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2002 WNBA Finals

The 2002 WNBA Finals was the championship series of the 2002 WNBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Los Angeles Sparks, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, defeated the New York Liberty, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, two games to none in a best-of-three series. This was Los Angeles' second title.

As of 2020, this is the last time a WNBA franchise has won back to back championships. Coincidentally 2 months before the finals, the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA would win their 14th title by sweeping a New York Metro team, the New Jersey Nets 4–0.

The Liberty made their fourth appearance in the Finals in franchise history. The Sparks made their second straight Finals appearance.

The Sparks went into the series as defending champions. 2002 marked their second WNBA championship. (The Houston Comets hold the record with four championships won.)

The Sparks had a 25–7 record (.781), good enough to receive home-court advantage over the Liberty (18–14).

Road to the finals[edit]

Regular season series[edit]

The teams had split the regular season series:

Game summaries[edit]

All times listed below are Eastern Daylight Time.

Game 1[edit]

Game 2[edit]

Nikki Teasley hit a series-winning three pointer with 2.1 seconds left. Teresa Weatherspoon tried to repeat history by trying to make a halfcourt heave at the buzzer, but the shot was blocked, and the Sparks won their second consecutive title.

Awards[edit]

• 2002 WNBA Champion: Los Angeles Sparks
• Finals MVP: Lisa Leslie

Rosters[edit]

2002 Los Angeles Sparks Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight From C 41 Askamp, Marlies 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Germany F 00 Byears, Latasha 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 206 lb (93 kg) DePaul F 14 DeSouza, Erika 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Brazil G 21 Dixon, Tamecka 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 148 lb (67 kg) Kansas F 17 Grgin-Fonseca, Vedrana 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Croatia C 9 Leslie, Lisa 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) USC F 4 Mabika, Mwadi 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Democratic Republic of the Congo G 10 McCrimmon, Nicky 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 125 lb (57 kg) USC F 8 Milton, Delisha 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 172 lb (78 kg) Florida G 42 Teasley, Nikki 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) North Carolina G 13 Witherspoon, Sophia 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 145 lb (66 kg) Florida	Head coach Michael Cooper (New Mexico) Assistant coaches Glenn McDonald Karleen Thompson Legend (C) Team captain (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended Injured

2002 New York Liberty Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight From C 42 Cooper, Camille 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 176 lb (80 kg) Purdue F 31 Frohlich, Linda 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 183 lb (83 kg) University of Nevada, Las Vegas G 25 Hammon, Becky 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 136 lb (62 kg) Colorado State G 7 Hlede, Korie 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Duquesne G 55 Johnson, Vickie 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Louisiana Tech C 50 Ngoyisa, Bernadette 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Democratic Republic of the Congo F 24 Phillips, Tari 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) University of Central Florida F 3 Robinson, Crystal 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Southeastern Oklahoma State University G 11 Weatherspoon, Teresa 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 161 lb (73 kg) Louisiana Tech F 44 Whitmore, Tamika 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Memphis F 23 Wicks, Sue 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 174 lb (79 kg) Rutgers	Head coach Richie Adubato (William Paterson) Assistant coaches Pat Coyle (Rutgers) Jeff House Legend (C) Team captain (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended Injured