Welcome to the Best Team Ever bracket series, where the greatest of all time have their most dominant seasons stacked up against each other until we ultimately crown a champion in each sport. The tournament will be decided by fan vote, so be sure to submit yours below! The results from the first round are here. The second round of polling closes at noon ET on Thursday, April 2.
[Brackets: NFL | NBA | MLB | NCAAF | NCAAB | NCAAW | WNBA | Soccer | NHL | Nascar]
Best Team Ever bracket series: WNBA edition, round 2 (Yahoo Sports illustration)
No. 1 Houston Comets (27-5)
OffRtg: 109.4 | DefRtg: 94.0 | Net: 18.4
The 2000 Comets, who cemented their dynasty status with a fourth title in four years, moved on easily with 87 percent of the vote over the 2005 Connecticut Sun in the 1-16 matchup. Sheryl Swoopes (20.7 PPG, 50.6 FG%) was named MVP and Defensive POY while 37-year-old Cynthia Cooper earned Finals MVP for a fourth time and the ESPY for best WNBA player. Tina Thompson (16.9 PPG, 41.7 3FT%) completed the first and continuously most celebrated big three in WNBA history.
The team scored 1.091 points per possession, which was the most efficient offense in WNBA history until the 2019 Washington Mystics. Their plus-12.8 point differential is best in league history and their nine 20-point wins rank second, again behind the 19 Mystics.
No. 9 Los Angeles Sparks (26-8)
OffRtg: 107.8 | DefRtg: 98.6 | Net: 9.2
The 2016 champion Sparks got by the 2012 Minnesota Lynx in the 8-9 matchup. That years Lynx squad had the fourth-best offensive rating in league history. Nneka Ogwumike was named league MVP, averaging 19.7 points on 66.5 percent shooting, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Candace Parker, a two-time MVP (08 13), averaged 19.3 points (49.6 FG%), 8.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the playoffs. Kristi Toliver, who signed a contract with the Sparks this offseason after the Mystics championship, had one of her best seasons averaging 13.2 points.
The overall teams effective field goal percentage (53.3) ranks third all-time.
No. 5 Seattle Storm (26-8)
OffRtg: 111.1 | DefRtg: 101.5 | Net: 9.6
League MVP Breanna Stewart, veteran Sue Bird
Rank top-10 in effective FG percentage
The 2018 Storm edged the 2013 Minnesota Lynx, which won their second championship, with 55 percent of the vote. Breanna Stewart had one of the most decorated 12 months in basketball history that included the 2018 WNBA championship alongside veteran Sue Bird. Their offensive rating ranks seventh and the teams effective field goal percentage (53.4) ranks second in league history. They also posted a top-10 assist-to-turnover ratio (1.58).
Stewart averaged 24.6 points in the playoffs and was joined in double-figures by Natasha Howard and Jewell Loyd. They swept the Mystics in the finals after a tough Game 5 win against the Mercurys big three of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner.
No. 4 Phoenix Mercury (29-5)
OffRtg: 106.4 | DefRtg: 94.1 | Net: 12.3
The 2014 Mercury won 71 percent of the vote against the 2016 Detroit Shock, which came back to win its second consecutive WNBA championship. Mercury Taurasi (16.2 PPG), Griner (15.6 PPG) and Bonner (10.4 PPG) led Phoenix to the 14 title. Griner, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft, was named the Defensive Player of the Year for her league-leading 153 blocks and the Mercury swept the Chicago Sky in the finals even though she missed Game 3.
Griner ranks third in career blocks (636) and Taurasi continues to add to her career lead in points (8,575). Their 2014 team lost only one game in the postseason (to the reigning champion Lynx) and lost only one of five games in the regular season by more than eight points.
Story continues
No. 15: Houston Comets (26-6)
OffRtg: 105.8 | DefRtg: 92.5 | Net: 13.3
The 1999 Houston Comets pulled the upset in a tough first-round matchup for the 2019 Washington Mystics, which hold a slew of WNBA records. The Comets advanced with 54 percent of the vote.
The Comets also had a season for the ages behind Cooper, Swoopes and Thompson. It was the third of their four championships and they beat opponents by an average of 9.3 points, ranking eighth. The 2000 and 1998 versions rank first and second, respectively.
No. 7 Los Angeles Sparks (28-4)
OffRtg: 106.7 | DefRtg: 94.7 | Net: 12.0
The 2001 Sparks advanced past the 2010 Storm, who had three-time MVP Lauren Jackson, with 67 percent of the vote in the first round.
Lisa Leslie won her first of three MVPs (2004, 06) averaging 19.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks. The Sparks lost four regular season games, three of which came in a streak in June and included two four-point losses. In the penultimate game, the margin was two. They dropped only one game in the playoffs, which were a best-of-three series then.
No. 6 Houston Comets (29-3)
OffRtg: 104.1 | DefRtg: 86.7 | Net: 17.4
Best win percentage in WNBA history (.900)
Rank second in point differential, net rating
The 1998 Houston Comets, arguably the second-best championship version behind the 2000 team, won 77 percent of the vote in the first round. They defeated the 2009 Mercury squad that featured regular-season and finals MVP Taurasi.
The Comets trail only the 2000 squad in point differential (12.8) and net rating (17.4), proving theyre one of the best all-around teams in league history. The team of course included the three Naismith Hall of Fame inductees of Cooper (22.7 PPG, 4.4 APG in 1998), Swoopes (15.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG)and Thompson (12.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG).
No. 3 Minnesota Lynx (27-7)
OffRtg: 108.5 | DefRtg: 94.4 | Net: 14.1
The 2017 Minnesota team is the only Lynx squad to make it through to the next round, getting 81 percent of the vote over the 2016 Chicago Sky. It was the last Lynx squad to win a championship, the final pillar in the dynasty that put them equal to the Comets with most WNBA titles (four).
The Lynx were another all-around quality squad, ranking sixth in offense and fourth in net rating differential. Sylvia Fowles was named the 2017 league MVP and both she and 14 MVP Maya Moore were named first-team All-WNBA selections. Rebekka Brunson was named to the second all-defensive team and Lindsey Whalen led the playoff offense, dishing out 4.9 assists per game.
Excerpt from:
Best Teams Ever bracket: WNBA edition, Round 2 - Yahoo Sports
- Comet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Comets - The Nine Planets - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Comets - Astronomy For Kids - KidsAstronomy.com - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Views of the Solar System: Comets - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Comets (extra footage) - Video - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Solar flare update. 6 comets! Nov 28th ISON perihelion! - Video - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Comets game 2end goal - Video - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Missouri Comets vs. Milwaukee Wave - Video - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Football: Comets Advance Past Momence - Video - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Caliber Cheer Comets Nov 9 2013 - Video - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Two Comets Are About to Fly By Mercury | NASA Space Science HD Video - Video - November 21st, 2013 [November 21st, 2013]
- Comets win on tiebreaker - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets fend off Wildcat attack - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Free throws bring Comets down - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets continue solid play on their home ice - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets Beat Heat 4-2 - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets in the Community - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets pick up third straight win over Heat - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets Welcome Back Old Rival - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets Cool Abbotsford 4-2 - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets – Facts and Information about Comets | Space.com - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets v Wave 121313 Highlights - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Highlights - Comets vs. Monsters 12/15/13 - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Weekly Space Hangout - Preventing Asteroids, More Comets, Worldview Balloon - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Pens 1 - Comets 0 - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Milwaukee Waves Cheap Shot Vs. Missouri Comets - 12.13.13 - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Hometown Nights - Tarso Miller and the Wild Comets - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Hangout with Comets Nova and Deathlyhall - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets vs St. Louis Ambush - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Shake, Rattle and Roll Bill Haley and His Comets - Sheet Music - Easy Alto Sax Version - Video - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Comets Shut Out Heat 3-0 - December 21st, 2013 [December 21st, 2013]
- Administration - December 21st, 2013 [December 21st, 2013]
- Bill Haley And His Comets ' R-O-C-K' 78 rpm - Video - December 21st, 2013 [December 21st, 2013]
- Bill Haley And His Comets ' The Saints Rock 'N Roll' 78 rpm - Video - December 21st, 2013 [December 21st, 2013]
- Nicklas Jensen's Shootout Winning Deke 12-15-13 - Video - December 21st, 2013 [December 21st, 2013]
- Missouri Comets Night with Miles - 12.13.13 - Video - December 21st, 2013 [December 21st, 2013]
- 12/13/13 Comets 5 vs. Senators 2 - Video - December 21st, 2013 [December 21st, 2013]
- Comets rock Bulldogs for first win - December 22nd, 2013 [December 22nd, 2013]
- Comets Deposit Life's Building Blocks Across the Cosmos!(Dr.Ruehl) - Video - December 22nd, 2013 [December 22nd, 2013]
- Comets beat AHL rival Abbotsford again with shutout - December 23rd, 2013 [December 23rd, 2013]
- Comets Win Streak Grows to Four Games - December 23rd, 2013 [December 23rd, 2013]
- Comets Corner: On the Mask - December 23rd, 2013 [December 23rd, 2013]
- 'Comets of the Centuries': 500 Years of the Greatest Comets Ever Seen - December 23rd, 2013 [December 23rd, 2013]
- Hackensack High School (NJ) Football Home - MaxPreps.com - December 23rd, 2013 [December 23rd, 2013]
- Little Comets - Isles (Music Video) - Video - December 23rd, 2013 [December 23rd, 2013]
- Comets Have Two Players on MISL Team of Week - December 25th, 2013 [December 25th, 2013]
- ONE FOR THE RECORD DECEMBER 20 2013 21 FUKUSHIMA COMETS EARTHQUAKES NMR GZ PAUL AND BP - Video - December 25th, 2013 [December 25th, 2013]
- Comets in the Community: Christmas at St. Luke's - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- Best comets of last 500 years - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- STRANGE EVENTS In 2013 Earthquakes, Mass Animal Deaths, Extreme Weather, OORT Cloud Comets - Video - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- Utica Comets " 'Twas the Night" - Video - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- Missouri Comets vs. Rochester Lancers - Video - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- Chasing Comets: In search of secrets about our origins - Video - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- DREAM X2 COMETS/STARS FLYING OVERHEAD, MASSIVE SONIC BOOMS EARTH HIT POSSIBLY. - Video - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- What are comets? - Video - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- Game Preview: Syracuse Silver Knights at Missouri Comets and St. Louis Ambush - December 27th, 2013 [December 27th, 2013]
- Clark's performance boosts Clayton over Moss Point - December 27th, 2013 [December 27th, 2013]
- Gameday: Comets vs. Binghamton - December 27th, 2013 [December 27th, 2013]
- Comets Battle for First Place - December 27th, 2013 [December 27th, 2013]
- Gameday: Comets vs. Hamilton - December 28th, 2013 [December 28th, 2013]
- Comets fall to Senators - December 28th, 2013 [December 28th, 2013]
- Comets end winning streak - December 28th, 2013 [December 28th, 2013]
- Comets vs Syracuse Silver Knights - Video - December 28th, 2013 [December 28th, 2013]
- Winning Comets Soccer - Video - December 28th, 2013 [December 28th, 2013]
- Comets Lose in Final Minutes - December 29th, 2013 [December 29th, 2013]
- CometsTV: 12-27-13 Utica Comets vs. Binghamton Senators Highlights - Video - December 29th, 2013 [December 29th, 2013]
- Comets knock off Aquin for second time this season - December 31st, 2013 [December 31st, 2013]
- Comets fall after late rally - December 31st, 2013 [December 31st, 2013]
- CometsTV: 12-28-13 Utica Comets vs. Hamilton Bulldogs Highlights - Video - December 31st, 2013 [December 31st, 2013]
- Comets Corner: Kellan Lain - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- Comets Welcome New Year - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- Comets Media Game 2013 - Video - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- 1957 AMI H200 playing Bill Haley and his Comets Rock Around The Clock. - Video - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- 7 Amazing Christmas Kinder Surprise Eggs SMURFS cars, comets Unwrapping Review Chocolate Easter Toys - Video - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- Shootout - Dogs @ Comets - 12/2813 - END - Video - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- Shootout - Dogs @ Comets - 12/2813 - Video - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- Catonsville girls basketball shows promise for another strong season - January 2nd, 2014 [January 2nd, 2014]
- Gameday: Comets vs. Lake Erie - January 2nd, 2014 [January 2nd, 2014]
- Comets Kick off New Year with Exciting Win - January 2nd, 2014 [January 2nd, 2014]
- Comets Remain Hot at Home with 3-2 Decision over Lake Erie - January 2nd, 2014 [January 2nd, 2014]