The 2014 WNBA playoffs was the postseason for the 2014 WNBA 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 Phoenix Mercury won the 2014 WNBA Finals, sweeping the Chicago Sky in three games. The Mercury defeated the Los Angeles Sparks in the conference semifinals before defeating the Minnesota Lynx in the Western Conference Finals. The Mercury lost only one game in the entire playoffs.
The Chicago Sky attempted to complete a cinderella run by upsetting the Atlanta Dream in the conference semifinals and by upsetting the Indiana Fever in the Eastern Conference Finals, both in three games. However, the Sky were unable to complete their historic playoff run, as the Mercury won their third WNBA championship title.
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 ClinchedPlayoff berth Best record in Conference Best record in WNBA 1 Atlanta Dream 19–15 August 2 August 13 — 2 Indiana Fever 16–18 August 14 —— 3 Washington Mystics 16–18 August 15 —— 4 Chicago Sky 15–19 August 15 ——
Western Conference Seed Team Record ClinchedPlayoff berth Best record in Conference Best record in WNBA 1 Phoenix Mercury 29–5 July 22 August 12 August 12 2 Minnesota Lynx 25–9 July 24 —— 3 San Antonio Stars 16–18 August 15 —— 4 Los Angeles Sparks 16–18 August 12 ——
Notes
Bracket
Eastern Conference
Conference semifinals
(1) Atlanta Dream vs. (4) Chicago Sky
Regular-season series Chicago won the regular-season series 3–2:
(2) Indiana Fever vs. (3) Washington Mystics
Regular-season series The regular season series was tied 2–2:
Conference finals
(2) Indiana Fever vs. (4) Chicago Sky
Regular-season series Indiana won the regular season series 3–2:
Western Conference
Conference semifinals
(1) Phoenix Mercury vs. (4) Los Angeles Sparks
Regular-season series Phoenix won the regular-season series 5–0:
(2) Minnesota Lynx vs. (3) San Antonio Stars
Regular-season series Minnesota won the regular-season series 4–1:
Conference finals
(1) Phoenix Mercury vs. (2) Minnesota Lynx
Regular-season series Phoenix won the regular-season series 3–1:
WNBA Finals
Phoenix Mercury vs. Chicago Sky
Regular-season series Phoenix won the regular-season series 2–0:
References