Look, if you’ve been following the league for a while, you know things are moving fast. But the WNBA regular season schedule 2025 is basically the moment the league decides to stop playing small. We aren't just talking about a few extra games here and there. We’re talking about a fundamental shift in how the season looks, feels, and actually works for the players and the fans.
The big headline? Forty-four games.
That is the highest number of games in the history of the WNBA. For years, we hovered in the 30s, then we hit 40, and now, with the Golden State Valkyries officially entering the chat, the schedule had to expand. It’s a lot of basketball. The season officially tipped off on May 16, 2025, and it’s running all the way through September 11. If you're used to that mid-summer Olympic break we had last year, forget it. This year is a straight sprint from May to September.
The Valkyries Effect on the 2025 Calendar
Adding a 13th team isn't just about having more jerseys to buy. It messed with the entire math of the league. With the Valkyries in the Western Conference, the WNBA now has an uneven number of teams (six in the East, seven in the West). This is why the WNBA regular season schedule 2025 looks a bit "weird" if you’re a data nerd.
Every team plays 44 games—22 at home and 22 on the road. But because of that 13th team, the league had to get creative with how often teams see each other.
The Valkyries didn't just show up to participate; they basically took over the Bay Area. They sold out all 22 of their home games at the Chase Center before the season even really got its legs. Their opening night on May 16 against the LA Sparks was a legitimate cultural moment. Honestly, seeing a sell-out crowd of over 18,000 in San Francisco for a debut game tells you everything you need to know about where this league is headed.
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Key Dates You Should’ve Circled
- May 16: Opening Night (Valkyries vs. Sparks)
- June 1 – June 17: The Commissioner’s Cup window
- July 1: Commissioner’s Cup Championship
- July 19: WNBA All-Star Game in Indy
- September 11: Regular season finale
Commissioner’s Cup: The New Format
The Commissioner's Cup has always been a little confusing for casual fans. "Wait, does this game count twice?" Basically, yes. But for the WNBA regular season schedule 2025, they streamlined it. Instead of dragging it out over months, they compressed it into a two-week madness period in June.
Between June 1 and June 17, every game played is a "Cup game."
In the East, teams played five games (one against each conference rival). In the West, because there are seven teams now, they played six games each. It was intense. The Indiana Fever ended up taking the title on July 1, beating the Minnesota Lynx 74-59 at the Target Center. Natasha Howard walked away with the MVP and a nice chunk of that $500,000 prize pool. It’s a smart move by the league—it creates a "playoff feel" right in the middle of the summer when people are usually just starting to pay attention.
Why the 44-Game Grind Matters
You’ve gotta feel for the players a little bit. Adding four extra games to the schedule without extending the actual length of the season (May to September) means the "rest days" are disappearing. We are seeing more back-to-backs and more "three games in five nights" stretches.
The WNBA regular season schedule 2025 is a test of depth.
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Teams like the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, who have veteran rosters, are having to manage minutes way more carefully. You can’t just ride your starters for 38 minutes every night when you’ve got 44 games to get through. It’s also why we’re seeing younger players, like Paige Bueckers in Dallas, getting thrown into the fire early. There’s no time for a slow learning curve.
Prime Time and National Exposure
This year, the broadcast schedule finally caught up to the hype. We saw the first-ever primetime WNBA games on network CBS. ION kept their Friday night doubleheaders, which have become a staple for fans who just want to park on the couch and watch hoops.
Disney (ABC/ESPN) also upped their game with 26 total games. The reality is, you can't find a night in the WNBA regular season schedule 2025 where there isn't some way to watch a game, whether it's Prime Video, NBA TV, or the local networks.
The Road to the Best-of-Seven Finals
Everything in this 44-game marathon is leading to a massive change in the postseason. For the first time ever, the WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven series.
In previous years, a "hot" team could steal a best-of-five series and be done with it. Now? You need four wins. This makes the regular season seeding even more vital. The grind of the WNBA regular season schedule 2025 is designed to battle-test these teams. If you can survive 44 games and a compressed June tournament, you’re ready for a seven-game war in October.
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The league also tweaked the first round. It’s now a 1-1-1 format. This means the lower seed actually gets a home game (Game 2), which is a huge win for fans in those markets. No more "two games on the road and you're out" scenarios.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Schedule
A lot of people think the expansion to 44 games was just a money grab. While more tickets sold equals more revenue, it’s actually about preparing the league for the next wave of expansion. We already know Toronto and Portland are coming in 2026.
The 2025 season is the "beta test" for a 15-team league.
Another misconception is that the All-Star Game on July 19 in Indianapolis was just a "break." With the way the Fever fans showed up (over 17,000 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse), it felt more like a celebration of the league's growth. It wasn't just an exhibition; it was a statement.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re trying to navigate the rest of this season or planning for the playoffs, here is what you need to do:
- Download the WNBA App: Seriously, with 44 games, it’s impossible to keep track of standings in your head. The tie-breaker rules are going to be messy this year because of the uneven conference sizes.
- Watch the "Series" Matchups: Because of the 44-game count, many teams are playing "mini-series" where they face the same opponent twice in three days. These are the games where rivalries actually get heated.
- Monitor Injury Reports: This schedule is brutal. Keep an eye on "load management" for stars like Breanna Stewart or A'ja Wilson, especially during those Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday stretches.
- Secure Playoff Tickets Early: With the move to a best-of-seven Finals, the demand for those later games is going to be through the roof. If your team is in the top four, start looking at your calendar for late September now.
The WNBA regular season schedule 2025 is officially the longest, loudest, and most attended season in history. Whether you're a day-one fan or just jumped on the bandwagon because of the "Caitlin Clark effect," there's no denying the energy is different this time around.
Make sure you've bookmarked the official league schedule page, as tip-off times can shift slightly for national TV windows. With the regular season wrapping up on September 11, the sprint to the first-ever seven-game Finals is officially on.