The Women’s National Basketball Association is an American female basketball league where most of the world’s premier talents are employed, including many American professionals.
WNBA Finals and Format
The championship is officially known as the WNBA Finals, falling in line with the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s NBA Finals, the male equivalent— this change was made in 2002 after it had previously been referred to as simply the WNBA Championship. In 2016, Verizon became the primary sponsor of the WNBA Finals.
The Finals have been played at the conclusion of the regular season and postseason bracket every year since the league’s inception in 1997; the championship stage follows a 2-2-1 split format, giving the higher-seeded team a chance to host three games as opposed to just two.
The two finalists used to emerge from within their respective brackets in the Eastern and Western conferences.
However, a 2016 rule change made it so that eight teams qualify for the postseason based on their winning percentage in their 36 regular-season games regardless of conference, implementing a massive shift in the way sports, especially in America, determine postseason finalists.
A similar change has been speculated in other professional sports leagues such as Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football Association (NFL), and NBA, with the last of these showing the most interest; the WNBA’s early change made them a pioneer, in this respect, and their model has been and will be studied by other sporting entities.
WNBA Season Schedule and Player Opportunities
The WNBA season runs, in totality, from late Spring to early Fall, with a winner being crowned at the very end, right around when the men’s league starts up again.
Athletes are free to and commonly take the opportunity to play in other leagues overseas during the WNBA offseason, whether to refine their game or stay involved in their life’s passion.
The WNBA betting market has become incredibly lucrative as of late, whether that be due to the rise in support from other professional athletes, increased visibility on broadcasting platforms, or swells of rumors regarding expansion teams and drafts.
An expansion could be the determinant factor in the WNBA increasing its popularity further as many of the game’s top players at the college level often find themselves without work due to the limited amount of teams in the league— with popular cities such as Oakland and Portland being heavily involved in rumors, the WNBA would have a chance not only to house more exciting talent but also tap into new markets to drum up support.
To bet on WNBA, a gambler need not learn any great specifics as the league almost mirrors the NBA; fans can wager on games, whether that be in the form of moneylines, spreads, player props, or any other from a litany of choices, or long-term outcomes, such as team wins, MVPs, and WNBA Championship winner.
The future of the WNBA is exciting both for fans and gamblers alike, which is why the league is finding itself in an increasingly better place— next up, how to capitalize on the WNBA’s betting offerings.