NEW YORK – The WNBA will move to a best-of-seven series for the WNBA Finals starting next season, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Thursday.

Speaking to the media before Game 1 of the finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, Engelbert also said the league will move to a 1-1-1 format for the best-of-three first round, in which all play-offs are given. teams at least one home game.

In addition, the regular competition will be expanded from 40 to 44 matches.

The WNBA has used a best-of-five format for the Finals since 2005. From 1998 to 2004 it was a best-of-three series. The championship in the inaugural WNBA season in 1997 was decided in a single-game format.

The best-of-seven series will feature a 2-2-1-1-1 structure in which the higher seed would host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, and its opponent would host Games 3, 4 and 6.

“This will give our fans a championship series format they are used to in other sports,” Engelbert said.

The WNBA semifinals will remain a best-of-five format.

The first round has changed over the years. The most recent format featured the first two games of a best-of-three series, played at the home of the higher seed, and a possible third game at the home of the lower seed. But that format didn’t guarantee at least one home game for each playoff team, which the 1-1-1 scenario will do.

Engelbert said the WNBA’s move to charter flights for all games starting this season will help with the changes to the playoff format.

She also announced that the expansion draft for the league’s 13th team, the Golden State Valkyries, will air on ESPN on November 17 at 5 p.m. It was also confirmed that the Valkyries will pick fifth overall in each round of the standard draft in April. The Valkyries, who announced new coach Natalie Nakase earlier Thursday, will begin play next season.

The WNBA regular season has been moved up to 40 games in 2023. Adding four more regular-season games and the potential of longer playoffs means competition will likely begin later in October to conclude the season, which typically begins in mid-May.

The league must also schedule international events every two years – the Summer Olympics and the FIBA ​​Women’s Basketball World Cup. Neither event will be held next season, so Engelbert said this was the perfect time to launch the playoff changes, which have been discussed in recent years.

“It’s a constant balance between the schedule,” Engelbert said. “The growth of the league and increased demand for WNBA basketball made this the ideal time… to provide fans with more opportunities to watch the best players in the world compete at the highest level.”

The WNBA has two more expansion teams that will begin play in 2026: Toronto and Portland. Engelbert reiterated Thursday that the league expects to add another team by 2028 at the latest. Sixteen teams would reach the most the WNBA has had in its history.

With a celebrated draft class this season led by WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, the league has increased viewership and media attention. But that also comes with some challenges, including an increase in negative comments on social media.

Last month, Engelbert was criticized by some players and the players association for comments she made on CNBC that she said did not properly address the specific racist, misogynistic and homophobic tone of dialogue surrounding the WNBA. Engelbert subsequently wrote a letter apologizing to the players, and on Thursday she reiterated the league’s commitment to protecting players as much as possible.

“The hate speech and threats against our players are disturbing,” Engelbert said. “That type of behavior is not representative of the character or fan base of the WNBA. As a league, we are united in condemning racism and all forms of hatred. The WNBA is one of the most inclusive and diverse professional sports leagues in the world. And we will continue to defend these values.”

When asked what the WNBA could do specifically in terms of social media, Engelbert said the league would continue to work with the players association.

“We’re going to approach this multi-dimensionally,” she said. “Using technology, prioritizing mental health, strengthening physical safety and increasing monitoring. We know there is still more work to be done, and as a league we are fully committed to listening to the players and other stakeholders.

“There is no place for this in sports. I think we have met with a number of technology providers. There are a number of technology solutions that we could deploy. We have to continue to oppose this and condemn it. And seize every opportunity.” to support our players, who have been dealing with this for much longer than this year.”