WNBA Announces Major Changes to Playoff and Regular Season Formats, Expands to 44 Games

Oct 10, 2024, 11:25 PM

The WNBA has announced significant changes to its playoff and regular season formats starting in the 2025 season. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert revealed that the WNBA Finals will transition to a best-of-seven series with a 2-2-1-1-1 structure. The first round of the playoffs will also change to a best-of-three series with a 1-1-1 home/away format. Additionally, the regular season will expand from 40 to 44 games per team. These changes come as the league continues to grow, with the Golden State Valkyries joining as the 13th franchise. Charter flights have made the new playoff formats feasible. The league also hinted at a return to a five-game format for the Commissioner's Cup. Meanwhile, WNBA playoffs continue to set viewership records.