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2011WNBA playoffs

Dates	September 15 – October 7, 2011
Final positions
Champions	Minnesota Lynx (Finals Champion)
East champion	Atlanta Dream (Coach:Marynell Meadors)
West champion	Minnesota Lynx (Coach:Cheryl Reeve)
Tournament statistics
Attendance	9,232 per game
← 2010 2012 →

The2011 WNBA playoffs was thepostseason for theWomen's National Basketball Association's2011 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffsseeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in abest-of-three format, and the final in abest-of-five format. Thefinals were won by theMinnesota Lynx who defeated the defendingEastern Conference ChampionAtlanta Dream.

The Minnesota Lynx was the top overall seed in the tournament, having finished 27-7 in the regular season, the best record in franchise history. The team was appearing in its first playoffs since2004. Prior to the 2011 playoffs, the Lynx had not won a playoff series in franchise history. This changed in the 2011 playoffs, as the Lynx won their first two playoff series to advance to the WNBA Finals.

The Atlanta Dream had reached the2010 WNBA Finals, losing in three games to theSeattle Storm. Despite a slow start to the 2011 season, the Dream rebounded to finish with a 20-14 record, good for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Dream upset two higher-seeded teams to reach the WNBA finals for the second straight year.

After earning the third seed in the West, thePhoenix Mercury reached their third straight conference finals after upsetting the defending WNBA ChampionSeattle Storm in the opening round. They ultimately lost to Minnesota in the conference final.

TheIndiana Fever was the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and dispatched theNew York Liberty in the opening round. They ultimately fell short to Atlanta in the conference final afterWNBA MVPTamika Catchings tore herplantar fascia in game two of the series, limiting her in the decisive game.

TheSeattle Storm earned the West's second seed, and were attempting to repeat as WNBA champions. They took a 1-0 lead in the conference semifinals, but then dropped the next two, losing to Phoenix.

TheConnecticut Sun earned the second seed in the East, but were swept in the opening round by the Dream, the eventual East champs.

TheSan Antonio Silver Stars were the lowest overall seed in the West and the tournament, and drew the unenviable task of playing the Minnesota Lynx. Despite the apparent mismatch, the Silver Stars lost by only one point in game one of the opening round, and won game two. They could not keep up with the Lynx in game three, however, and lost in the opening round.

• The top 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.
  • All 4 teams are seeded by basis of their standings.
• The series for rounds one and two are in a best-of-three format with Games 1 and 3 on the home court of the team with the higher seed. In previous years, the higher seed would play the first game on the road, then games 2 and (if needed) 3 at home.
• The series for theWNBA Finals is in a best-of-five format with Games 1, 2 and 5 on the home court of the team with the higher seed.

1. Better record in head-to-head games.
2. Better winning percentage within own conference.
3. Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season.
4. Better point differential in games head-to-head.
5. Coin toss.

1. Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
2. Better winning percentage against teams within conference (for first two rounds of playoffs) or better record against teams in the opposite conference (for Finals).
3. Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
4. Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
5. Coin toss.

Regular-season series

The teams were tied 2–2 in the regular-season series:

Regular-season series

The teams were tied 2–2 in the regular-season series:

Regular-season series

TheAtlanta Dream won 4–0 in the regular season series:

Regular-season series

TheMinnesota Lynx won 4–0 in the regular season series:

Regular-season series

TheSeattle Storm won 3–1 in the regular-season series:

Regular-season series

TheMinnesota Lynx won 3–2 in the regular season series:

Regular-season series

TheMinnesota Lynx won the season series 2-0:

• Official Site
• 2011 WNBA Playoffs at ESPN

• 2011 WNBA season
• WNBA playoffs

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