1997 WNBA Western Conference standings

West standings, 1997

The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.

Turning points

• The lead changed hands twice.
• The Houston Comets trailed by as many as 1 game on July 9, 1997.
• The Houston Comets took first place for good on July 25, 1997.
• The Houston Comets won 5 games in a row from August 5, 1997 to August 12, 1997, the longest run of the race.
• The Phoenix Mercury led by 1 game as late as July 21, 1997.
• The Houston Comets led by as many as 4.5 games on August 11, 1997.
• The Houston Comets went 5-2 from July 24, 1997 to August 9, 1997, turning a level race into a lead of 4 games.
• The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 33 of the 59 days played.
• The Houston Comets spent 44 of the season's 65 charted days in first place.