in American basketball by league