The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is gearing up for an exciting 2025 season with some major changes on the horizon. As announced by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the league will be expanding its regular season from 40 games to 44 games, and its Finals series from five games to seven games.
One of the big changes in the playoff format for the 2025 season is the switch to a 2-2-1-1-1 format for home games in the Finals round, with the higher seed hosting first. Additionally, the three-game first round of the playoffs will now alternate hosts, providing a more balanced approach.
These changes come as a result of the league’s growth and increased popularity, which has been further fueled by the introduction of charter flights for teams. According to Engelbert, the increased demand for WNBA basketball made it the ideal time to expand the schedule and provide fans with more opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level.
But that’s not all that’s expanding in the upcoming season. The Golden State Valkyries will be making their debut as the league’s 13th team in 2025. In addition, two more expansion teams have been announced for Toronto and Portland, with discussions underway for a 16th team in another city.
The WNBA’s recent surge in popularity is evident in its most recent media rights deal, valued at $2.2 billion for 11 seasons. This increase in viewership, attendance, and engagement can be attributed to the influx of exciting rookies and established stars like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, the respective 2023 and 2024 MVPs.
As the WNBA continues to grow, more players have spoken out about experiencing racism or online harassment. While some criticized Engelbert for not outright condemning these issues in a recent CNBC interview, she later clarified and condemned “hate or racism.”
The WNBA’s rise in popularity has also caught the attention of media executives and investors, who see the opportunities in women’s sports as enticing. With the current Finals between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty underway, the league’s future looks bright and promising.
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