All WNBA Best-of-7 Winners Since 2022
Since the WNBA switched to a best-of-7 format for the Finals starting in 2022, only four teams have lifted the championship trophy — and each did it by winning four games in a hard-fought series. Here’s every WNBA playoffs best of 7 winners list from 2022 through 2024, with context you won’t find in a simple scoreboard recap.
2022: The Aces Break Through
Las Vegas didn’t just win their first title in 2022 — they rewrote the script on how dominant a team could look in a best-of-7. Facing the Connecticut Sun, the Aces dropped Game 1 at home but responded with four straight wins, capped by a 78–71 victory in Game 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena. A’ja Wilson averaged 20.8 points and 10.5 rebounds across the series, while Chelsea Gray earned Finals MVP after dropping 20+ in three of the final four games. This marked the first time since 2014 that a team won a WNBA Finals in four straight — and it set the tone for what would become a new era of parity-defying excellence. It’s also the first entry on any accurate WNBA playoffs best of 7 winners list.
2023: Back-to-Back in Style
The 2023 Finals pitted the defending champs against the New York Liberty — a matchup fans had waited years to see. What followed was the most competitive best-of-7 in league history to date. After splitting the first two games in Las Vegas, the series shifted to Brooklyn, where the Liberty stole Game 3 in overtime. But the Aces answered with a gritty Game 4 win, then took control with commanding victories in Games 5 and 6 back home. They closed it out 70–69 in Game 7 — the first winner-take-all game in the new best-of-7 era. Wilson hit the go-ahead jumper with 12 seconds left, and the Aces became the first repeat champions under the current format. That makes them central to any reliable WNBA playoffs best of 7 winners list.
2024: Liberty Finally Get Over the Hump
After falling short in 2023 — and in multiple prior Finals — the New York Liberty didn’t just win in 2024. They dominated. Facing the Minnesota Lynx, they won Game 1 in Minneapolis, held serve at home in Games 2 and 3, then clinched the title in Game 4 with a 67–62 win at Target Center. Breanna Stewart dropped 27 in the closer, hitting clutch threes down the stretch and finishing with a series-high 23.1 points per game. Unlike previous years, there was no dramatic Game 7 — just relentless execution, elite defense, and a roster built for this moment. For the first time since the switch to best-of-7, a team other than Las Vegas topped the WNBA playoffs best of 7 winners list.
What About the Semifinals and Conference Finals?
It’s easy to assume all rounds went best-of-7 — but they didn’t. Only the Finals adopted the format in 2022. The semifinals remained best-of-5 through 2023, and the conference finals were best-of-5 until 2024, when both moved to best-of-5 with a potential Game 5 played on neutral court. So when people search for ‘WNBA playoffs best of 7 winners list,’ they’re almost always referring to the Finals — not earlier rounds. That’s why our list stops at the championship series, and why you won’t find semifinal winners like the Phoenix Mercury (2022) or the Atlanta Dream (2024) here — they won best-of-5 series, not best-of-7.
Frequently asked questions
When did the WNBA start using best-of-7 in the Finals?
The WNBA introduced the best-of-7 format for the Finals beginning with the 2022 season — part of a broader effort to elevate the championship round and align more closely with NBA Finals structure.
Has any team won a Game 7 in the WNBA Finals yet?
Yes — Las Vegas beat New York 70–69 in Game 7 of the 2023 Finals. It remains the only Game 7 in the best-of-7 era so far.
Why aren’t earlier rounds best-of-7?
Scheduling, travel logistics, and player workload are the main reasons. The league expanded the Finals to seven games to boost prestige and revenue — but kept earlier rounds shorter to protect the regular-season calendar and athlete health.
Who has the most titles under the best-of-7 format?
The Las Vegas Aces lead with two championships (2022, 2023). The New York Liberty joined the list in 2024 — making them the third team overall, and the first non-Aces winner in the best-of-7 era.