:2012 WNBA playoffs
{{Short description|Women's professional basketball championship}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox basketball tournament season
| year = 2012
| title = WNBA Playoffs
| image = 250px
| caption =
| dates = September 27 – October, 2012
| winners = Indiana Fever (Finals Champion)
| attendance =
| continental_cup_title = East champion
| continental_cup_qualifiers = Indiana Fever (Coach: Lin Dunn)
| continental_cup_title1 = West champion
| continental_cup_qualifiers1 = Minnesota Lynx (Coach: Cheryl Reeve)
| prev_season = 2011
| next_season = 2013
}}
The 2012 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2012 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a best-of-five format.
The Minnesota Lynx qualified as the overall top seed, and the Los Angeles Sparks, San Antonio Silver Stars, and Seattle Storm also qualified in the West. The Connecticut Sun were the top seed in the East, joined by the Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, and New York Liberty.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/games/20120819/TULMIN/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore |title=Lynx beat Shock 83–59, clinch playoff berth |access-date=2012-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820162308/http://www.wnba.com/games/20120819/TULMIN/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore |archive-date=2012-08-20 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.wnba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html WNBA Standings] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113135528/http://www.wnba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html |date=November 13, 2006 }}
Minnesota won the Western Conference championship, and Indiana won the Eastern Conference championship. The Fever won the 2012 WNBA Finals, winning three games to the Lynx's one.
Tiebreak procedures
=Two-team tie=
- Better record in head-to-head games.
- Better winning percentage within own conference.
- Better winning percentage against all teams with .500 or better record at the end of the season.
- Better point differential in games head-to-head.
- Coin toss.
=Three or more-team tie=
- Better winning percentage among all head-to-head games involving tied teams.
- Better winning percentage against teams within conference (for first two rounds of playoffs) or better record against teams in the opposite conference (for Finals).
- Better winning percentage against all teams with a .500 or better record at the end of the season.
- Better point differential in games involving tied teams.
- Coin toss.
Playoff qualifying
=Eastern Conference=
| class=wikitable style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" width=75% |
| rowspan=2 width=20|Seed
!rowspan=2 width=150|Team !rowspan=2 width=20|W !rowspan=2 width=20|L !rowspan=2 width=50|Tiebreaker !colspan=4 width=200|Clinched |
|---|
| width=100|Playoff berth
! width=100|Conference homecourt |
| 1
| 25 | 9 | – | August 28 | September 17 |
| 2
| 22 | 12 | – | August 31 | – |
| 3
| 19 | 15 | – | September 14 | – |
| 4
| 15 | 19 | – | September 18 | – |
=Western Conference=
| class=wikitable style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" width=75% |
| rowspan=2 width=20|Seed
!rowspan=2 width=150|Team !rowspan=2 width=20|W !rowspan=2 width=20|L !rowspan=2 width=50|Tiebreaker !colspan=4 width=200|Clinched |
|---|
| width=100|Playoff berth
! width=100|League homecourt |
| 1
| 27 | 7 | – | August 19 | September 15 |
| 2
| 24 | 10 | – | August 23 | – |
| 3
| 21 | 13 | – | August 25 | – |
| 4
| 16 | 18 | – | September 9 | – |
Bracket
{{See also|2012 WNBA Finals}}
| RD1=Conference Semi-Finals
Best-of-3
| RD2=Conference Finals
Best-of-3
| RD3=WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
| RD1-group1=Eastern Conference
| RD1-group2=Western Conference
| RD1-seed1=E1
| RD1-team1=Connecticut
| RD1-score1=2
| RD1-seed2=E4
| RD1-team2=New York
| RD1-score2=0
| RD1-seed3=E2
| RD1-team3=Indiana
| RD1-score3=2
| RD1-seed4=E3
| RD1-team4=Atlanta
| RD1-score4=1
| RD1-seed5=W1
| RD1-team5=Minnesota
| RD1-score5=2
| RD1-seed6=W4
| RD1-team6=Seattle
| RD1-score6=1
| RD1-seed7=W2
| RD1-team7=Los Angeles
| RD1-score7=2
| RD1-seed8=W3
| RD1-team8=San Antonio
| RD1-score8=0
| RD2-seed1=E1
| RD2-team1=Connecticut
| RD2-score1=1
| RD2-seed2=E2
| RD2-team2=Indiana
| RD2-score2=2
| RD2-seed3=W1
| RD2-team3=Minnesota
| RD2-score3=2
| RD2-seed4=W2
| RD2-team4=Los Angeles
| RD2-score4=0
| RD3-seed1=E2
| RD3-team1=Indiana
| RD3-score1=3
| RD3-seed2= W1
| RD3-team2= Minnesota
| RD3-score2=1
}}
Eastern Conference
=Conference semifinals=
==(1) Connecticut Sun vs. (4) New York Liberty==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = September 27
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120927/NYLCON/gameinfo.html Game 1]
| team1 = New York Liberty
| score1 = 60
| score2 = 65
| team2 = Connecticut Sun
| Q1 = 13–23 | Q2 = 21–18 | Q3 = 11–8 | Q4 = 15–16
| points1 = Pondexter (14)
| points2 = Charles (17)
| rebounds1 = Pierson (9)
| rebounds2 = Mims (7)
| assist1 = Pondexter (6)
| assist2 = Hightower, Lawson (5)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
| attendance = 5,520
| referee = #55 Eric Brewton, #24 Tony Dawkins, #34 Maj Forsberg
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = September 29
| time = 7:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120929/CONNYL/gameinfo.html Game 2]
| team1 = Connecticut Sun
| score1 = 75
| score2 = 62
| team2 = New York Liberty
| Q1 = 11–22 | Q2 = 16–11 | Q3 = 23–19 | Q4 = 25–10
| points1 = Charles (25)
| points2 = Pondexter (20)
| rebounds1 = Charles (14)
| rebounds2 = Vaughn (9)
| assist1 = Lawson (6)
| assist2 = Pierson (5)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
| attendance = 7,854
| referee = #44 Felicia Grinter, #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #45 Tom Mauer
| TV = NBATV
| series = Connecticut won the series, 2–0
}}
;Regular-season series
Connecticut won the regular-season series 4–1:
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = May 19, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120519/CONNYL/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Connecticut Sun |score1=78
| team2 = New York Liberty |score2=73
| place = Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = May 20, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120520/NYLCON/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = New York Liberty |score1=77
| team2 = Connecticut Sun |score2=92
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 15, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120615/NYLCON/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = New York Liberty | score1=55
| team2 = Connecticut Sun |score2=97
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = August 16, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120816/CONNYL/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Connecticut Sun |score1=66
| team2 = New York Liberty |score2=79
| place = Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = August 18, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120818/NYLCON/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = New York Liberty |score1=74
| team2 = Connecticut Sun |score2=85
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
}}
==(2) Indiana Fever vs. (3) Atlanta Dream==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = September 28
| time = 7:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120928/ATLIND/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp1041200111#nbaGIboxscore Game 1]
| team1 = Atlanta Dream
| score1 = 75
| score2 = 66
| team2 = Indiana Fever
| Q1 = 25–15 | Q2 = 16–17 | Q3 = 18–14 | Q4 = 16–20
| points1 = Harding (23)
| points2 = Douglas (13)
| rebounds1 = Lyttle, McCoughtry (9)
| rebounds2 = Catchings (11)
| assist1 = Harding (7)
| assist2 = Catchings, January (3)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
| attendance = 7,776
| referee = #38 Lamont Simpson, #9 Denise Brooks, #21 Byron Jarrett
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = September 30
| time = 4:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120930/INDATL/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Game 2]
| team1 = Indiana Fever
| score1 = 103
| score2 = 88
| team2 = Atlanta Dream
| Q1 = 22–24 | Q2 = 25–21 | Q3 = 31–20 | Q4 = 25–23
| points1 = Catchings (25)
| points2 = McCoughtry (22)
| rebounds1 = Catchings (13)
| rebounds2 = de Souza (9)
| assist1 = January (7)
| assist2 = Harding (6)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Philips Arena, Atlanta
| attendance = 6,890
| referee = #4 Sue Blauch, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #49 Kevin Sparrock
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = October 2
| time = 7:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121002/ATLIND/gameinfo.html Game 3]
| team1 = Atlanta Dream
| score1 = 64
| score2 = 75
| team2 = Indiana Fever
| Q1 = 17–25 | Q2 = 22–14 | Q3 = 12–15 | Q4 = 13–21
| points1 = Harding (17)
| points2 = Douglas (24)
| rebounds1 = de Souza, Harding (7)
| rebounds2 = Larkins (20)
| assist1 = Price (4)
| assist2 = January (5)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
| attendance = 6,840
| referee = #39 Michael Price, #43 Brenda Pantoja, #45 Tom Mauer
| TV = NBATV
| series = Indiana won the series, 2–1
}}
;Regular-season series
Indiana won the regular season series 3–2:
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = May 19, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120519/ATLIND/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Atlanta Dream |score1=84
| team2 = Indiana Fever |score2=92
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = May 27, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120527/INDATL/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever |score1=78
| team2 = Atlanta Dream |score2=62
| place = Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 26, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120818/ATLIND/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever |score1=58
| team2 = Atlanta Dream |score2=70
| place = Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = August 18, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120519/ATLIND/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Atlanta Dream |score1=72
| team2 = Indiana Fever |score2=86
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = September 6, 2011
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20110906/CONATL/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever |score1=64
| team2 = Atlanta Dream |score2=71
| place = Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
}}
=Conference finals=
==(1) Connecticut Sun vs. (2) Indiana Fever==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = October 5
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121005/INDCON/gameinfo.html Game 1]
| team1 = Indiana Fever
| score1 = 64
| score2 =76
| team2 = Connecticut Sun
| Q1 = 22–14 | Q2 = 8–16 | Q3 = 13–22 | Q4 = 21–24
| points1 = Douglas (27)
| points2 = Charles (18)
| rebounds1 = Catchings (9)
| rebounds2 = Charles (15)
| assist1 = Catchings (5)
| assist2 = Montgomery (7)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
| attendance = 7,599
| referee = #4 Sue Blauch, #38 Lamont Simpson, #7 Clarke Stevens
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = October 8
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121008/CONIND/gameinfo.html Game 2]
| team1 = Connecticut Sun
| score1 = 76
| score2 = 78
| team2 = Indiana Fever
| Q1 = 24–20 | Q2 = 19–26 | Q3 = 14–10 | Q4 =19–22
| points1 = Lawson (18)
| points2 = Douglas (24)
| rebounds1 = Jones (10)
| rebounds2 = Larkins (11)
| assist1 = Jones, Montgomery (4)
| assist2 = Douglas, January (2)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
| attendance = 9,225
| referee = #39 Michael Price, #18 Kurt Walker, #43 Brenda Pantoja
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = October 11
| time = 8:30pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121011/INDCON/gameinfo.html Game 3]
| team1 = Indiana Fever
| score1 = 87
| score2 = 71
| team2 = Connecticut Sun
| Q1 = 18–10 | Q2 = 25–14 | Q3 = 25–24 | Q4 = 19–23
| points1 = Catchings (22)
| points2 = Charles (18)
| rebounds1 = Catchings (13)
| rebounds2 = Charles (10)
| assist1 = Catchings, January (4)
| assist2 = Lawson (4)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
| attendance = 6,516
| referee = #55 Eric Brewton, #9 Denise Brooks, #42 Roy Gulbeyan
| TV = ESPN2
| series = Indiana won the series, 2–1
}}
;Regular-season series
The Connecticut Sun won 3–1 in the regular season series:
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 8, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120608/CONIND/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Connecticut Sun |score1=89
| team2 = Indiana Fever |score2=81
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 19, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120619/INDCON/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever |score1=85
| team2 = Connecticut Sun |score2=88
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 21, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120621/CONIND/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Connecticut Sun |score1=61
| team2 = Indiana Fever |score2=95
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = August 19, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120919/INDCON/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever |score1=67
| team2 = Connecticut Sun |score2=73
| place = Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
}}
Western Conference
=Conference semifinals=
==(2) Los Angeles Sparks vs. (3) San Antonio Silver Stars==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = September 27
| time = 10:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120927/SANLAS/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp1041200131#nbaGIboxscore Game 1*]
| team1 = San Antonio Silver Stars
| score1 = 86
| score2 = 93
| team2 = Los Angeles Sparks
| Q1 = 25–24 | Q2 = 19–16 | Q3 = 23–25 | Q4 = 19–28
| points1 = Hammon (19)
| points2 = Toliver (29)
| rebounds1 = Appel (7)
| rebounds2 = Parker (9)
| assist1 = Hammon (6)
| assist2 = Beard (3)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA
| attendance = 5,013
| referee = #39 Michael Price, #53 Jeff Smith, #13 Cameron Inouye
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = September 29
| time = 3:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120929/LASSAN/gameinfo.html Game 2]
| team1 = Los Angeles Sparks
| score1 = 101
| score2 = 94
| team2 = San Antonio Silver Stars
| Q1 = 26–16 | Q2 = 25–24 | Q3 = 31–26 | Q4 = 19–28
| points1 = Parker (32)
| points2 = Young (28)
| rebounds1 = Parker (9)
| rebounds2 = Adams (8)
| assist1 = Parker (6)
| assist2 = Robinson (5)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX
| attendance = 5,293
| referee = #31 Amy Bonner, #35 Billy Smith, #55 Eric Brewton
| TV = NBATV
| series = Los Angeles won the series, 2–0
}}
;Regular-season series
San Antonio won the regular-season series 3–1:
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 16, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20110731/MINSAN/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Los Angeles Sparks |score1=85
| team2 = San Antonio Silver Stars |score2=98
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 24, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120624/SANLAS/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = San Antonio Silver Stars |score1=91
| team2 = Los Angeles Sparks |score2=71
| place = Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 28, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120628/LASSAN/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Los Angeles Sparks |score1=80
| team2 = San Antonio Silver Stars |score2=94
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = August 23, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120823/SANLAS/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = San Antonio Silver Stars |score1=77
| team2 = Los Angeles Sparks |score2=101
| place = Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
}}
==(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (4) Seattle Storm==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = September 28
| time = 9:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120928/SEAMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp1041200121#nbaGIboxscore Game 1]
| team1 = Seattle Storm
| score1 = 70
| score2 = 78
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx
| Q1 = 15–18 | Q2 = 12–15 | Q3 = 24–27 | Q4 = 19–18
| points1 = Stricklen (13)
| points2 = Whalen (20)
| rebounds1 = Stricklen, Thompson (7)
| rebounds2 = Brunson (11)
| assist1 = Wright (7)
| assist2 = Whalen (6)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
| attendance = 9,213
| referee = #4 Sue Blauch, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #49 Kevin Sparrock
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = September 30
| time = 9:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120930/MINSEA/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Game 2]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx
| score1 = 79
| score2 = 86
| overtime= 2OT
| team2 = Seattle Storm
| Q1 = 27–18 | Q2 = 10–18 | Q3 = 22–17 | Q4 = 11–17 | OT = 9–16
| points1 = Brunson (22)
| points2 = Bird (22)
| rebounds1 = Brunson (15)
| rebounds2 = Jackson (14)
| assist1 = Whalen (5)
| assist2 = Wright (7)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = KeyArena, Seattle, WA
| attendance = 8,479
| referee = #7 Clarke Stevens, #39 Michael Price, #43 Brenda Pantoja
| TV = ESPN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = October 2
| time = 9:00 PM ET
| report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20130523220328/http://www.wnba.com/games/20121002/SEAMIN/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Game 3]
| team1 = Seattle Storm
| score1 = 72
| score2 = 73
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx
| Q1 = 14–22 | Q2 = 21–14 | Q3 = 17–20 | Q4 = 20–17
| points1 = Bird (19)
| points2 = Augustus (21)
| rebounds1 = Jackson (6)
| rebounds2 = Brunson (9)
| assist1 = Bird (11)
| assist2 = McWilliams-Franklin (4)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
| attendance = 8,023
| referee = #55 Eric Brewton, #9 Denise Brooks, #38 Lamont Simpson
| TV = ESPN2
| series = Minnesota won the series, 2–1
}}
;Regular-season series
Minnesota won the regular-season series 3–1:
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = May 27, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120527/SEAMIN/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Seattle Storm |score1=71
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx |score2=84
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = June 6, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120606/SEAMIN/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Seattle Storm |score1=55
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx |score2=79
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = August 16, 2011
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20110816/SEAPHO/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx |score1=62
| team2 = Seattle Storm |score2=55
| place = KeyArena, Seattle, WA
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = September 9, 2011
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20110909/PHOSEA/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx |score1=86
| team2 = Seattle Storm |score2=73
| place = KeyArena, Seattle, WA
}}
=Conference finals=
==(1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (2) Los Angeles Sparks==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = October 4
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121004/LASMIN/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore Game 1]
| team1 = Los Angeles Sparks
| score1 = 77
| score2 = 94
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx
| Q1 = 15–16 | Q2 = 16–32 | Q3 = 22–18 | Q4 = 24–28
| points1 = Parker (25)
| points2 = Moore (20)
| rebounds1 = Parker (11)
| rebounds2 = Brunson (10)
| assist1 = Parker (4)
| assist2 = Augustus (7)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
| attendance = 8,513
| referee = #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #44 Felicia Grinter
| TV = ESPN2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = October 7
| time = 3:30pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121007/MINLAS/gameinfo.html Game 2]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx
| score1 = 80
| score2 = 79
| team2 = Los Angeles Sparks
| Q1 = 25–17 | Q2 = 15–22 | Q3 = 17–26 | Q4 = 23–14
| points1 = Augustus (21)
| points2 = Parker (33)
| rebounds1 = Brunson (10)
| rebounds2 = Parker (15)
| assist1 = McWilliams-Franklin, Whalen (5)
| assist2 = Beard (7)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
| attendance = 10,791
| referee = #55 Eric Brewton, #45 Tom Mauer, #9 Denise Brooks
| TV = ABC
| series = Minnesota won the series, 2–0
}}
;Regular-season series
The regular season series was tied 2–2:
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = May 24, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120524/LASMIN/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Los Angeles Sparks |score1=84
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx |score2=92
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = July 5, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120705/MINLAS/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx |score1=90
| team2 = Los Angeles Sparks |score2=96
| place = Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = August 5, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120904/LASMIN/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Los Angeles Sparks |score1=77
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx |score2=88
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fffa
| date = September 20, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120920/MINLAS/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx |score1=76
| team2 = Los Angeles Sparks |score2=92
| place = Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
}}
WNBA Finals
=Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever=
{{main|2012 WNBA Finals}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = October 14
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121014/INDMIN/gameinfo.html Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever
| score1 = 76
| score2 = 70
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx
| Q1 = 25–20 | Q2 = 18–20 | Q3 = 13–18 | Q4 = 20–12
| points1 = Catchings (20)
| points2 = Augustus (23)
| rebounds1 = Larkins (15)
| rebounds2 = Brunson, Moore (10)
| assist1 = January (6)
| assist2 = Whalen (4)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
| attendance = 14,322
| referee = #4 Sue Blauch, #18 Kurt Walker, #45 Tom Mauer
| TV = ESPN2
| series = Indiana lead series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = October 17
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121017/INDMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp1041200302#nbaGIboxscore Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever
| score1 = 71
| score2 = 83
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx
| Q1 = 18–11 | Q2 = 15–20| Q3 = 22–29 | Q4 = 16–23
| points1 = Catchings (27)
| points2 = Augustus (27)
| rebounds1 = Catchings (8)
| rebounds2 = Brunson (7)
| assist1 = Phillips (4)
| assist2 = McWilliams-Franklin, Moore, Whalen (4)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
| attendance = 13,478
| referee =#39 Michael Price, #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #43 Brenda Pantoja
| TV = ESPN
| series = Series tied 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = October 19
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121019/MININD/gameinfo.html Report]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx
| score1= 59
| score2 = 76
| team2 = Indiana Fever
| Q1 = 16–21 | Q2 = 11–24 | Q3 = 11–25 | Q4 = 21–6
| points1 = Brunson (12)
| points2 = Zellous (30)
| rebounds1 = Brunson (9)
| rebounds2 = Larkins (12)
| assist1 = Wiggins (3)
| assist2 = Davenport (4)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
| attendance = 18,165
| referee = #9 Denise Brooks, #38 Lamont Simpson, #55 Eric Brewton
| TV = ESPN2
| series = Indiana lead series, 2–1
}}{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = October 21
| time = 8:00pm ET
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20121021/MININD/gameinfo.html Report]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx
| score1= 78
| score2 = 87
| team2 = Indiana Fever
| Q1 = 18–25 | Q2 = 24–22 | Q3 = 16–18 | Q4 = 20–24
| points1 = Whalen (24)
| points2 = Catchings (28)
| rebounds1 = Augustus (7)
| rebounds2 = Larkins (13)
| assist1 = Whalen (8)
| assist2 = Catchings (8)
| otherstat1 =
| otherstat2 =
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
| attendance = 15,213
| referee = #4 Sue Blauch, #39 Michael Price, #42 Roy Gulbeyan
| TV = ESPN2
| series = Indiana win series, 3–1
}}
;Regular-season series
The Minnesota Lynx won the season series 2–0:
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = September 14, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120914/MININD/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Minnesota Lynx |score1=66
| team2 = Indiana Fever |score2=64
| place = Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = September 17, 2012
| report = [http://www.wnba.com/games/20120917/INDMIN/boxscore.html Report]
| team1 = Indiana Fever |score1=79
| team2 = Minnesota Lynx |score2=86
| place = Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
}}