Key takeaways:
- Each WNBA team plays 40 regular-season games.
- The regular season spans from May to September, with playoffs running into October.
- The length of the WNBA season has evolved, offering more games and running longer than before.
Thankfully for WNBA fans who love watching games, the league’s season is longer than ever. In 2023, the league expanded the season to a record-high 40 games, up from 36 in the previous year.
The extended schedule delivers more action-packed games to catch and increased opportunities for the league’s 12 teams to vie for that coveted WNBA championship. It’s also an intelligent move for generating more revenue and awareness for the teams and the league. This season was the most-watched regular season in 21 years, with record-breaking viewership and game attendance.
Below, we explore the number of WNBA games per season, the evolution of the season’s length, and what you can expect from the WNBA’s unique season structure.
How Many Games Are in a WNBA Season?
The WNBA season is divided into two main sections: regular season and playoffs. Each consists of a specific number of games that teams play.
Regular Season
Each of the 12 teams in the WNBA plays 40 games during the regular season.
The WNBA only recently increased the regular season’s number of games, marking an expansion that allows fans to enjoy more basketball action and provides players with additional opportunities to showcase their skills and get their team into a position for a postseason run.
Playoffs
For some WNBA 12 teams, play doesn’t end with the regular season. Eight teams with the highest winning percentages advance to the playoffs, adding more games to the WNBA calendar.
The latest WNBA playoff format, introduced in 2022, consists of three rounds: Round 1, the Semifinals, and the Finals, following a best-of-3-5-5 format.
- Round 1: It’s a best-of-three series, with matchups including the No. 1 seed vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5. Each team must win two games to advance to the next round.
- Semifinals: The four winners from Round 1 progress to this best-of-five series. Victorious teams move on to the Finals, another best-of-five series.
- Finals: The two remaining teams battle it out in a climactic best-of-five series to crown the WNBA Champion.
To clinch the championship, a team must secure eight playoff wins: two in Round 1, three in the Semifinals, and three in the Finals.
If you combine the regular season and all the potential playoff games, two teams could play up to 53 games in a WNBA season.
Learn more: How much do WNBA players make?
The Evolution of the WNBA Season Length
The WNBA season length has experienced several changes, evolving to reflect the league’s growing competitiveness and entertainment value. Here, we’ll explore the key milestones in the evolution of the WNBA season length.
1997: The Inaugural Season
- The WNBA debuted with a concise 28-game regular season. It marked the beginning of professional women’s basketball on a grand stage.
1998: A Slight Increase
- In its second year, the league expanded the regular season to 30 games, delivering more opportunities to witness the burgeoning talent in the W.
1999-2002: Establishing a Rhythm
- The league settled into a 32-game season for each team, a format that would continue for four years.
2003-2019: Stability in Season Length
- For several years leading up to 2019, the WNBA teams each played 34 games in the regular season. This format provided players, staff, and fans with a balanced schedule and consistent rhythm.
2020: The Wubble Adjustment
- The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted a significant adjustment. The league organized a shortened 22-game season, hosted entirely at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, affectionately termed the “Wubble.”
2021: A Step Toward Normalcy
- In 2021, the league made strides toward normalcy, albeit with continued adjustments due to the pandemic. Teams played a 32-game season, incorporating a mini two-game series to minimize travel and ensure the safety of all participants.
2022: Expansion Begins
- The WNBA made a landmark decision to extend the regular season to 36 games; a move celebrated for offering more action and competitive matchups.
2023-Present: A New High
- This expansion was further amplified in 2023, with each team playing a record-high 40 games, split evenly between home and away matches, marking the longest season in the league’s history.
How Long is the WNBA Season?
The WNBA season is a journey of 40 regular-season games between May and September, followed by an intense month-long playoff structure for the top eight teams that culminates in October.
Overall, the WNBA season lasts six months.
The Structure of the WNBA Season: Key Dates
While WNBA games make up half the year, things happen year-round in the league. The WNBA season is an evolving structured series of events, unfolding from the early months of the year and culminating in the intense playoff battles in the fall.
Here, we provide a concise month-by-month breakdown and highlight key events punctuating the WNBA calendar.
January – February: Free Agency
- Teams begin negotiations with free agents in late January. By February, free agents start signing contracts and shaping team rosters for the upcoming season.
April: The Draft & Training Camp
- The WNBA Draft occurs, where teams select promising players to bolster their squads, injecting fresh talent into the league. Read about how the WNBA draft works to see how this process unfolds.
- Training camp, which brings together rookies, returners, and new signees to practice for the first time, also usually happens at the very end of April.
May – September: Regular Season
- Game time! The regular season kicks off in May, initiating a series of 40 games per team, split evenly between home and away matches.
- Concurrently, the Commissioner’s Cup unfolds, featuring designated games per team against conference rivals, culminating in July.
July: All-Star Break
- The WNBA All-Star Game takes center stage, showcasing the league’s top talents in a festive atmosphere. Players let loose during this break, which allows for more opportunities for WNBA dunks.
August: Commissioner’s Cup Championship
- Based on Commissioner’s Cup games’ records, the top team from each conference battles for the Commissioner’s Cup Championship and a significant prize pool.
September: Playoffs Begin
- The regular season concludes, and the intense playoff series commences, featuring the top eight teams in thrilling elimination rounds.
October: Finals
- The playoffs reach their zenith, with the remaining teams vying for the coveted WNBA Championship in a series of high-stakes, best-of-five matches.
Learn more: Who has the most WNBA championships?
FAQ
How Many Games Are in a WNBA Regular Season?
Each WNBA team plays 40 regular-season games. This number was increased in 2023 to reflect growing interest and fanship and offer fans more opportunities to engage with the league.
How Long is a WNBA Season Compared to an NBA season?
The WNBA season typically runs from May to October, including regular-season and playoff games. In contrast, the NBA season, including its playoffs, often extends from October to June. While the WNBA plays a 40-game regular season, NBA teams each play 82 games in their regular season.
When Does the WNBA Regular Season Start and End?
The WNBA regular season commences in May and concludes in September. It features 40 games per team, providing a mix of matchups throughout these months.
What is the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup?
The Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season tournament held during the regular season. Teams compete in designated Cup games against conference rivals, leading to a championship match to decide the winner.
When Many Games Are in the WNBA Playoffs?
The playoffs follow a best-of-3-5-5 format across three rounds. A team must secure eight wins in total to clinch the WNBA Championship.
