WNBA Finals

The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the conclusion of the league's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002.

The series is played between the winners of the playoff semifinals. At the conclusion of the championship round, the winner of the WNBA Finals is presented the championship trophy. The WNBA Finals has been played at the conclusion of every WNBA season in history, the first being held in 1997.

From 2005 to 2024, the winner of the WNBA Finals was determined through a 2–2–1 format. The first, second, and fifth games of the series were played at the arena of the team who earned home court advantage by having the better record during the regular season. Beginning in 2025, the Finals switched to a best-of-seven series with a 2–2–1–1–1 format similar to the NBA 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 Year Champions Result Runners-up Finals MVP TV Team Coach Team Coach 1997 Houston Comets Van Chancellor 1–0 New York Liberty Nancy Darsch Cynthia Cooper NBC 1998 Houston Comets Van Chancellor 2–1 Phoenix Mercury Cheryl Miller Cynthia Cooper Game 1 and 3: ESPNGame 2: NBC 1999 Houston Comets Van Chancellor New York Liberty Richie Adubato Cynthia Cooper Game 1: LifetimeGame 2 and 3: NBC 2000 Houston Comets Van Chancellor 2–0 New York Liberty Richie Adubato Cynthia Cooper Game 1: LifetimeGame 2: NBC 2001 Los Angeles Sparks Michael Cooper Charlotte Sting Anne Donovan Lisa Leslie Game 1: ESPNGame 2: NBC 2002 Los Angeles Sparks Michael Cooper New York Liberty Richie Adubato Lisa Leslie 2003 Detroit Shock Bill Laimbeer 2–1 Los Angeles Sparks Michael Cooper Ruth Riley ESPN2 2004 Seattle Storm Anne Donovan Connecticut Sun Mike Thibault Betty Lennox 2005 Sacramento Monarchs John Whisenant 3–1Connecticut SunMike Thibault Yolanda Griffith Game 1, 2 and 4: ESPN2Game 3: ABC 2006 Detroit Shock Bill Laimbeer 3–2 Sacramento Monarchs John Whisenant Deanna Nolan ESPN2 2007 Phoenix Mercury Paul Westhead Detroit Shock Bill Laimbeer Cappie Pondexter 2008 Detroit Shock Bill Laimbeer 3–0 San Antonio Silver Stars Dan Hughes Katie Smith 2009 Phoenix Mercury Corey Gaines 3–2 Indiana Fever Lin Dunn Diana Taurasi 2010 Seattle Storm Brian Agler 3–0 Atlanta Dream Marynell Meadors Lauren Jackson Game 1: ABCGame 2 and 3: ESPN2 2011 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve Atlanta Dream Marynell Meadors Seimone Augustus Game 1: ESPNGame 2 and 3: ESPN2 2012 Indiana Fever Lin Dunn 3–1 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve Tamika Catchings Game 1, 3 and 4: ESPN2Game 2: ESPN 2013 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve 3–0 Atlanta Dream Fred Williams Maya Moore Game 1: ESPNGame 2 and 3: ESPN2 2014 Phoenix Mercury Sandy Brondello Chicago Sky Pokey Chatman Diana Taurasi Game 1: ABCGame 2: ESPNGame 3: ESPN2 2015 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve 3–2 Indiana Fever Stephanie White Sylvia Fowles Game 1: ABCGame 2, 3 and 5: ESPN2Game 4: ESPN 2016 Los Angeles Sparks Brian Agler Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve Candace Parker Game 1: ABCGame 2, 4 and 5: ESPNGame 3: ESPN2 2017 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve 3–2 Los Angeles Sparks Brian Agler Sylvia Fowles Game 1: ABCGame 2 and 3: ESPN2Game 4 and 5: ESPN 2018 Seattle Storm Dan Hughes 3–0 Washington Mystics Mike Thibault Breanna Stewart Game 1: ESPNewsGame 2: ABCGame 3: ESPN2 2019 Washington Mystics Mike Thibault 3–2 Connecticut Sun Curt Miller Emma Meesseman Game 1 and 2: ESPNGame 3: ABCGame 4 and 5: ESPN2 2020 Seattle Storm Gary Kloppenburg 3–0 Las Vegas Aces Bill Laimbeer Breanna Stewart Game 1: ESPN2Game 2: ABCGame 3: ESPN 2021 Chicago Sky James Wade 3–1 Phoenix Mercury Sandy Brondello Kahleah Copper Game 1: ABCGame 2 and 4: ESPN Game 3: ESPN2 2022 Las Vegas Aces Becky Hammon Connecticut Sun Curt Miller Chelsea Gray Game 1: ABCGame 2–4: ESPN 2023 Las Vegas Aces Becky Hammon New York Liberty Sandy Brondello A'ja Wilson Game 1 and 3: ABCGame 2 and 4: ESPN 2024 New York Liberty Sandy Brondello 3–2 Minnesota Lynx Cheryl Reeve Jonquel Jones Games 1, 3–5: ESPNGame 2: ABC 2025 Las Vegas Aces Becky Hammon 4–0 Phoenix Mercury Nate Tibbetts A'ja Wilson Games 1, 3 and 4: ESPNGame 2: ABC

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.WNBA Ogwunikes' shot should not have counted October 21, 2016

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. TeamsWinLossTotalWin %Year(s) wonYear(s) lostMinnesota Lynx437 2011, 2013, 2015, 20172012, 2016, 2024Houston Comets 404 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000-Seattle Storm4042004, 2010, 2018, 2020 -Phoenix Mercury3362007, 2009, 20141998, 2021, 2025Los Angeles Sparks3252001, 2002, 20162003, 2017Las Vegas Aces 3252022, 2023, 20252008, 2020Detroit Shock 3142003, 2006, 20082007New York Liberty15620241997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2023Indiana Fever12320122009, 2015Sacramento Monarchs 11220052006Washington Mystics11220192018Chicago Sky11220212014Connecticut Sun044-2004, 2005, 2019, 2022Atlanta Dream033-2010, 2011, 2013Charlotte Sting 011-2001

Former teams that had no WNBA Finals appearances: Cleveland Rockers (1997–2003) Miami Sol (2000–2002) Portland Fire (2000–2002)

Current teams that had no WNBA Finals appearances: Golden State Valkyries (2025–present) Portland Fire (2026–present) Toronto Tempo (2026–present)

Records This table shows a list of records through the history of the WNBA Finals. Finals recordsMilestonePlayerTeamDateStatistic Points, individual Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream October 5, 2011 38 points Rebounds, individual Sylvia Fowles Minnesota Lynx October 4, 2017 20 rebounds Assists, individual Sue Bird Seattle Storm October 2, 2020 16 assists Steals, individual Breanna Stewart New York Liberty October 13, 2024 7 steals Blocks, individual Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury September 7, 2014 8 blocks Points, team N/A Phoenix Mercury September 29, 2009 120 points vs. Indiana (OT) Rebounds, team N/A Detroit Shock September 8, 2007 50 rebounds vs. Phoenix Assists, team N/A Seattle Storm October 4, 2020 33 assists vs. Las Vegas Steals, team N/A Connecticut Sun October 8, 2004 15 steals vs. Seattle Blocks, team N/A Minnesota Lynx October 2, 2011 11 blocks vs. Atlanta Career wins, coach Van ChancellorCheryl Reeve Houston CometsMinnesota Lynx 1997-20002011-2017 4 wins Margin of victory N/A Seattle Storm October 6, 2020 33-point win (92-59) over Las Vegas Attendance, one game N/A Detroit Shock September 16, 2003September 16, 2007 22,076

See also

References

External links Official website