Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The 1998 WNBA season was the second season in league history and featured an expanded league with 10 teams competing across the United States. The Houston Comets once again finished with the league’s best record, posting an impressive 27-3 mark before winning their second consecutive WNBA championship. The season continued to build the league’s popularity, showcasing many of women’s basketball’s biggest stars while introducing new franchises and expanding professional opportunities for elite players.
Below are the complete 1998 WNBA standings, including team records, winning percentages, head coaches, and playoff results.
Eastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | L | PCT | GB | HEAD COACH | PLAYOFF RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Rockers | 30 | 20 | 10 | .667 | — | Linda Hill-MacDonald | Lost WNBA Semis |
| Charlotte Sting | 30 | 18 | 12 | .600 | 2.0 | Marynell Meadors | Lost WNBA Semis |
| New York Liberty | 30 | 18 | 12 | .600 | 2.0 | Nancy Darsch | Missed Playoffs |
| Detroit Shock | 30 | 17 | 13 | .567 | 3.0 | Nancy Lieberman | Missed Playoffs |
| Washington Mystics | 30 | 3 | 27 | .100 | 17.0 | Jim Lewis / Cathy Parson | Missed Playoffs |
Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | L | PCT | GB | HEAD COACH | PLAYOFF RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Comets | 30 | 27 | 3 | .900 | — | Van Chancellor | WNBA Champions |
| Phoenix Mercury | 30 | 19 | 11 | .633 | 8.0 | Cheryl Miller | Lost WNBA Finals |
| Los Angeles Sparks | 30 | 12 | 18 | .400 | 15.0 | Julie Rousseau / Orlando Woolridge | Missed Playoffs |
| Sacramento Monarchs | 30 | 8 | 22 | .267 | 19.0 | Heidi VanDerveer | Missed Playoffs |
| Utah Starzz | 30 | 8 | 22 | .267 | 19.0 | Denise Taylor / Frank Layden | Missed Playoffs |
Houston defeated Charlotte 2–0 and Phoenix defeated Cleveland 2–1 in the WNBA Semifinals. Houston then defeated Phoenix 2–1 in the WNBA Championship Series.