The WNBA has announced a major change. Starting in 2027, teams will play 50 games in a regular season, which is the most in the league’s 30-year history, Yankee Scores reports.
When the WNBA started in 1997, teams played only 28 games. Now, it’s nearly double of that, this is a proof of how far women’s basketball has advanced
The announcement was made on the 17th of June, 2026 confirming the shift from the current 44-game season to 50 games, starting with the 2027 season.
Breaking: The WNBA will expand its season to 50 games beginning in 2027, the league announced. pic.twitter.com/zqmz6g4XBY
— ESPN (@espn) June 17, 2026
ESPN reported that this expansion is part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that was approved earlier this year.
The CBA also allows for up to 52 regular season games starting in 2029 for the rest of the agreement.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert clearly stated what this means; “Demand for the WNBA has never been greater, and expanding to a 50-game regular season reflects the extraordinary momentum we are seeing across the league,” she said.
She is absolutely correct, three new expansion teams are coming to the league soon; Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. The Connecticut franchise is also moving to Houston next year. The league is expanding in all directions.
More games will lead to more exposure, more rivalries, and more money going to players. The WNBA is no longer a league that needs convincing. The fans are already here and the league is finally matching the excitement.
