WNBA Plans Playoff Shake-Up, Reveals List of Expansion Targets

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced crucial changes to the league’s playoff format at a press conference Thursday before Game 1 of the 2024 Finals. 

Starting next season, the WNBA Finals will expand from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven series with a 2-2-1-1-1 structure in which the higher-seeded team would host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7—akin to the NBA.

The league is also changing its three-game first-round series to a 1-1-1 structure, where the higher-seeded team would host Games 1 and 3. The change follows criticism of the odd first-round structure the league instituted in 2022 where the higher-seeded team hosts the first two games—meaning they could close out the series without playing a road game.

That structure was installed because the WNBA did not have charter flights available to teams before this season. The league announced charter flights would be available to all teams just a week before the season, but the short turnaround and the monthlong Olympic break made it difficult to also introduce the sweeping playoff format changes.

“We have contemplated both these changes since the pandemic. We would have done it in the current year, but with the Olympic break this year, it wasn’t possible. But now that we have charters throughout the season and playoffs, it’s feasible,” Engelbert said.

Expansion Hopefuls

The WNBA has already announced three expansion teams that will join the league over the next two seasons, bringing its total to 15. But the league’s goal is to add a 16th team by 2028—and Engelbert said the league’s received interest from around 10 to 12 cities.

“The good news is we have a lot of demand from many cities. I’d say 10 or so, maybe even plus at this point, because I think the more people are watching the WNBA and seeing what we’re growing here … they see the economic impact of having a WNBA team in their city, the role model in the community these players represent,” Engelbert said.

The commissioner’s response came to a question about the potential of Philadelphia being named the expansion team. Philadelphia’s mayor and the 76ers organization have expressed an interest in becoming the league’s 16th team. 

Engelbert said Philadelphia is “on the list” of cities the league is evaluating.