Caitlin Clark and other WNBA stars set for major changes in 2025

Caitlin Clark and the other superstars of the WNBA are facing a new challenge in 2025 with major changes planned to the playoff format.

The new playoff path could have a big impact on the WNBA and even could affect the eventual winner.

Since 2022, the WNBA deployed a playoff format that involved a three-game series in round one, and five game series in the semifinals and WNBA Finals.

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However, the lower seeded team did not automatically have a home game in the first round under the previous setup, which was widely criticized by followers of the league.

As one might have expected, this led to two game sweeps in all four of the WNBA first round playoff series in 2024, which was about as anti-climatic, and perhaps about as unfair as could be.

As detailed by Bleacher Report and other outlets, the WNBA has stepped in to modify what its first round will look like, starting with the 2025 season.

The higher seeded team will still get Game 1 at home, but Game 2 will now be played at the home arena of the lower seeded team. If the series is tied one game apiece after these contests, a deciding game three will be played back at the home arena of the higher seeded team. In theory, this should increase the chances of first round series’ going the distance.

The WNBA didn’t stop there, as they also implemented a significant change to the format of the WNBA Finals.

As CBS Sports noted, the WNBA Finals will now be a best of seven series, instead of a best of five series as it has most recently been. It will feature a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the home team hosting Games 1,2,5 and 7, with the latter two needed only if necessary.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told CBS Sports about the WNBA Finals format update “This will give our fans a championship series format that they are accustomed to seeing in other sports.” The NBA has featured seven game playoff series for several decades.

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These are changes that fans have long since clamored for, but Engelbert maintained that the timing to introduce these was perfect, ahead of the 2025 campaign. She told CBS Sports, “We have contemplated both these changes since the pandemic, and we would have done it in the current year, but with the Olympic break this year it wasn’t possible.”

Engelbert also noted, “Now that we have charter flights throughout the regular season and playoffs, it’s feasible.”

The WNBA also announced that they would be moving to a 44 game regular season starting in 2025, which is an increase over the 40 game regular season slate they’ve previously had.

Engelbert told the WNBA’s website, “We are seeing an incredible demand for WNBA basketball, as reflected in the number of cities pursuing expansion franchises.”

Speak of expansion, the 2025 campaign will be the inaugural season for the Golden State Valkyries, who will be the WNBA’s 13^th team.

The New York Post wrote that it’s no surprise the WNBA decided to make these changes now, after they recorded record numbers in viewership during the course of the 2024 season.

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How many teams do you think the WNBA can eventually support? Will you tune into their remodeled WNBA playoff format in 2025? Let us know by leaving a comment!