NEW YORK (AP) The WNBA is in its second year of a new playoff format in which the top eight teams regardless of conference qualifies for the postseason, diminishing the value of the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Coaches, however, are still motivated to win their respective conferences.
”Sure it means something still,” Washington coach Mike Thibault said. ”We all play a balanced schedule and especially for teams that may not have much of a history with success, coming in first in your conference is a huge confidence builder.”
The Mystics lost a ”showdown” with Connecticut for first in the east on Saturday, blowing a 22-point lead in the third quarter.