As the WNBA continues its historic rise in popularity, the league has announced it is expanding its regular season to 50 games per team beginning in the 2027 season.
This change continues an era of ascension in the WNBA, led by the arrival of stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
WNBA World Reacts as League Expands Season to 50 Games
The 2027 season will be the longest in WNBA history, with every team set to play 50 regular-season games. This is up from each team playing 44 games this season, and almost double the 28 games teams played when the league launched in 1997.
Fans were thrilled by this news, which comes as the latest step in growing the game. A Luka Dončić and Clark fan hailed the Indiana Fever superstar as the biggest reason for this expansion.
“You failed to mention that is a Caitlin Clark effect,” they wrote.
Another fan claimed that the WNBA was quickly becoming one of their favorite sporting leagues.
“WNBA gonna mess round and jump baseball in my top 3 sports leagues,” they wrote.
WNBA gonna mess round and jump baseball in my top 3 sports leagues. https://t.co/AJnfoggNfe
— Jamal (@FinesseBucket) June 17, 2026
James Boyd of The Athletic pointed out how rapidly the WNBA has grown over the years. In addition to increasing the number of games, the league is also set to introduce three new teams through expansion in the coming years.
“The #WNBA just announced that its regular season will expand to 50 games next year. Teams played 28 games during the W’s inaugural season in 1997. Here’s a look back at how/when the games have increased. 1997: 28, 1998: 30, 1999: 32, 2003: 34, 2022: 36, 2023 40, 2025: 44, 2027: 50,” he wrote.
The #WNBA just announced that its regular season will expand to 50 games next year.
Teams played 28 games during the W’s inaugural season in 1997.
Here’s a look back at how/when the games have increased.
1997: 28
1998: 30
1999: 32
2003: 34
2022: 36
2023 40
2025: 44
2027: 50 pic.twitter.com/lhRpGoTFL7— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 17, 2026
An Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers fan hailed this as great news for women’s sports.
“EVERYONE WATCHES WOMEN’S SPORTS,” they wrote.
EVERYONE WATCHES WOMEN’S SPORTS 👏🏻 https://t.co/kIo342KszA pic.twitter.com/oPkGhfpmIX
— AZZI’S DALLAS WING (@AzzisDallasWing) June 17, 2026
Journalist Aya Abdeen questioned whether increased game time could affect players’ long-term health.
“I have mixed feelings about this move, to be honest. The question is how the rosters will stay healthy in the long run,” she wrote.
I have mixed feelings about this move, to be honest. The question is how the rosters will stay healthy in the long run. #WNBA https://t.co/8Sr4ciyL1E
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) June 17, 2026
Another fan raised concern over the players’ health.
“Our knees gone by August,” they wrote.
our knees gone by august. https://t.co/63FiBIbaqQ pic.twitter.com/JCpSlrNsAK
— kimberly. (@problemsthots) June 17, 2026
Another brought up the recent raise WNBA players received under the new collective bargaining agreement, ratified before the start of the season, and wondered whether the players would still play in other leagues.
“Everyone got a raise and now the league said we need you to lace em up some more lol. Now my next question, how many games would they need to play for players to stop playing in side leagues? 60?,” they wrote.
Everyone got a raise and now they league said we need you to lace em up some more lol
Now my next question, how many games would they need to play for players to stop playing in side leagues? 60? https://t.co/1XRHiWQdmX
— Dallas (@DallasJonesy) June 17, 2026
In addition to expanding the league and increasing the number of regular-season games, the WNBA is also planning to play games overseas in the coming years. There is also potential for more growth, with the possibility of as many as 52 games per team from 2029.
