The 2025 WNBA playoffs are complete, and the finals begin Friday, October 3. When the season’s biggest event kicks off, it will be a best-of-seven series. That’s a change for this season; it was previously a best-of-five schedule.
For many fans, whether older or new, the question might arise: Why are the WNBA Finals best-of-seven games now?
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Well, people wanted more basketball. No really. It’s true. Here’s what the league said about extending the number of matchups. “We are seeing an incredible demand for WNBA basketball, as reflected in the number of cities pursuing expansion franchises, fans attending games and engaging with our social and digital platforms in record fashion,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in 2024.
Engelbert also explained that the new format reflects what fans are already seeing in other sports, such as the NBA. Pretty sweet, right? The new seven-game finals series will be split between the two teams in a 2-2-1-1-1 structure. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. The lower seed hosts Game 3, 4 and 6.
That’s it! Enjoy the finals!
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why did the WNBA Finals move to a best-of-7 games format?
