WNBA Season Guide: Format, Commissioner's Cup & Playoffs
Published by NBA Court View Editorial • Updated August 2026
1. WNBA Regular Season
The WNBA season runs from May through September featuring 40 regular season games per team. Teams play balanced schedules across the Eastern and Western conferences.
2. The Commissioner's Cup
Designated in-season games double as Commissioner's Cup qualifying games. The top team from each conference advances to the Commissioner's Cup Championship Game for a lucrative cash prize pool.
3. WNBA Playoff System
The top 8 teams regardless of conference qualify for the WNBA Playoffs. Seeds #1 vs #8, #2 vs #7, #3 vs #6, and #4 vs #5 square off in a best-of-3 first round, followed by best-of-5 Semifinals and WNBA Finals.