An expanded WNBA with extra video games and a brand new franchise will tip off on Could 16.
The league prolonged its schedule to 44 video games this 12 months, up from 40, with the addition of a brand new group, Golden State Valkyries. The brand new group, which has over 20,000 season ticket deposits, will play its inaugural recreation at house on opening night time towards Los Angeles.
The WNBA is coming off a file season with its most-watched common season in 24 years and playoffs in 25 years. Followers have been additionally flocking to video games with the best attendance in over 20 years. Final season’s rookie class, led by Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago’s Angel Reese, have been an enormous motive.
Their two groups will face off 5 occasions with the primary approaching the opening Saturday. Clark’s Fever will host the league’s All-Star Recreation on July 19.
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“We sit up for tipping off the WNBA’s twenty ninth season in Could of 2025 and persevering with to construct on the success of final season, when the WNBA delivered its most-watched Draft and All-Star Recreation, and set data for viewership, attendance, digital consumption and merchandise gross sales,” mentioned WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
“The upcoming free company interval and the 2025 WNBA Draft offered by State Farm will create an amazing stage of pleasure, and we’re additionally wanting ahead to the growth Golden State Valkyries taking the court docket for the primary time.”
The New York Liberty will have a good time their first title with a hoop and banner ceremony on Could 17 when it hosts Las Vegas. The Liberty, which beat Minnesota in a decisive fifth recreation in final season’s championship, will face the Lynx 4 occasions with the primary assembly coming July 30.
All 13 groups will play the opening weekend.
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup can be performed from June 1-17 with every group within the Japanese Convention having 5 video games and Western Convention groups enjoying six. The highest group from every convention will play on July 1 within the Cup Ultimate.
The common season ends on September 11 with the expanded playoffs to happen after that. The league switched its format to a best-of-seven finals this 12 months and the opening spherical will go to a 1-1-1 format with the more serious seeded group internet hosting Recreation 2. Up to now, the higher seeded group would get the primary two video games on their house court docket.
The league will maintain its draft on April 14 with UConn star Paige Bueckers anticipated to go first to the Dallas Wings. The tv and streaming broadcast schedule can be introduced at a later date.