Kristian Ferrell
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Since 2005, the winner of the WNBA Finals has been determined through a 2–2–1 format, where the first, second, and fifth games are played at the arena of the team with the better regular-season record. The WNBA Finals will become a best-of-seven series in 2025, adopting a 2–2–1–1–1 format similar to the NBA Finals. The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Finals, winning their first WNBA Championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the latest WNBA finals | 2024 |
| Teams | New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx |
| Winner | New York Liberty |
| Score | 3 games to 2 |
| Previous winners | Houston Comets, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm (4 titles each) |
| Next finals format | Best-of-seven series with a 2–2–1–1–1 format |
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What You'll Learn
The 2024 WNBA Finals
The Liberty and the Lynx faced off in the finals as the first and second overall seeds. This was the second year in a row where the top two seeds qualified for the finals. The Lynx won the regular season series between the two teams two games to one, and defeated New York in the 2024 WNBA Commissioner's Cup. The Liberty entered the series with two extra days of rest as they wrapped their Semifinal series on October 6, while the Lynx played a Game Five on October 8. The Finals started in New York with the Liberty dominating the first quarter, winning 32–19. Minnesota trailed by as many as eighteen points in the second quarter but won the quarter 17–12. The Liberty took an eight-point lead into halftime.
The Lynx cut the lead to seven after winning the third quarter 25–24. The Lynx turned it up in the fourth quarter, winning 23–16 to force overtime. The Lynx led by as many as twelve points in the first half and led in the final minute of regulation but could not hold off the Liberty. Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggled, going a combined 5–34 from the field. The Liberty won the overtime period 7–2, during which Collier fouled out. The Liberty won game five by five points to claim their first WNBA title in their sixth finals appearance. This also marked the first championship for a professional basketball team in the New York area since the New York Nets won their second ABA championship in 1976.
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The New York Liberty's first championship
The New York Liberty is an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The team was founded in 1997 and is one of the eight original franchises of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Liberty compete in the WNBA as a member of the Eastern Conference.
The New York Liberty won their first WNBA Championship in 2024, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in the finals. This was the team's second consecutive appearance in the finals, having advanced as the first seed in both years. The Liberty's road to the 2024 WNBA Championship began with a strong regular season performance, winning 32 games and tying their own franchise record. This success continued into the playoffs, where they swept the eighth-ranked Atlanta Dream in two games before defeating the Aces 3-1 in the semifinals.
The 2024 WNBA Finals followed a best-of-five format, with the Liberty ultimately claiming the title in five games. The series was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams displaying their talent and determination. In the deciding game, the Liberty pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Lynx 19-13 to secure the victory and the championship. This win marked a historic moment for the New York Liberty franchise, as they captured their first-ever WNBA title.
The Liberty's championship victory was celebrated with the unveiling of their first championship rings, designed by owner Clara Wu Tsai and chief executive Keia Clarke. The rings featured 28 stones in the leaves, representing the team's 28-year history, and 11 black diamonds in the "Y" of "NY" symbolizing their playoff wins. The ring design reflected the growing power and recognition of the WNBA, with a focus on making the jewellery as prominent and impactful as the men's championship rings. The Liberty's championship win and subsequent ring ceremony served as a testament to the team's hard work and the increasing prominence of women's basketball.
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The Lynx's seventh finals appearance
The 2024 WNBA Finals marked the seventh finals appearance for the Minnesota Lynx, who faced off against the New York Liberty. The Lynx had earned their spot in the finals after defeating the Connecticut Sun in a winner-takes-all Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals. This was the second year in a row that the top two seeds qualified for the finals, with the Lynx finishing second in the regular-season standings with a 30-10 record.
The Lynx were led by Courtney Williams, who scored 23 points, and they had four players score in double figures: Kayla McBride with 22 points, Napheesa Collier with 21 points, and Natisha Hiedeman with 10 points in just 13 minutes of playing time. The team's performance in the 2024 finals added to their impressive record in the WNBA, having made the finals six times in seven years and earning four championships, the most recent being in 2017.
The Lynx faced a strong Liberty team, who were seeking their first championship. The Liberty dominated the first quarter, winning 32-19, and maintained their lead going into halftime. However, the Lynx showed their resilience and determination, cutting the lead to seven after winning the third quarter 25-24. They continued their comeback in the fourth quarter, winning 23-16 and forcing overtime.
Despite the Lynx's valiant effort, the Liberty ultimately pulled away with the victory, claiming their first WNBA title in their sixth finals appearance. The Lynx's loss to the Liberty marked the end of their impressive run, but their seven finals appearances remain the most of any team in WNBA history.
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The best-of-five format
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has used a best-of-five format for its championship series. This format was applied to the semifinals and the finals, with the first and second rounds being single-elimination games. The higher seed hosted the first, second, and fifth games, if necessary.
In November 2021, the WNBA Board of Governors made changes to the playoff structure, which came into effect in 2022. This new format scrapped the single-elimination games of the first two rounds and replaced them with a best-of-three quarterfinal round. This ensured that all eight playoff teams would play a three-round series for the championship, regardless of their conference ranking.
However, starting with the 2025 season, the WNBA Finals will expand to a best-of-seven format. This change mirrors the format used in other sports and will be structured as 2-2-1-1-1, with the higher seed hosting games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the opponent hosts games 3, 4, and 6. This shift aims to cater to the growing demand for WNBA basketball and is accompanied by an increase in the regular-season schedule to 44 games per team.
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The 2025 format change
The WNBA Finals are usually held in October. For example, the 2024 WNBA Finals took place in October 2024.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league would adopt a new playoff format in 2025. The 2025 season will see the introduction of a best-of-seven format for the WNBA Finals, similar to the NBA's format. This will be a change from the current best-of-five format. The higher seed will host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed will host Games 3, 4, and 6.
The first round of the postseason will also see changes. Each team will get at least one home game, with teams alternating home court advantage in a best-of-three series (1-1-1 format). Previously, the higher seed hosted the first two games, and the lower seed only gained home-court advantage if the series went to three games.
The WNBA regular season will also be longer in 2025, with each team playing 44 games, up from 40 in 2024. This expansion is possible because there will be no scheduling conflicts with the FIBA World Cup or Olympic Games in 2025.
The WNBA is also growing in terms of the number of teams. The newest team, the Golden State Valkyries, will begin play in the 2025 season, and the league will add franchises in Portland, Oregon, and Toronto, Canada in 2026, bringing the total number of teams to 15.
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Frequently asked questions
The WNBA finals usually take place in October.
Since 2005, the winner of the WNBA Finals has been determined through a 2–2–1 format. Beginning in 2025, this will change to a best-of-seven series with a 2–2–1–1–1 format.
The Lynx have the most appearances in the championships with seven.
The New York Liberty are the most recent winners of the WNBA finals, winning their first championship in 2024.
The Houston Comets, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm hold the distinction of having won the most championships with four titles each.
