WNBA reveals plan for a best-of-seven Finals and a longer regular season

Before Lynx-Liberty Game 1, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the season likely will go deeper into October. She also said the league is taking steps to combat racism and bullying.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, speaking before the draft in April.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was smiling broadly as she approached the podium before Game 1 of the league Finals at Barclays Center on Thursday night. Here’s why:

The league’s playoff format will change dramatically. The WNBA Finals will move from a best-of-five format to best-of-seven, with a 2-2-1-1-1 format.

The semifinals will retain a best-of-five format. The first round will still be best-of-three but will follow a 1-1-1 format, ensuring both teams get at least one home game. The current format has the higher-seeded team playing host to the first two games — last month, the Lynx swept their series with the Mercury without ever having to play in Phoenix.

Also, the regular season will increase from 40 to 44 games.

But that won’t come without challenges.

“Next year there is no international competition, no FIBA, no Olympics,” Engelbert said. “It’s hard to [start the season] earlier, with the college season, our draft. We already go well into October. We’ll probably go later into October.”

Engelbert also tackled the issue of racism and bullying many players have faced, in person and online.

“We have to continue to be a voice on this and a voice condemning it,” she said. “We’re going to attack it multidimensionally.”

That means more security, perhaps, on site, and more diligence monitoring matters online. Engelbert said the league has already consulted with tech companies to see what can be done in this area. The league will move forward on the issue working with the WNBA Players Association.

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