Eight teams qualify, but only one can win it all.
The WNBA playoffs feature the league's top eight teams all with their sights on the league's top prize. The first round includes four best-of-three series, the semifinals include two best-of-five series, and the postseason culminates with the best-of-seven WNBA Finals. The 2026 WNBA playoffs will cap the league's 30th season.
From Cynthia Cooper and the Houston Comets to A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces, check out a list of the all-time WNBA champions below:
2025: Las Vegas Aces (def. Phoenix Mercury 4-0; A'ja Wilson (LV) named Finals MVP)
2024: New York Liberty (def. Minnesota Lynx 3-2; Jonquel Jones (NY) named Finals MVP)
2023: Las Vegas Aces (def. New York Liberty 3-1; A'ja Wilson (LV) named Finals MVP)
2022: Las Vegas Aces (def. Connecticut Sun 3-1; Chelsea Gray (LV) named Finals MVP)
2021: Chicago Sky (def. Phoenix Mercury 3-1; Kahleah Copper (CHI) named Finals MVP)
2020: Seattle Storm (def. Las Vegas Aces 3-0; Breanna Stewart (SEA) named Finals MVP)
2019: Washington Mystics (def. Connecticut Sun 3-2; Emma Meesseman (WSH) named Finals MVP)
2018: Seattle Storm (def. Washington Mystics 3-0; Breanna Stewart (SEA) named Finals MVP)
2017: Minnesota Lynx (def. Los Angeles Sparks 3-2; Sylvia Fowles (MIN) named Finals MVP)
2016: Los Angeles Sparks (def. Minnesota Lynx 3-2; Candace Parker (LA) named Finals MVP)
2015: Minnesota Lynx (def. Indiana Fever 3-2; Sylvia Fowles (MIN) named Finals MVP)
2014: Phoenix Mercury (def. Chicago Sky 3-0; Diana Taurasi (PHX) named Finals MVP)
2013: Minnesota Lynx (def. Atlanta Dream 3-0; Maya Moore (MIN) named Finals MVP)
2012: Indiana Fever (def. Minnesota Lynx 3-1; Tamika Catchings (IND) named Finals MVP)
2011: Minnesota Lynx (def. Atlanta Dream 3-0; Seimone Augustus (MIN) named Finals MVP)
2010: Seattle Storm (def. Atlanta Dream 3-0; Lauren Jackson (SEA) named Finals MVP)
2009: Phoenix Mercury (def. Indiana Fever 3-2; Diana Taurasi (PHX) named Finals MVP)
2008: Detroit Shock (def. San Antonio Silver Stars 3-0; Katie Smith (DET) named Finals MVP)
2007: Phoenix Mercury (def. Detroit Shock 3-2; Cappie Poindexter (PHX) named Finals MVP)
2006: Detroit Shock (def. Sacramento Monarchs 3-2; Deanna Nolan (DET) named Finals MVP)
2005: Sacramento Monarchs (def. Connecticut Sun 3-1; Yolanda Griffith (SAC) named Finals MVP)
2004: Seattle Storm (def. Connecticut Sun 2-1; Betty Lennox (SEA) named Finals MVP)
2003: Detroit Shock (def. Los Angeles Sparks 2-1; Ruth Riley (DET) named Finals MVP)
2002: Los Angeles Sparks (def. New York Liberty 2-0; Lisa Leslie (LA) named Finals MVP
2001: Los Angeles Sparks (def. Charlotte Sting 2-0; Lisa Leslie (LA) named Finals MVP)
2000: Houston Comets (def. New York Liberty 2-0; Cynthia Cooper (HOU) named Finals MVP)
1999: Houston Comets (def. New York Liberty 2-1; Cynthia Cooper (HOU) named Finals MVP
1998: Houston Comets (def. Phoenix Mercury 2-1; Cynthia Cooper (HOU) named Finals MVP)
1997: Houston Comets (def. New York Liberty 1-0; Cynthia Cooper (HOU) named Finals MVP)