The WNBA announced significant changes for the upcoming season, including shifting the Finals to a best-of-seven series, as stated by commissioner Cathy Engelbert. This announcement was made prior to Game 1 of the Finals featuring the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx.
Engelbert revealed that the league will also implement a 1-1-1 format for the first round of playoffs, ensuring that each team plays at least one home game. The regular season will expand from 40 to 44 games, allowing for an extended schedule.
The league has traditionally used a best-of-five format for the Finals since 2005, while earlier formats included best-of-three series from 1998 to 2004 and a single-game championship in 1997. Under the new best-of-seven structure, the higher seed will host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed will host Games 3, 4, and 6.
“This will give our fans a championship-series format they are accustomed to seeing in other sports,” Engelbert said.
The semifinals will remain a best-of-five format. The previous first-round setup allowed for the higher seed to host the first two games, with a potential third game at the lower seed’s venue. The new structure ensures that every playoff team has at least one home game.
Engelbert also highlighted the league’s transition to charter flights for all games, which will aid in the implementation of the new playoff formats. Additionally, she announced that the expansion draft for the newly established Golden State Valkyries will take place on November 17 at 5 p.m. on ESPN. The Valkyries, who appointed Natalie Nakase as their coach earlier, will have the fifth pick in every round of the upcoming standard draft in April.
The WNBA’s regular season was expanded to 40 games in 2023, and with the addition of four more games this season and potential playoff extensions, the league may run into late October to complete its schedule. Despite the challenges of scheduling around major international events such as the Summer Olympics and the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, Engelbert stated that the absence of these events next season offers an opportune moment for the playoff changes.
“It’s a constant balancing of the schedule,” Engelbert remarked. “The league’s growth and increased demand for WNBA basketball made this the ideal time to provide fans more opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level.”
Looking ahead, the WNBA plans to introduce two more expansion teams in 2026, located in Toronto and Portland, and anticipates an addition of another team by 2028.
The league has experienced increased viewership and media coverage thanks to a highly regarded draft class, including WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark from the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky. However, this growth has not come without challenges, notably an increase in negative online commentary about the league.
Engelbert faced criticism last month for comments made during a CNBC interview, which some players and the players’ association felt failed to adequately address serious issues of racism, misogyny, and homophobia affecting the league. Following backlash, she issued an apology and reaffirmed the league’s commitment to player protection, remarking, “The hateful speech and threats directed at our players are troubling.”
The WNBA is dedicated to maintaining its inclusive and diverse culture, and Engelbert emphasized efforts to improve the league’s response to hate speech on social media, committing to work closely with the players’ association on this front.
“We’re going to approach this multidimensionally,” she explained, highlighting the need for technology, mental health support, and physical security measures to protect players. Engelbert acknowledged that while there is more work to be done, the league remains steadfast in listening to players and addressing their concerns actively.