WNBA Finals

History

The WNBA's playoff format has changed several times in the league's history. In 1997, a single championship game was held to decide the champion. In 1998, after the addition of two teams, the WNBA finals were turned into a best-of-three series. The finale series was known as the WNBA Championship from 1997 to 2001, before changing to WNBA Finals to reflect its NBA counterpart. In 2005, the WNBA Finals adopted a best-of-five format. In 2016, the WNBA began seeding teams #1 through #8 regardless of conference making it possible for two Eastern Conference or two Western Conference teams to meet in the Finals. In 2025, the WNBA Finals became a best-of-seven series and a homecourt system of 2–2–1–1–1 similar to the NBA Finals, in which the higher seed will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, and its opponent will host Games 3, 4 and 6, the final three, if necessary.

Map of champions

Results

Highlights

• In 2001, the #4 seed Charlotte Sting were the lowest seed to make the WNBA Finals in the conference playoff format.

• The 2003 WNBA Finals was best known for rekindling a heated rivalry between the two teams' head coaches, Los Angeles Sparks head coach Michael Cooper and Detroit Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer. Both coaches were fierce NBA competitors who played in the NBA Finals against each other in 1988 and 1989.

• 2006 marked the first time that a #1 seed did not participate in the WNBA Finals. Detroit and Sacramento were both #2 seeds.

• 2006 also marked the first time that the team with the best point-differential in the regular-season did not win the WNBA Finals or even advance to the WNBA Finals. The Connecticut Sun had the best point differential in '06 but were ousted by the Shock in the Eastern Conference Finals.

• The Detroit Shock hosted the largest crowd in Finals History (tied, 22,076 in Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals and in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals).

• The 2007 game-five win by the Phoenix Mercury marked the first time in WNBA history that a team won the Finals while playing on their opponent's home court.

• In 2008 the San Antonio Silver Stars became the first team in WNBA Finals history to be swept in a five-game series, losing to the Detroit Shock.

• The 2011 WNBA Finals was the first coached by two women.

• In 2014, the Chicago Sky became the first team to appear in the WNBA Finals with a sub-.500 record.

• In 2016, the Los Angeles Sparks won by one point despite a later announcement by the WNBA that officials missed an earlier shot-clock violation at 1:14, which should not have counted.

• In 2021, the #6 seed Chicago Sky were the lowest seed to make the WNBA Finals in the current playoff format.

• The New York Liberty have lost the most championships (5) before winning their first one in 2024.

Finals appearances

The Houston Comets, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm hold the distinction of having won the most championships with four titles each. The New York Liberty have lost the most championships with five. The Lynx have the most appearances in the championships with seven (including 2024). Highlighted teams have folded and can no longer reach the WNBA Finals.

Statistics below refer to series wins and losses, not individual game wins and losses.

Former teams that had no WNBA Finals appearances:

• Cleveland Rockers (1997–2003)
• Miami Sol (2000–2002)
• Portland Fire (2000–2002)

Records

This table shows a list of records through the history of the WNBA Finals.

References

References

1. (2024-10-10). "WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV Expand to Best-of-Seven Format Beginning in 2025".
2. [http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2016/10/21/wnba-ogwumikes-shot-should-not-have-counted/ WNBA Ogwunikes' shot should not have counted] October 21, 2016