The WNBA will change its Finals next year to a best-of-seven format, the league announced on Thursday.
Currently, the league has a best-of-five format for both the semifinals and finals, along with a best-of-three first round.
“This will give our fans a championship series format that they are accustomed to seeing in other sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said before Game 1 of the Finals.
Engelbert mentioned that the higher-seeded teams will host the first, second, fifth, and seventh games. The league will also adjust the opening round to ensure that the lower-seeded team gets at least one home game.
The higher-seeded team will host Game 1 and, if needed, Game 3. Right now, the first two games of the first round are played at the home of the better-seeded team. This year, all four first-round series ended in sweeps.
The commissioner noted that since the league has been using charter flights throughout the season, including the playoffs, it makes traveling between cities much easier.
Engelbert also announced that the league’s draft lottery will take place on Nov. 17, and the new Golden State Valkyries team will have the No. 5 pick.
Engelbert addressed the increasing number of attacks players have faced on social media, stating that there’s no place for it and that the league will collaborate with the players’ union to find ways to address it. She mentioned the importance of technology and mental health support.
“It just is something where we have to continue to be a voice for this, a voice against it, condemning it, and making sure that we find every opportunity to support our players, who have been dealing with this for much longer than this year,” Engelbert said.
