WNBA schedule expands to 50 games in 2027
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- WNBA will move to a 50-game regular season starting in 2027, up from the current 44-game schedule and the most games in league history since the league launched with 28 games in 1997.
- The new CBA that enabled the expansion also vastly increased player pay, secured a $2.2 billion media deal, and slated six expansion teams to join the league between 2024 and 2030.
- The extended schedule pushes the regular season's end to no later than Nov. 21 in 2027 and Nov. 30 starting in 2028, nearly a month beyond the previous Oct. 31 cutoff.
- The league retains the option to expand to 52 regular-season games beginning in 2029, a further 10% bump over the new 50-game floor.
- Commissioner Cathy Engelbert framed the change as a response to record demand, saying the 50-game schedule reflects 'the extraordinary momentum we are seeing across the league.'
- The 2026 season began May 8 and runs through Sept. 24, with the last possible Finals date set for Oct. 31, serving as the final year under the 44-game format.
Why it matters: The WNBA is adding six games to every team's schedule in 2027, handing players more paid workdays and broadcast partners more inventory just two years after the league's previous schedule bump from 40 to 44 games — a sign that surging demand and the new $2.2 billion media deal are pulling the season's footprint later into the calendar year.
