The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is gearing up for major changes in its 2025 season, offering fans even more opportunities to see their favorite players in action. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league will increase its regular season from 40 to 44 games and extend the Finals series from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven format. The Finals will adopt a 2-2-1-1-1 home-game setup, with the higher seed hosting the first game.
In another notable change, the first round of the playoffs, currently a three-game series, will switch to alternating hosts. This replaces the previous format where the higher seed hosted the first two games before switching locations for the third game. Engelbert explained that these adjustments have been under consideration since the COVID-19 pandemic, but the league’s rising popularity and the implementation of charter flights for teams made it the perfect time for the changes.
“The league’s growth and increased demand for WNBA basketball made this the ideal time to expand the schedule, lengthen the Finals, and provide fans with more opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level,” Engelbert stated during a press conference.
In addition to the schedule changes, the WNBA will also welcome a new team in 2025. The Golden State Valkyries will debut as the league’s 13th team, with two more expansion teams—one in Toronto and one in Portland—slated for 2026. Discussions are ongoing to finalize a location for the league’s 16th team, which would further grow the WNBA’s footprint.
This expansion comes during a time of surging popularity for the league. Viewership, attendance, and engagement all saw record growth in the 2024 season. The arrival of high-profile rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, alongside established stars such as Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, has helped drive fan interest.
As the WNBA continues to grow, players have also spoken out about experiencing racism and online harassment. Engelbert has since condemned any forms of hate or racism, underscoring the league’s commitment to inclusivity.
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