The 2026 WNBA Finals get underway on Saturday, October 17 at 3:30 ET. The Atlanta Dream will take on the Golden State Valkyries, with both teams searching for their first-ever WNBA title.
Before the 30th WNBA Finals gets underway, dig into some WNBA Championship history, including Finals MVPs and which team has won the most titles.
WNBA Finals champions, Finals MVP Award by year
| Year | Champion | Runner Up | MVP |
| 2025 | Las Vegas Aces | Phoenix Mercury | A’ja Wilson |
| 2024 | New York Liberty | Minnesota Lynx | Jonquel Jones |
| 2023 | Las Vegas Aces | New York Liberty | A’ja Wilson |
| 2022 | Las Vegas Aces | Connecticut Sun | Chelsea Gray |
| 2021 | Chicago Sky | Phoenix Mercury | Kahleah Copper |
| 2020 | Seattle Storm | Las Vegas Aces | Breanna Stewart |
| 2019 | Washington Mystics | Connecticut Sun | Emma Meesseman |
| 2018 | Seattle Storm | Washington Mystics | Breanna Stewart |
| 2017 | Minnesota Lynx | Los Angeles Sparks | Sylvia Fowles |
| 2016 | Los Angeles Sparks | Minnesota Lynx | Candace Parker |
| 2015 | Minnesota Lynx | Indiana Fever | Sylvia Fowles |
| 2014 | Phoenix Mercury | Chicago Sky | Diana Taurasi |
| 2013 | Minnesota Lynx | Atlanta Dream | Maya Moore |
| 2012 | Indiana Fever | Minnesota Lynx | Tamika Catchings |
| 2011 | Minnesota Lynx | Atlanta Dream | Seimone Augustus |
| 2010 | Seattle Storm | Atlanta Dream | Lauren Jackson |
| 2009 | Phoenix Mercury | Indiana Fever | Diana Taurasi |
| 2008 | Detroit Shock | San Antonio Silver Stars | Katie Smith |
| 2007 | Phoenix Mercury | Detroit Shock | Cappie Pondexter |
| 2006 | Detroit Shock | Sacramento Monarchs | Deanna Nolan |
| 2005 | Sacramento Monarchs | Connecticut Sun | Yolanda Griffith |
| 2004 | Seattle Storm | Connecticut Sun | Betty Lennox |
| 2003 | Detroit Shock | Los Angeles Sparks | Ruth Riley |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Sparks | New York Liberty | Lisa Leslie |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Sparks | Charlotte Sting | Lisa Leslie |
| 2000 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1999 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1998 | Houston Comets | Phoenix Mercury | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1997 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | Cynthia Cooper |
Which WNBA team has the most championships?
The Houston Comets (folded in 2008), the Minnesota Lynx and the Seattle Storm hold the record for most championships, all with four titles. The Comets and the Storm are also the only two WNBA teams to go undefeated in the Finals.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 29: Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor, Cynthia Cooper, Tammy Jackson, and Sheryl Swoops hold up four trophies representing their four straight WNBA championships during a rally after a parade in downtown Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000. (Buster Dean/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images))
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Has any team ever won a three-peat in WNBA history?
The Houston Comets won four consecutive titles (1997,1998,1999, 2000). Since then, two teams have won back-to-back titles – the Los Angeles Sparks (2001, 2002) and the Las Vegas Aces (2022, 2023). No other team besides the Comets has secured a title three-peat.
How many WNBA championships did Cynthia Cooper win?
Cynthia Cooper won four straight WNBA championships with the Houston Comets (1997-2000). This WNBA legend was also named Finals MVP all four years, the only player in league history to win the award four times. Lisa Leslie is the only other player to win consecutive MVP awards (2001-2002). Diana Taurasi (2009, 2014), Sylvia Fowles (2015, 2017), Breanna Stewart (2018, 2020) and A’ja Wilson (2023, 2025) have won the award twice.
HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 1: Cynthia Cooper #14 of the Houston Comets celebrates during Game Three of the 1998 WNBA Finals on September 1, 1998 at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
Is the WNBA Finals 5 or 7 games?
Since 2005, the WNBA Finals was a 5-game game series, but beginning in 2025, it is now a 7-game series. The 7-game series follows a homecourt system of 2-2-1-1-1, where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, with the lower seed hosting Games 3, 4 and 6.
Who won the WNBA Finals last year?
The Las Vegas Aces won the 2025 WNBA Finals, sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in four games. This was the Aces third title in four seasons.
