3 major WNBA updates for 2025 from Cathy Engelbert, including Finals format changes
Ahead of the WNBA Finals kicking off in Brooklyn, commissioner Cathy Engelbert dropped several significant pieces of news to media members during a pregame presser, during which she reviewed the league’s growth.
Shortly after sharing some major milestones the WNBA reached this season, Cathy Engelbert dropped several important updates, including confirming murmurs of a 44-game season and how the upcoming WNBA Draft Lottery and 2025 WNBA Draft will work with the Golden State Valkyries officially up and running.
It was somewhat hard to keep up with all the updates ― they were flying with lightning speed ― but we’ve gathered them all here for you. Here’s what we learned from Cathy Engelbert’s Thursday presser:
The WNBA Finals will move to a best-of-seven series in 2025
(Mark Smith/Imagn Images)
The best-of-seven series in the WNBA Finals will be a 2-2-1-1-1 format, and the first round will be a best-of-three series with a 1-1-1 setup. The regular season will also move from 40 to 44 games.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announces the finals will be best-of-7 next year. 2-2-1-1-1 format. It’s now best-of-5.
— Rachel Bachman (@Bachscore) October 10, 2024
W also will go to 1-1-1 format for first-round games, so each team gets at least 1 @ home.
Reg season will go to 44 games, from 40. pic.twitter.com/GRqUv26v3a
The WNBA Draft is April 14, 2025
(Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)
The Los Angeles Sparks, Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky and the Washington Mystics will participate in the WNBA Draft Lottery on November 17. The Golden State Valkyries will also have the 5th pick in each round during the WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025.
Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and Washington will participate in the WNBA draft lottery on Nov. 17, the WNBA announced.
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) October 10, 2024
The WNBA draft is scheduled for April 14, 2025, and the Golden State Valkyries will have the fifth selection in each of the three rounds. pic.twitter.com/uBAc4t4SfH
The cities still in consideration for a WNBA expansion team
(Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
There are 10-12 cities still in consideration for the league’s 16th team, including Philadelphia.
Cathy Engelbert says “10-12 cities” are “viable” for the WNBA’s 16th franchise (Tanenwald) #WNBA
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) October 10, 2024