2021_WNBA_season

2021 WNBA season

2021 WNBA season

Sports season


The 2021 WNBA season was the 25th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Seattle Storm were the defending champions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams played a 32-game season (rather than the 36 games agreed to in the original 2020 season schedule) that included mini two-game series to reduce travel.[1][2] The regular season ran from May 14 to September 19, with a break from July 12 to August 11 for the Olympic Games.[2]

Quick Facts League, Sport ...

This season also marked the launch of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, which had been intended to start in the 2020 season but was delayed due to COVID-19. The first home game and first away game for each team against each of its conference opponents doubled as Cup games; all such games were played before the league took its Olympic break. The Cup final, officially called the Commissioner's Cup Championship Game, featured the conference leaders in the Cup standings and was held on August 12, three days before the rest of the league resumed play, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. A prize pool of $500,000 was provided for the Cup, with players on the winning team guaranteed a minimum bonus of $30,000 and those of the losing team guaranteed $10,000, and the championship game MVP receiving an extra $5,000.[3] The Seattle Storm defeated the Connecticut Sun 79-57 to win the inaugural cup. Breanna Stewart was named MVP of the game.

The season had 100 games broadcast on national networks, including 25 across ABC and ESPN networks, 40 on CBS networks, and 35 on NBA TV.[4] The remainder of games were broadcast on local networks and the WNBA's League Pass service; several games were also streamed on Twitter, Amazon Prime,[5] and Oculus.[4]

This season saw Wilson take over as the league's ball supplier. Spalding previously held the contract for the league's first 24 seasons.[6]

2021 WNBA draft

The New York Liberty won the first pick in the 2021 WNBA draft in the draft lottery, but the pick was later traded to the Dallas Wings who picked Charli Collier.

Transactions

Retirement

Free agency

Free agency negotiations started on January 15, 2021, and the signing period began on February 1, 2021.[17]

Coaching changes

More information Off-season, Team ...

Regular season

All-Star Game

July 14, 2021
7:00 p.m. ET
Team USA 85, Team WNBA 93
Scoring by quarter: 28–25, 15–19, 23–22, 19–27
Pts: Brittney Griner 17
Rebs: Sylvia Fowles 7
Asts: Sue Bird 8
Pts: Arike Ogunbowale 26
Rebs: Jonquel Jones 14
Asts: Courtney Vandersloot 7
Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 5,175
Referees: Kurt Walker, Jeffrey Smith, Angelica Suffern

Standings

More information #, Team ...

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Schedule

More information Date, Time (ET) ...

Note: Games highlighted in ██ represent Commissioner’s Cup games.

Statistical Leaders

The following shows the leaders in each statistical category during the 2021 regular season.[23][24][25]

More information Category, Player ...

Playoffs

The WNBA continued its current playoff format for 2021. The top eight teams, regardless of conference, make the playoffs, with the top two teams receiving a bye to the semi-finals. The remaining six teams play in two single-elimination playoff rounds, with the third and fourth seeds receiving a bye to the second round.[26]

First round
Sept. 23
Second round
Sept. 26
Semifinals
Sept. 28 – Oct. 8
WNBA Finals
Oct. 10 – Oct. 17
2Las Vegas Aces9691609384
4Seattle Storm805Phoenix Mercury90117877687
5Phoenix Mercury835Phoenix Mercury85OT5Phoenix Mercury7791OT5074
8New York Liberty826Chicago Sky91868680
1Connecticut Sun95798369
3Minnesota Lynx766Chicago Sky1012OT688679
6Chicago Sky816Chicago Sky89
7Dallas Wings64

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Season award winners

Player of the Week Award

More information Date Awarded, Eastern Conference ...

Player of the Month Award

More information Month, Eastern Conference ...

Rookie of the Month Award

More information Month, Player ...

Coach of the Month Award

More information Month, Coach ...

Postseason awards

The award previously titled "Sixth Woman of the Year" was changed to "Sixth Player" starting with this season.

More information Award, Winner ...

Coaches

Eastern Conference

More information Team, Head coach ...

Western Conference

More information Team, Head coach ...

Notes:

  • Year with team does not include 2021 season.
  • Records are from time at current team and are through the end of the 2020 regular season.
  • Playoff appearances are from time at current team only.
  • WNBA Finals and Championships do not include time with other teams.
  • Coaches shown are the coaches who began the 2021 season as head coach of each team.

References

  1. Feinberg, Doug (April 13, 2021). "WNBA to play 32-game schedule, has month break for Olympics". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. Voepel, Mechelle (April 13, 2021). "WNBA announces schedule for its 25th season". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  3. Ward, Zack (May 3, 2021). "WNBA to have 100 nationally televised games". Swish Appeal. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. Chick, John (May 13, 2020). "Wilson to replace Spalding as official NBA, WNBA game ball". thescore.com. Score Media Ventures. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. "Crystal Langhorne Retires, Joins Director of Community Engagement With Storm". wnba.com. The WNBA. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  6. Allen, Percy (February 8, 2021). "Crystal Langhorne retires with two WNBA titles, joins Storm front office to direct team's social justice platform". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  7. "Renee Montgomery Announces Retirement". wnba.com. The WNBA. February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  8. Pickman, Ben (February 9, 2021). "Two-Time WNBA Champion Renee Montgomery Retires After 11 Seasons". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  9. "LaToya Sanders Announces Retirement". wnba.com. The WNBA. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  10. Copeland, Kareem (March 8, 2021). "Mystics veteran LaToya Sanders retires". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  11. "Morgan Tuck Announces Retirement". wnba.com. The WNBA. March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  12. Allen, Percy (March 15, 2021). "Storm forward Morgan Tuck announces retirement: 'I have to listen to what my body is telling me'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  13. "4X WNBA Champ, Seimone Augustus Enters Retirement; Joins Sparks Coaching Staff". wnba.com. The WNBA. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  14. "Free Agency 2021". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  15. "Dallas Wings and coach Brian Agler agree to part ways after two WNBA seasons". espn.com. ESPN. October 15, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  16. "Dallas Wings Name Vickie Johnson Head Coach". WNBA.com. WNBA. December 9, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  17. Voepel, Mechelle (May 3, 2021). "Atlanta Dream's Nicki Collen leaving WNBA to coach Baylor after Kim Mulkey's departure". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  18. "Dan Hughes announces retirement from the WNBA". Seattle Storm. May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  19. "Atlanta Dream interim head coach Mike Petersen steps down due to health reasons". cbssports.com. CBS. July 24, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  20. "Official Leaders". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  21. "Team Stats". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  22. "Statistical Minimums". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  23. "Season 25 – Week 1: Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  24. "Betnijah Laney And Brittney Griner Named Week 2 Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  25. "Jonquel Jones and Jewell Loyd Named Week 3 Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  26. "Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles Named Week 4 Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  27. "Courtney Vandersloot, Breanna Stewart Named Week 5 Players Of Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  28. "Bonner, Fowles Earn Player of the Week Honors (Week 6)". wnba.com. WNBA. June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  29. "Jones, Wilson Named Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  30. "WNBA Players of the Week: Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones". wnba.com. WNBA. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  31. "WNBA Players of the Week: Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones". wnba.com. WNBA. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  32. "WNBA Players of the Week: Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brionna Jones". wnba.com. WNBA. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  33. "Week 11 Players of the Week: Jonquel Jones (Eastern) and Brittney Griner (Western)". wnba.com. WNBA. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  34. "WNBA Player of the Week: Tina Charles & Brittney Griner". wnba.com. WNBA. September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  35. "WNBA Players of the Week: Natasha Howard and Kelsey Plum". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  36. "Kia WNBA Players of the Month – May: Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones". wnba.com. WNBA. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  37. "Tina Charles and A'ja Wilson Named Players Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  38. "Kia Players of the Month (August): Jonquel Jones (Eastern) and Sylvia Fowles (Western)". wnba.com. WNBA. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  39. "Kia WNBA Players of the Month: Jonquel Jones and Kelsey Plum". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  40. "Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month – May: Michaela Onyenwere". wnba.com. WNBA. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  41. "Michaela Onyenwere Wins June Rookie Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  42. "Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month (August): Michaela Onyenwere". wnba.com. WNBA. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  43. "September Rookie of the Month: Michaela Onyenwere". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  44. "WNBA Coach of the Month for May: Walt Hopkins, New York Liberty". wnba.com. WNBA. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  45. "James Wade Named Coach Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  46. "Kia WNBA Coach of the Month (August): Curt Miller". wnba.com. WNBA. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  47. "Coach of the Month, September: Curt Miller". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  48. "Connecticut Sun's Jonquel Jones Named 2021 Kia Most Valuable Player". wnba.com. WNBA. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  49. "Kahleah Copper Wins WNBA Finals MVP!". wnba.com. WNBA. October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  50. "New York Liberty's Michaela Onyenwere Named 2021 Kia WNBA Rookie Of The Year". wnba.com. WNBA. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  51. "Connecticut Sun Brionna Jones Named 2021 KIA Most Improved Player". wnba.com. WNBA. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  52. "Sylvia Fowles Named 2021 Kia WNBA Defensive Player Of The Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  53. "Kelsey Plum Named 2021 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  54. "Los Angeles Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike 2021 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award". wnba.com. WNBA. October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  55. "2021 WNBA Peak Performers: Tina Charles, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  56. "Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller Named 2021 Coach Of the Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  57. "The 2021 All-WNBA First & Second Team Announced". wnba.com. WNBA. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  58. Voepel, Mechelle (September 26, 2021). "Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles named WNBA Defensive Player of Year for 4th time in career". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  59. "Sky Guard Dana Evans Named to 2021 WNBA All-Rookie Team". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.

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