WNBA Announces Major Changes to Playoff Format and Expansion Plans

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced significant changes to its playoff structure and expansion plans, beginning with the 2025 season. The league will transition to a best-of-seven series for the WNBA Finals and modify the first-round playoff format. The announcement was made by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Thursday in New York.

The shift to a best-of-seven format aligns the WNBA Finals more closely with the NBA‘s structure, moving away from the current best-of-five series employed since 2005. This change follows a history of evolving playoff formats since the league’s inception in 1997, when the final was decided by a single game.

Furthermore, the first round of the postseason will now feature a 1-1-1 home and away game setup, as opposed to the previous 2-1 format favoring higher-seeded teams. This change guarantees all playoff teams at least one home game, a change driven partly by the league’s recent decision to use charter flights for all games. “The new format ensures a more balanced competition while providing more opportunities for fans to support their teams at home,” Engelbert stated.

In addition to these format changes, the WNBA plans to expand its regular season schedule. Starting in 2025, each team will play 44 games, up from the 40 scheduled for 2024. This expansion follows a record-breaking 2024 season, bolstered by rising stars such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

The WNBA is also set to grow with the addition of a 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, in 2025. The expansion draft for the Valkyries is scheduled for November 17 and will be broadcast on ESPN. The team is also set to pick fifth in every round of the WNBA Draft in April.