2001 WNBA season

August 2023 March 2026 2001 WNBA season Women's National Basketball Association Basketball 75px The WNBA logo May 28 - September 1, 2001 32 16 2,322,962 9,074 ESPN, NBC Draft 2001 WNBA Draft AUS Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Regular season Los Angeles Sparks USA Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles) Women's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award USA Katie Smith (Minnesota) Playoffs 2001 WNBA Playoffs Los Angeles Sparks Charlotte Sting USA Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles) WNBA Finals MVP Award List of WNBA seasons WNBA 2000 WNBA season 2000 2002 WNBA season 2002 The 2001 WNBA season was the Women's National Basketball Association's fifth season. The season ended with the Los Angeles Sparks winning their first WNBA championship. Regular season Standings Eastern Conference Western Conference Note: Teams with an "X" clinched playoff spots. Playoffs 2001 WNBA playoffs 2001 WNBA Finals Bracket Awards Reference:2001 WNBA Season Awards - WNBA https://www.wnba.com/awards2001 2025-05-28 www.wnba.com en Individual Award Winner Team Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks Finals MVP Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks Defensive Player of the Year Debbie Black Miami Sol Most Improved Player Janeth Arcain Houston Comets Shooting Champions Field goal percentage Latasha Byears Los Angeles Sparks Free throw percentage Elena Baranova Miami Sol Rookie of the Year Jackie Stiles Portland Fire Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Sue Wicks New York Liberty Coach of the Year Dan Hughes Cleveland Rockers Team Award Player Team All-WNBA First Team Katie Smith Minnesota Lynx Natalie Williams Utah Starzz Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks Janeth Arcain Houston Comets Merlakia Jones Cleveland Rockers Second Team Tina Thompson Houston Comets Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics Yolanda Griffith Sacramento Monarchs Ticha Penicheiro Sacramento Monarchs Tamecka Dixon Los Angeles Sparks Players of the Week Week endingPlayerTeamJune 3Katie SmithMinnesota LynxJune 10Janeth ArcainHouston CometsJune 17Lisa LeslieLos Angeles SparksJune 24Tina ThompsonHouston CometsJuly 1Jackie StilesPortland FireJuly 8Dawn StaleyCharlotte StingJuly 22Sheri SamMiami SolJuly 29Natalie WilliamsUtah StarzzAugust 5Lisa Leslie (2)Los Angeles SparksAugust 12Andrea StinsonCharlotte Sting Coaches Eastern Conference Charlotte Sting: Anne Donovan Cleveland Rockers: Dan Hughes Detroit Shock: Greg Williams Indiana Fever: Nell Fortner Miami Sol: Ron Rothstein New York Liberty: Richie Adubato Orlando Miracle: Carolyn Peck Washington Mystics: Tom Maher Western Conference Houston Comets: Van Chancellor Los Angeles Sparks: Michael Cooper Minnesota Lynx: Brian Agler Phoenix Mercury: Cynthia Cooper Portland Fire: Linda Hargrove Sacramento Monarchs: Maura McHugh Seattle Storm: Lin Dunn Utah Starzz: Fred Williams and Candi Harvey References 2001 Category:2001 in American women's basketball Category:2000–01 in American basketball by league Category:2001–02 in American basketball by league