History of WNBA playoffs in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: September 26, 2024

The WNBA playoffs are an elimination tournament held annually to determine the champion of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Eight teams compete in a series of best-of-games series, culminating in the WNBA Finals, where the final two teams vie for the championship title.

1997: First WNBA Season

The WNBA debuted in 1997 with eight teams, and the playoffs featured the top four teams based on their regular-season records. Interestingly, the Houston Comets were initially in the Eastern Conference.

1997: Inaugural WNBA Playoffs

The inaugural WNBA playoffs in 1997 featured a single-elimination format for all rounds, with only the top four teams in the league qualifying.

1998: Houston Comets Conference Switch

The Houston Comets were moved to the Western Conference in 1998 to ensure two teams from the same conference would compete in the WNBA Finals.

1998: Playoff Format Changes

The WNBA playoffs in 1998 expanded to a best-of-three series for each matchup, with a 1-1-1 homecourt pattern.

1999: Playoff Expansion

The WNBA playoffs expanded to include six teams in 1999, with the top three teams from each conference qualifying. The top seed in each conference received a bye to the Conference Finals.

2005: WNBA Finals Extended

The WNBA Finals became a best-of-five series in 2005.

2010: Format Change for First Two Rounds

In 2010, the WNBA changed the first two rounds of the playoffs to a 1-1-1 format, with the higher-seeded team hosting Games 1 and 3.

2015: End of an Era

The WNBA playoff format, featuring conference seeding and a fixed number of teams, continued until 2015.

2016: New Playoff Format Introduced

The WNBA adopted a new stepladder-like playoff format in 2016, featuring eight teams based on overall record rather than conference standings. The format included single-elimination First and Second Rounds, followed by best-of-five Semifinals and Finals.

2021: End of Stepladder Format

The WNBA used the stepladder playoff format until 2021, providing exciting matchups and unpredictable outcomes.

2022: Current Playoff Format Implemented

In 2022, the WNBA introduced the current playoff format, featuring the top eight teams overall in a three-round series. The first round became a best-of-three, while the Semifinals and Finals remained best-of-five.