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We&#8217;re now a week into the 2023 WNBA free agency, and there&#8217;s already been plenty of fireworks. We have former MVPs on the move, a pair of super teams formed, and a few under-the-radar moves that could pay big dividends next season.
Here is a look at the five biggest takeaways from the past seven days.
1. Breanna Stewart is NYC bound
In the two weeks leading into the official opening of WNBA free agency on Feb. 1, Breanna Stewart had WNBA fans breaking their brains trying to decipher her cryptic tweets full of emojis and find clues as to where she would decide to play in 2023.
The biggest free agent available this offseason had the entire women&#8217;s hoops community hanging on her every emoji until the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 1.
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🗽 <a href="https://t.co/6Sg28YnCPz">pic.twitter.com/6Sg28YnCPz</a>
&mdash; Stewie (@breannastewart) <a href="https://twitter.com/breannastewart/status/1620829634349928450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The magnitude of this move can&#8217;t be overstated. This is a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, one-time league MVP, four-time All-WNBA First Team selection, and reigning scoring champion changing teams in her absolute prime at 28 years old.
Stewart becomes only the fourth MVP winner to sign with another team as a free agent, joining Sheryl Swoopes (2008 to Seattle), Yolanda Griffith (2008 to Seattle), and Candace Parker (2021 to Chicago, 2023 to Las Vegas – more on that shortly). Swoopes (37) and Griffith (38) were both at the tail end of their careers when they signed with the Storm. Parker (34) still had plenty left in the tank when she joined her hometown team and led them to their first title in 2021.
Three other former MVPs have changed teams via trade: Tina Charles (Connecticut to New York in 2014), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago to Washington in 2017), and Jonquel Jones (Connecticut to New York in 2023).
That&#8217;s right; the Liberty didn&#8217;t just add one former MVP this off-season. They added two, with the 2021 MVP (Jones) joining the 2018 winner (Stewart) to give the Liberty a devastating frontline. And in case that wasn&#8217;t enough, the day after Stewart announced her decision to join Liberty, so did All-Star point guard and six-time league assist leader Courtney Vandersloot.
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LFG!!!🗽🗽🗽🗽 <a href="https://t.co/bsqCZ6VsGG">https://t.co/bsqCZ6VsGG</a>
&mdash; Stewie (@breannastewart) <a href="https://twitter.com/breannastewart/status/1621237294714830850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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That makes three 2022 All-Stars joining the Liberty in the span of 18 days. And remember that the Liberty already have All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu getting set to begin her fourth WNBA season. With Stewart, Jones, and Ionescu, the Liberty boasts three of the ten players selected to the 2022 All-WNBA teams.
2. Candace Parker heads to Sin City
Breanna Stewart wasn&#8217;t the only former MVP to shake up the league last week. While Stewie was dropping emoji-laden tweets, Candace Parker moved more quietly until announcing on Instagram that she intended to leave her hometown Chicago Sky to join the Las Vegas Aces this summer for her 16th WNBA season.
Parker joins the defending WNBA champions Aces and gives Las Vegas a pair of two-time league MVPs on its frontline, as the 2008 and 2013 winner (Parker) joins the 2020 and 2022 winner (A’ja Wilson). Parker also reunites with former teammate Chelsea Gray, with whom she won the 2016 Los Angeles Sparks WNBA title. Gray (2022), Wilson (2020), and Parker (2016) have each won Finals MVP honors; Wilson (2022) and Parker (2020) have won two of the last three Defensive Player of the Year honors.
And don&#8217;t forget about 2022 All-Star MVP Kelsey Plum and 2022 Most Improved Player Jackie Young, all playing under the tutelage of 2022 Coach of the Year Becky Hammon. Similar to the Liberty, the Aces now have three 2022 All-WNBA selections on its roster – only Vegas&#8217; were all First Team selections in Wilson, Plum, and Parker.
Also, similar to New York, Las Vegas wasn&#8217;t done when adding a former MVP in free agency. Along with Parker, the franchise was able to add veteran wing Alysha Clark – a two-time champion and two-time All-Defensive Team selection – as well as four-time Australian league (WNBL) champion Cayla George to the roster. Las Vegas also re-signed Sydney Colson and Kiah Stokes from last year&#8217;s championship squad.
The Aces will enter 2023 looking to accomplish something that has yet to be done in the WNBA for more than two decades: successfully defend the WNBA title. The last team to do it was the 2001 and 2002 Sparks; can the Aces join them this fall?
&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/instant-analysis-assessing-candace-parkers-fit-in-las-vegas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more on the impact of Parker&#8217;s addition to Las Vegas</a>
3. Welcome to the WNBA super-team era
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There&#39;s a new superteam era in the WNBA 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/nyliberty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nyliberty</a> <a href="https://t.co/v6lTt5f31Y">pic.twitter.com/v6lTt5f31Y</a>
&mdash; espnW (@espnW) <a href="https://twitter.com/espnW/status/1621256798920491010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The WNBA has seen many dominant teams throughout its history:
<ul>
<li>The Houston Comets won the first four WNBA titles from 1997-2000 behind the big three of Cynthia Cooper, Swoopes, and Tina Thompson</li>
<li>The Lisa Leslie-led, Los Angeles Sparks, won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002 before falling in the Finals to Detroit</li>
<li>The Detroit Shock won three titles in the span of six seasons with stars like Cash, Katie Smith, and Deanna Nolan</li>
<li>The Minnesota Lynx won four championships and played in six WNBA Finals in a seven-year span from 2011-2017 behind the core of Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Sylvia Fowles, and Rebekkah Brunson</li>
</ul>
The Comets and Lynx both featured two MVP winners – Cooper and Swoopes in Houston; Moore and Fowles in Minnesota – but they won those MVPs while playing for those dynasties. Swoopes was the only one of the four to play for another team after winning MVP, and as discussed earlier, she did so at the end of her career.
What we&#8217;re seeing now is just different. With the most recent collective bargaining agreement allowing for additional player movement, the amount of change is growing yearly.
The Aces and Liberty have assembled rosters that have them considered – almost universally – as the co-title favorites entering 2023. Of course, these rosters are currently only on paper, and we&#8217;ll have to see how all the pieces fit together as well as we all think they will.
With that being said, go ahead and circle these dates on your WNBA calendars now and get your popcorn ready.
<ul>
<li>Thursday, June 29, 10 ET: New York at Las Vegas</li>
<li>Sunday, Aug. 6, 3 ET: Las Vegas at New York</li>
<li>Thursday, Aug. 17, 10 ET: New York at Las Vegas</li>
<li>Monday, Aug. 28, 7 ET: Las Vegas at New York</li>
</ul>
4. Storm, Sky, and Sun bolster rosters after losing MVPs
There were five former league MVPs on the free agent market this season: Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, and Nneka Ogwumike. So far, two of those five have changed teams, with Stewart leaving Seattle for New York and Parker leaving Chicago for Las Vegas, while the other three remain unsigned. And, just prior to free agency tipping off, we saw another former MVP on the move as Jonquel Jones was traded from Connecticut to New York.
That leaves the Storm, Sky, and Sun with the unenviable task of trying to replace a former MVP.
In Chicago, the Sky not only lost Parker but also lost their starting backcourt of Courtney Vandersloot (also to NY) and Allie Quigley (taking the season off) along with forward/center Azurá Stevens &#8212; that&#8217;s four of their top six players in minutes played. The Sky have started to rebuild their roster through free agency, signing Elizabeth Williams (from Washington) and Isabelle Harrison (from Dallas) on the frontline and Courtney Williams (from Connecticut) in the backcourt. The Sky still have 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper under contract, while 2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman remains an unrestricted free agent.
In Seattle, the Storm re-signed Ezi Magbegor, who finished second in the WNBA in blocks last season (1.8 per game) and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team following her third season in Seattle. The Storm brought Sami Whitcomb back to the Pacific Northwest; the former University of Washington star played her first four WNBA seasons in Seattle before playing the last two in New York. Whitcomb ranked 14th in 3-pointers made (59) last season. Seattle also signed former Phoenix guards Kia Nurse and Yvonne Turner. Nurse missed all of last season due to a torn ACL but ranked 10th in 3-pointers made (59) in 2021.
In Connecticut, the Sun not only lost Jones but longtime starting point guard Jasmine Thomas, who was traded to Los Angeles to join former Sun coach Curt Miller. While Thomas was out last season, Natisha Hiedeman stepped up to fill the void at the point. The Sun have re-signed Hiedeman, which has been their lone key move in free agency so far.
5. More moves to keep an eye on
Washington: The Mystics opened free agency by adding the top wing defender on the open market in Brittney Sykes, who&#8217;s led the WNBA in steals the past two seasons and is a three-time All-Defensive team selection. Washington also brings back veteran point guard Kristi Toliver, who has two WNBA titles on her resume, including one in Washington in 2019. The Mystics also made a trade with Las Vegas to acquire the negotiating rights with versatile center Amanda Zahui B, who they signed two days later to a one-year deal.
Los Angeles: This is an offseason of major change in Los Angeles, with a new coach in Curt Miller and two key additions via trade: point guard Jasmine Thomas from Connecticut and wing Dearica Hamby from Las Vegas. As mentioned above, the Sparks added versatile forward Azurá Stevens from Chicago as well as Stephanie Talbot from Seattle as free agents. Los Angeles also brought back guards Jordin Canada (who led L.A. in assists at 5.5 per game, 8th in WNBA) and Lexie Brown. With Brown (39.8%) and Talbot (39.7%), the Sparks have the ninth and 10th-ranked 3-point shooters from last season.
Dallas: The Wings opened free agency by re-signing center Teaira McCowan, who was a breakout star for Dallas in the second half of the 2022 season. In addition to locking down their center, the Wings also signed guard Crystal Dangerfield – whose reserved rights they acquired as part of the three-team trade with New York and Connecticut last month – to a multi-year deal.
Indiana: The Fever brought back guard Erica Wheeler – who played in Indiana from 2016 to 2019, winning All-Star Game MVP honors in her final season with the Fever before signing with Los Angeles in 2021 and playing last season in Atlanta. The Fever also signed Maya Caldwell, who the Fever drafted 33rd overall in 2021, but played last season in Atlanta. Keep in mind the Fever also hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft this April.
Phoenix: The Mercury have re-signed guards Sophie Cunningham and Jennie Simms, while guards Kia Nurse (a full-time starter for the Mercury in 2021 but missed all of 2022 due to an ACL tear) and Yvonne Turner both signed with Seattle as free agents. However, there is one legendary guard that remains an unrestricted free agent &#8212; Diana Taurasi &#8212; who has spent her entire 18-year career in Phoenix.
Atlanta: The Dream has re-signed forwards Monique Billings and Nia Coffey and guard AD Durr. Both Coffey and Durr missed more than half of last season due to injuries but worked with the Dream&#8217;s medical team on rehab this offseason. The free-agent signings come after the Dream acquired Allisha Gray and Danielle Robinson in a pair of trades last month.
Minnesota: The Lynx signed free agent guard Tiffany Mitchell, who spent the first seven seasons of her WNBA career with the Indiana Fever and brings career averages of 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. The Lynx also re-signed four players: forwards Bridget Carleton, Damiris Dantas, Nikolina Milic, and guard Lindsay Allen.
&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/2023-free-agency-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Agent Tracker: Follow all the latest moves</a>
Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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WNBA Free Agency 2023: Five Early Takeaways

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The following was issued by Turner Sports PR:
WNBA Legends, Coaches, Executives and Current Players Provide an In-Depth Look at the 
25-Year History of the Longest Running Women&#8217;s Professional League in the United States 
NBA TV will premiere its latest documentary – As We Rise: 25 Years of the WNBA presented by Nike – covering the evolution of the league, progress on and off the court, and the top moments which helped shape the WNBA on Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m. ET.
The hour-long special – produced in association with Bleacher Report and HighlightHER – features more than 30 interviews, from pioneers that helped blaze the trail during the early days of professional women&#8217;s basketball, such as Ann Meyers, Carol Blazejowski, Nancy Lieberman and Cheryl Miller, to the WNBA&#8217;s first headliners, including Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo and Sheryl Swoopes, and modern day stars Candace Parker, A&#8217;Ja Wilson, Sylvia Fowles, Nneka Ogwumike and Breanna Stewart.
The piece opens with a look back at how David Stern, Val Ackerman and Russ Granik, among others, helped build the foundation of the WNBA before capitalizing on the momentum of the 1996 Women&#8217;s National Team to launch the league in June 1997. The story later advances through the years to today&#8217;s game and how Cathy Engelbert and others continue to advance the WNBA and help empower the league and its players to lead the way in social advocacy.
Interview subjects for the documentary include:
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<td>Val Ackerman 
Sue Bird 
Carol Blazejowksi 
DeWanna Bonner 
Gary Cavalli 
Van Chancellor 
Tina Charles 
Oscar Dixon 
Cathy Engelbert 
Sylvia Fowles 
Russ Granik 
Yolanda Griffith 
Brittney Griner 
Becky Hammon 
Lisa Leslie 
Nancy Lieberman 
Rebecca Lobo 
Nikki McCray</td>
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</td>
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<td>Ann Meyers 
Cheryl Miller 
Reggie Miller 
Renee Montgomery 
Arike Ogunbowale 
Nneka Ogwumike 
Candace Parker 
Ticha Penicheiro 
Cappie Pondexter 
LaChina Robinson 
Adam Silver 
Dawn Staley 
Breanna Stewart 
Sheryl Swoopes 
Diana Taurasi 
Tina Thompson 
A’ja Wilson</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
Following Saturday&#8217;s premiere of As We Rise, the Chicago Sky’s Parker and the Minnesota Lynx’s Fowles, a pair of former Kia WNBA MVPs and two-time league champions, will meet on NBA TV at 8 p.m., 14 years after they were the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks, respectively, in the 2008 Draft. An encore presentation of As We Rise will follow the game telecast.
NBA TV is home to more regular season live games than any other network (46 games), including 33 late season game telecasts as teams make a push for the playoffs following the 2022 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game on July 10.
Additionally, WNBA Weekly has returned for its third season on NBA TV. The 30-minute show features host Renee Montgomery and Ari Chambers, along with regular contributions from the network&#8217;s talented roster of hosts, analysts and reporters. The show is available on demand via the NBA app.
About NBA TV 
NBA TV is a part of NBA Digital, the NBA&#8217;s extensive cross-platform portfolio of digital assets jointly-managed by the NBA and Turner Sports including NBA TV, NBA App, <a href="http://NBA.com">http://NBA.com</a>, NBA League Pass and <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/NBAGLEAGUE.com__;!!PMETyfE!IAMslgtvOSopR7OhC8tTOsz-IdpDIojmPVlFZGAJHyNqzTnwLNLxZ6uRE0ySLKlxBWYr9vSaL4e6_I5jfOUiQkM$">NBAGLEAGUE.com</a>.

nba-tv-to-premiere-as-we-rise-25-years-of-the-wnba-presented-by-nike-one-hour-documentary-saturday-may-14-at-7-p-m-et

NBA TV to Premiere As We Rise: 25 Years of the WNBA Presented by Nike One-Hour Documentary, Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m. ET

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				Lindsey Whalen is honored with a custom W25 jacket.
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				Lindsey Whalen&#8217;s custom jacket includes customized patches.
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				Tina Thompson is honored with a custom W25 jacket.
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				Lisa Leslie is honored with a custom W25 jacket.
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				Lisa Leslie&#8217;s jacket is made with customized patches.
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				Angel McCoughtry is honored with a custom W25 jacket.
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				Brittney Griner is honored with a custom W25 jacket.
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				Brittney Griner&#8217;s jacket features customized patches.
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W25 Custom Varsity Jacket Gallery

From the first-ever No. 1 pick to the 25th pick No. 1 pick!
Tina Thompson congratulates Charli Collier on being selected No. 1 overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm.

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Tina Thompson Congratulates Charli Collier

Catch the Top 10 plays of the 2010 WNBA season.

top-10-plays-of-the-2010-wnba-season

Top 10 Plays of the 2010 WNBA Season

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League Champion: Minnesota Lynx (Second title in franchise history)
Top Draft Pick: Brittney Griner (PHX, Baylor University)
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<a href="https://www.wnba.com/awards2013/">Awards</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/sparks-candace-parker-named-2013-wnba-most-valuable-player/">Most Valuable Player: Candace Parker (LAS) 2nd MVP</a></li>
<li>Rookie of the Year: Elena Delle Donne (CHI)</li>
<li>Defensive Player of the Year: Sylvia Fowles (CHI) 2nd DPOY</li>
<li>Sixth Woman of the Year: Riquna Williams (TUL)</li>
<li>Most Improved Player: Shavonte Zellous (IND)</li>
<li>Coach of the Year: Mike Thibault (WAS) 3rd COY</li>
</ul>
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Top Players
<ul>
<li>All-WNBA First Team: Sylvia Fowles (CHI), Maya Moore (MIN), Candace Parker (LAS), Diana Taurasi (PHX), Lindsay Whalen (MIN)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-WNBA Second Team: Seimone Augustus (MIN), Tamika Catchings (IND), Tina Charles (CON), Elena Delle Donne (CHI), Angel McCoughtry (ATL)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-Rookie Team: Alex Bentley (ATL), Kelsey Bone (NYL), Elena Delle Donne (CHI), Skylar Diggins-Smith (TUL), Brittney Griner (PHX)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-Defense First Team: Tamika Catchings (IND), Sylvia Fowles (CHI), Armintie Price Herrington (ATL), Angel McCoughtry (ATL), Tanisha Wright (SEA)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>All-Defense Second Team: Rebekkah Brunson (MIN), Erika de Souza (ATL), Briann January (IND), Glory Johnson (TUL), Jia Perkins (SAS), Danielle Robinson (SAS)</li>
</ul>
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Stats Leaders
<ul>
<li>Points Per Game: Angel McCoughtry (ATL): 21.5</li>
<li>Rebounds Per Game: Sylvia Fowles (CHI): 11.5</li>
<li>Assists Per Game: Danielle Robinson (SAS): 6.7</li>
<li>Steals Per Game: Tamika Catchings (IND): 2.8</li>
<li>Blocks Per Game: Brittney Griner (PHX): 3.0</li>
</ul>
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Regular Season
Just weeks before the highly anticipated 2013 WNBA Draft, the WNBA and ESPN announced an extension of their partnership for another six years, for WNBA games to be televised on ABC, ESPN and ESPN 2 through the 2022 season. On the same day, the WNBA unveiled a new identity, which included a more modern “Logowoman” — the player silhouette within the logo — that better embodies the athleticism and diversity of current WNBA players while leveraging the distinctive orange-and-oatmeal color scheme of the league’s iconic game ball.
The new identity was on full display during the 2013 WNBA Draft, which marked the first time in the WNBA’s 17 seasons that the league’s Draft was televised live in primetime. The <a href="https://www.wnba.com/video/2013-wnba-draft-all-access/">excitement surrounding the “3 to See”</a> – Brittney Griner of Baylor, Elena Delle Donne of Delaware and Skylar Diggins of Notre Dame – set the tone for one of the top draft classes in league history. Griner went No. 1 overall to Phoenix, followed by Delle Donne being selected by Chicago and Tulsa taking Diggins at No. 3.
The “3 to See” made their WNBA debuts during a Memorial Day doubleheader on ESPN2. Griner made quite the first impression as she threw down a pair of dunks in her first WNBA game, becoming the first player ever dunk multiple times in the same game.
The addition of Griner and the return of Diana Taurasi from injury helped the Mercury make a 12-win improvement from a franchise-worst 7-27 record in 2012 to a 19-15 mark in 2013 and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. With Delle Donne playing alongside Sylvia Fowles, the  Sky made a 10-game improvement with the addition of Delle Donne as Chicago finished atop the Eastern Conference at 24-10.
For the third straight season, the Minnesota Lynx (26-8) finished atop the Western Conference but had the Los Angeles Sparks (24-10) right on their heels. The Lynx, Sparks and Sky finished with the top three records in the league and the stars of those three teams finished in the top three in MVP voting in one of the closest votes in league history.
L.A.’s Candace Parker (234 points) edged out Minnesota&#8217;s Maya Moore (218) and Chicago&#8217;s Delle Donne (189) to earn her second league MVP honor. It was the closest the top two players have been in the voting since Sheryl Swoopes edged Lauren Jackson by just two points in 2005. Parker ranked fourth in blocks (1.84 per game), sixth in scoring (17.9), seventh in rebounding (8.7) and double-doubles (eight), and 12th in assists (career-high 3.8).
In July, Washington head coach Mike Thibault passed Van Chancellor to become the head coach with the most regular season wins in league history. Thibault passed the legendary Comets coach with the Mystics’ 62-59 win over Seattle on July 6 to give Thibault his 212th regular season win in the WNBA.
The coaching record was the only to fall in 2013 as second-year guard Riquna Williams of the Tulsa Shock set the WNBA single-game scoring record with 51 points in a road win over the San Antonio Stars on Sept. 8. Williams shot 17-28 from the field, 8-14 from beyond the arc and a perfect 9-9 from the line as she racked up 51 points to surpass the previous record of 47 that was held by Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi (2006) and Seattle’s Lauren Jackson (2007).
The 2013 season marked the end of two legendary careers as Katie Smith and Tina Thompson played in their final WNBA games. Smith, a 15-year WNBA veteran and seven-time All-Star, finished her career ranked first in 3-pointers made (906); second in total points (6,452) and minutes played (15,725); fourth in free throws made (1,535) and fifth in field goals made (2,053).
The only player that Smith trailed in scoring was Thompson, who was the only player to play in each of the WNBA’s first 17 season. The nine-time All-Star finished her career as the league’s all-time leader in points (7,488), field goals made (2,630) and minutes played (16,080); second in free throws made (1,480) and total rebounds (3,070).
Five years later, <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/katie-smith-tina-thompson-announced-members-basketball-hall-fame-class-2018/">Thompson and Smith would be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in the same enshrinement class in 2018.</a>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bpSFuHgI9I">All-Star</a>
Before she won her second league MVP honor, Candace Parker was crowned MVP of the 2013 All-Star Game as she set a new All-Star Game scoring record with 23 points on 10-13 shooting to go with 11 rebounds in the West’s 102-98 victory. This was Parker’s All-Star debut in her sixth WNBA season. There was no All-Star Game in 2008 (Olympics), 2010 (World Championships) or 2012 (Olympics); she missed the first month of the 2009 season (childbirth) and was injured in 2011 after being selected as a starter.
Heading into the All-Star Game, Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne became the first rookie ever to lead all vote-getters for the event. However, she was unable to play due to a concussion; Tina Charles replaced Delle Donne on the East starting frontline.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs2013/">Playoffs</a>
<ul>
<li>West Semifinals: Minnesota Lynx def. Seattle Storm, 2-0</li>
<li>West Semifinals: Phoenix Mercury def. Los Angeles Sparks, 2-1</li>
<li>East Semifinals: Atlanta Dream def. Washington Mystics, 2-1</li>
<li>East Semifinals: Indiana Fever def. Chicago Sky, 2-0</li>
<li>West Finals: Minnesota Lynx def. Phoenix Mercury, 2-0</li>
<li>East Finals: Atlanta Dream def. Indiana Fever, 2-0</li>
<li>Finals: Minnesota Lynx def. Atlanta Dream, 3-0</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
After tasting defeat in the 2012 WNBA Finals, the Minnesota Lynx entered the 2013 WNBA Playoffs on a mission to reclaim the championship and their status as the standard bearers of the league.
From the opening tip of round one to the final buzzer of the Finals, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFeNHu466wk">the Lynx left no doubt</a>. The Lynx won four of their seven games by double figures, including three by at least 23 points, as they posted an average margin of victory of 15.4 points.
They became the fifth team in WNBA history to sweep the playoffs and just the second to do so while needing seven wins to claim the championship, which began when the Finals expanded to a best-of-five in 2005.
&nbsp;
The only teams to sweep the WNBA Playoffs:
1997: Houston, 2-0 (two single-elimination games)
2000: Houston, 6-0 (three rounds, all best-of-three)
2002: Los Angeles, 6-0 (three rounds, all best-of-three)
2010: Seattle, 7-0 (three rounds, best-of-five Finals)
2013: Minnesota, 7-0 (three rounds, best-of-five Finals)
&nbsp;
Minnesota’s second title in three years was capped off with an 86-77 win over Atlanta in Game 3 of the Finals inside Gwinnett Center in suburban Atlanta. That is the same arena where Maya Moore won three straight state high school championships. Moore had 23 points in the title-clinching game and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qLrqE9MrBQ">was named Finals MVP</a> after averaging 21 points, five rebounds and three assists during the series.

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WNBA Decade In Review: 2013

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WNBA legend Tina Thompson is set to be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday. We celebrate her incredible WNBA career with 10 key numbers to remember.
1 &#8211; Thompson was the No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural WNBA Draft in 1997 by the Houston Comets following a successful collegiate career as the University of Southern California.
2 &#8211; Thompson is currently the second-leading scorer in WNBA history with 7,488 career points. She finished her career in first place, but was passed by Diana Taurasi in 2017. Thompson is also the fourth-leading rebounder in league history with 3,070 boards during her career.
3 &#8211; She played for three franchises in her 17-year WNBA career. She played her first 12 seasons with the Houston Comets (1997-2008) before joining her hometown Los Angeles Sparks for three seasons (2009-2011) and finally closing out her career with the Seattle Storm (2012-2013).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
First ever <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBADraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBADraft</a> pick <a href="https://twitter.com/IamTinaThompson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IamTinaThompson</a> was on FIRE during her <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a> career! ?
Catch her <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoophall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hoophall</a> of Fame Induction Ceremony TONIGHT at 7 PM ET on <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBATV</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/msqER6uF7L">pic.twitter.com/msqER6uF7L</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1038102092827828224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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4 &#8211; Thompson won the first four WNBA championships with the Houston Comets (1997-2000) as she was part of the WNBA’s first big three alongside Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes. The Comets were the league’s first dynasty and set the bar for team excellence. It wasn’t until 2017 that a franchise was able to match Houston’s four titles. However, no team has come close to matching Houston’s four in a row. The 2001-02 Los Angeles Sparks are the only other team to ever win back-to-back titles in the WNBA.
8 &#8211; She was selected to eight All-WNBA Teams during her career with three First Team honors (1997, 1998, 2004) and five Second Team selections (1999–2002, 2007)
9 &#8211; Thompson was selected to nine WNBA All-Star Games (1999–2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013) and was named All-Star MVP in 2000. Her final All-Star nod in 2013 made Thompson the first and only player to be named an All-Star in three different decades.
20 &#8211; She averaged a career-best 20.0 points per game in 2004 as she tied for third in league MVP voting behind winner Lisa Leslie and runner-up Lauren Jackson.
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Ahead of tonight&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoophall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HoopHall</a> of Fame induction ceremony, check out the best from the FIRST-EVER <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBADraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBADraft</a> pick <a href="https://twitter.com/IamTinaThompson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IamTinaThompson</a>! ? 
HOF Ceremony 7 PM ET on <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBATV</a> ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAVault?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAVault</a> <a href="https://t.co/AJQn8GRsRK">pic.twitter.com/AJQn8GRsRK</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1038094551041236992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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10/15/20 &#8211; Thompson was a member of the WNBA All-Decade Team (2006), Top 15 Players of All-Time (2011) and Top 20@20 (2016) as they honored the best players in league history after 10, 15 and 20 years, respectively.
496 &#8211; She played in 496 games during the regular season (third-most all-time behind Sue Bird and DeLisha Milton-Jones) as well as 47 playoff games.
2004/2008 &#8211; Thompson is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist as she help USA Basketball win gold at the 2004 Games in Athens and 2008 Games in Beijing. She also won gold in the FIBA World Cup in 1998 and bronze in 2006.

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Hall Of Famer Tina Thompson: By The Numbers

2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Tina Thompson gives a speech after receiving her Hall of Fame jacket.

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Tina Thompson Thanks Those Who Helped Achieve Her Dream

Take a look back at 2018 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Tina Thompson&#8217;s career.

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2018 Naismith Hall Of Fame Inductee Tina Thompson

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SAN ANTONIO, TX – Today, at a press event presented by Haggar Clothing Company, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 13 members of the Class of 2018 to be honored September 6-8, 2018 during this year’s Enshrinement festivities in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Class Announcement was made in San Antonio, Texas the site of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four and televised live on ESPN2.
This year’s class includes two-time NBA Champion Ray Allen, four-time NBA All-Star Maurice Cheeks, the only coach in NCAA history to be named Conference Coach of the Year in four different conferences Charles “Lefty” Driesell, seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, 10-time NBA All-Star Jason Kidd, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, three-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Smith and four-time WNBA Champion Tina Thompson.
Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected five directly elected members. They include Charlie Scott from the Veterans Committee, Dino Radja from the International Committee, Ora Mae Washington from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, and Rod Thorn and Rick Welts from the Contributor Committee.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to honor the best in the game, both men and women at all levels and throughout the world,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “The Class of 2018 is a remarkable bunch with accolades spanning decades and continents. As players, coaches, and executives, we thank them for their contributions to the game and look forward to honoring them during Enshrinement this fall.”
To be elected, North American and Women’s Committee finalists must receive 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Direct elect committees are incorporated into the election process to maintain a strong focus on keeping history on the forefront of the voting procedures and to preserve a balance between two eras of basketball.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 is a unique blend of modern-day All-Stars and those who paved the way decades ago,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board. “We are very pleased to honor each of these well-deserving electees in the birthplace of basketball this September.”
The Class of 2018 will be enshrined on Friday, September 7 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ticket packages to the 2018 Enshrinement Ceremony, presented by NIKE and all Enshrinement events are on sale now and available online at www.hoophall.com or by calling the Basketball Hall of Fame at (413) 231-5513.  Premium Sponsors of Enshrinement 2018 include Haggar Clothing Company, Zales, Nike, Mohegan Sun and Panini.
THE NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2018:
Women’s Committee:
KATIE SMITH [Player] &#8211; Smith is a WNBA Finals MVP (2008) and two-time WNBA Champion with the Detroit Shock (2006, 2008). A native of Ohio, Smith played for the Ohio State University (1992-1996) where she was named Big Ten Player of the Year (1996). In 2001, she was the first female Buckeye athlete to have her number retired. With the ABL’s Columbus Quest, Smith was a two-time ABL All-Star (1997, 1998) and two-time ABL Champion (1997, 1998). In the WNBA, Smith was selected as an All-Star seven times (2000-2003, 2005, 2006, 2009), and was named to the WNBA’s Top 20 at 20 in 2016. Smith is the all-time leading scorer in women&#8217;s professional basketball, having scored over 7,000 points in both her ABL and WNBA career. As a member of USA Basketball, Smith earned FIBA World Championship gold in 1998 and 2002, and Olympic gold in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Smith is currently the head coach of the New York Liberty.
TINA THOMPSON [Player] &#8211; Thompson is a four-time WNBA Champion with the Houston Comets (1997- 2000) and a nine-time WNBA All-Star (1999-2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013). She was the first player selected in 1997 WNBA draft and earned All-WNBA First Team honors three times (1997, 1998, 2004). In commemoration of the league’s 20-year history in 2016, Thompson was named to the list of Top 20 players. A native of Los Angeles, she played for University of Southern California (1993-1997) and attended high school and college with Class of 2015 Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie. On the International stage, Thompson won a Russian National League Championship and EuroLeague Championship in 2007, as well as a Romanian National League Championship in 2010. As a member of USA Basketball, she earned Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008.

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Katie Smith, Tina Thompson Announced as Members of Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018

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Tina Thompson

Tina Thompson (born February 10, 1975) is a forward for the Seattle Storm. She played college basketball at USC.