WNBA Finals facts for kids

The WNBA Finals is the championship series for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). It's the final part of the league's postseason every fall. Until 2002, this series was called the WNBA Championship. Since 2018, YouTube TV has been the official sponsor of the Finals.

The series is played between the two teams that win their playoff semifinal games. After the championship round ends, the winning team gets a special trophy. The WNBA Finals have happened at the end of every WNBA season since the league started. The very first Finals took place in 1997.

Since 2005, the WNBA Finals have used a 2–2–1 game format. This means the team with the better record during the regular season gets to host games 1, 2, and 5 (if needed) at their home arena. Starting in 2025, the Finals will change to a best-of-seven series. This new format will be 2–2–1–1–1, similar to the NBA Finals.

How the WNBA Finals Started

WNBA Finals logo used until 2018.

The way the WNBA playoffs work has changed a few times over the years. From 1997 to 1998, there was only one championship game to decide the winner. In 1998, after more teams joined the league, the WNBA Finals became a best-of-three series. This meant a team had to win two games to become champion.

The final series was known as the WNBA Championship from 1997 to 2001. Then, it changed its name to "WNBA Finals" to be more like the NBA's championship series. In 2005, the WNBA Finals changed again to a best-of-five format. Now, a team needs to win three games to be champion.

In 2016, the WNBA started ranking teams from 1 to 8 based on their record, no matter which conference they were in. This made it possible for two teams from the same conference to play in the Finals. In 2025, the WNBA Finals will become a best-of-seven series. The team with the home court advantage will host games 1, 2, and if needed, games 5 and 7.

Where WNBA Champions Are From

WNBA Finals Results by Year

Exciting Moments and Records

• In 2001, the Charlotte Sting were the lowest-ranked team (seed #4) to reach the WNBA Finals in the old playoff system.
• The 2003 Finals was famous for a strong rivalry between the coaches. Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael Cooper and Detroit Shock coach Bill Laimbeer were fierce competitors in the NBA.
• In 2006, for the first time, a #1 ranked team did not play in the WNBA Finals. Both Detroit and Sacramento were #2 ranked teams.
• The New York Liberty have played in the Finals five times before finally winning their first championship in 2024.
• The Las Vegas Aces are the seventh team to win more than one championship. Other teams include Houston, Los Angeles, Detroit, Phoenix, Seattle, and Minnesota.
• In 2006, the team with the best point difference in the regular season (Connecticut Sun) did not win or even reach the WNBA Finals.
• The Detroit Shock hosted the three largest crowds in Finals history. These were 22,076 fans in 2003 and 2007, and 19,671 fans in 2006.
• In 2007, the Phoenix Mercury won game five on their opponent's home court. This was the first time a team won the Finals away from home.
• In 2008, the San Antonio Silver Stars were the first team to lose all games in a five-game Finals series, losing to the Detroit Shock.
• The 2009 Finals series had about 60% more viewers than the previous year's series.
• The 2011 WNBA Finals was the first time both teams were coached by women.
• In 2014, the Chicago Sky became the first team to play in the WNBA Finals with a losing record (more losses than wins).
• In 2016, the Los Angeles Sparks won by just one point. Later, the WNBA announced that officials missed a shot-clock violation earlier in the game.
• In 2021, the Chicago Sky, ranked #6, were the lowest-ranked team to reach the WNBA Finals in the current playoff system.

Teams in the WNBA Finals

The Houston Comets, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm have each won the most championships, with four titles. The New York Liberty have lost the most championships, with five losses. The Lynx have played in the most championships, with seven appearances (including 2024). Teams highlighted in pink have stopped playing and can no longer reach the WNBA Finals.

The numbers below show how many times teams have won or lost the entire series, not individual games.

Some former teams never made it to the WNBA Finals:

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

WNBA Finals Records

This table shows some of the top records in the history of the WNBA Finals.

See also

In Spanish: Finales de la WNBA para niños