The WNBA playoffs is an elimination tournament among 8 teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.

Format

In the current format of the WNBA playoffs, the top eight teams in the regular season – regardless of conference – participate in a single-elimination tournament system. The eight teams are seeded by their regular season records, with the higher seeded team (or the team with the better record) in each series given homecourt advantage. Round One is a best-of-three series, played with a homecourt pattern of 2–1 (the higher seed hosts games 1 and 2, while the lower seed hosts game 3, if necessary). The Semifinals and Finals are both best-of-five, played with a homecourt pattern of 2–2–1 (the higher seed hosts games 1, 2, and 5, while the lower seed hosts games 3 and 4). Beginning in 2025 the WNBA finals will expand to Best of 7 and the first round will change to a 1-1-1 format (with games 1 and 3 being hosted by the higher seed and game 2 by the lower seed)

Tiebreaker procedures

In case of ties, the following procedures are followed:

History

The playoff format has changed throughout the years ever since the league's establishment. In the league's first two seasons, 1997 and 1998, only the top four teams overall advanced to the playoffs, which comprised only two rounds. In 1997, only a single game was played in all matches. In 1998, each match became a best-of-three series. The homecourt pattern for best-of-three was 1–1–1. As expansion began, the playoff format accommodated more teams. 1999 featured six teams, with the top three teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs, and the top seed of each conference getting a bye into the Conference Finals. The following season, it was expanded to eight teams with the top four teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs. In 2005, the WNBA Finals became a best-of-five series. Despite the departure of some teams later on, this format continued until 2015. From 2016-2021, a new format was introduced, featuring a stepladder-like system. In this format, the first- and second-seeded teams entered the tournament at the Semifinals, third and fourth places started at the Second Round, and the remaining four began at the First Round. The format also eliminated conference seeding, instead having the top eight teams overall advance. The First and Second Rounds were only a single game, with the winning team immediately advancing to the next round. The Semifinals and Finals were both best-of-five series. After each round, the lower surviving seed faced the higher seed in the next round, while the higher surviving seed faced the lower seed. The current format was adopted in 2022 and features the top 8 teams in the league (regardless of conference) playing a three-round series for the championship. The first round is a best-of-three series with the higher seed hosting both of the first two games, while the Semifinals and Finals remain a best-of-five series. The higher seed hosts the first, second, and (if necessary) fifth games. Beginning in 2025, Round One will switch back to a 1–1–1 pattern, and the Finals will become a best-of-seven series, utilizing a 2–2–1–1–1 pattern similar to the NBA, with the higher seed hosting the first and second games, as well as the fifth and seventh games if necessary.

Playoff series history

2024 season

2023 season

2022 season

2021 season

2020 season

2019 season

2018 season

2017 season

2016 season

2015 season

2014 season

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

2013 season

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

2012 season

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

2011 season

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

2010 season

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Starting in 2010, the first two rounds changed to a 1-1-1 format, with the higher-seeded team hosting games 1 & 3.

2009 season

There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Bold – Series winner Italics – Team with home-court advantage

2008 season

There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Bold – Series winner Italics – Team with home-court advantage

2007 season

There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Bold – Series winner Italics – Team with home-court advantage

2006 season

There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Bold – Series winner Italics – Team with home-court advantage

2005 season

There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four, this was also the first season where the WNBA finals was expanded to a best-of-5 game series. Bold – Series winner Italics – Team with home-court advantage

2004 season

There were 13 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Bold – Series winner Italics – Team with home-court advantage

2003 season

There were 14 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four. Bold – Series winner Italics – Team with home-court advantage

2002 season

There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

2001 season

There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

2000 season

There were 16 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to four.

1999 season

There were 12 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the three teams with the best record in each conference were seeded one to three. The top seeded team in each conference got a bye for the first round.

1998 season

There were 10 teams in the league. For the playoffs, the four teams with the best record in the league were seeded one to four. Houston was switched to the Western Conference in 1998 so two Western Conference teams matched up in the WNBA Finals.

1997 season