The regular season ran from May 14 to September 19, with each of the 12 teams playing 40 games—four games each against the other five teams from the same conference, four games each against two teams from the other conference, and three games each against the remaining four teams in the other conference.[1] Five regular season games in early June were played against teams in the same conference to determine qualification for the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, an in-season tournament first played in 2021; the final will be hosted by the team with the better win–loss record in qualifying games.[2] The 2024 season includes a month-long break for the Summer Olympic Games, beginning after the annual WNBA All-Star Game on July 20 in Phoenix, Arizona.[3][4]
The eight teams with the best regular season records, regardless of conference, qualify for the WNBA Playoffs to determine the league's champion in the 2024 WNBA Finals. Since 2022, the playoffs have featured a best-of-three series in the first round, where teams are seeded based on regular season performance, and a best-of-five format for the semifinals and WNBA Finals.[5] The Las Vegas Aces were the defending champions, having won the 2023 WNBA Finals to retain their title in back-to-back seasons.[6] However, they lost to the New York Liberty in four games in the Semifinals, thus marked the end of the Aces' two year championship run. During the WNBA Finals, the New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in five games to win their first championship in franchise history.
The 2024 WNBA draft was held on April 15, 2024. The Indiana Fever won the first pick in the weighted draft lottery, held between the four teams that did not qualify for the 2023 WNBA Playoffs. It is the second consecutive year that Indiana has won the first pick in the draft.[7] The remaining lottery picks went to the Los Angeles Sparks in second, Phoenix Mercury in third, and Seattle Storm in fourth; the remaining picks are based on the regular season record of teams who qualified for the playoffs, from worst to best.[8]
On December 13, 2023, Tiffany Hayes announced her retirement after eleven seasons in the WNBA. Hayes made the All-Rookie team in 2012, she was an All-Star in 2017 and was selected to the All-WNBA First Team in 2018. She spent ten of her eleven seasons with the Atlanta Dream.[9] Hayes later signed with the Las Vegas Aces on May 31, 2024.[10]
Records are from time at current team and are through the end of the 2023 regular season.
Playoff appearances are from time at current team only.
WNBA Finals and Championships do not include time with other teams.
Coaches shown are the coaches who began the 2024 season as head coach of each team.
Media coverage
National
This was the eighth year of a nine-year deal with ESPN,[69] the second year of a three-year deal with Ion,[70] and the first year of a two-year deal with CBS Sports and Amazon.[71][72] Select games also aired on NBA TV through the WNBA and NBA's shared ownership.
ESPN aired 25 regular-season games across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. Additionally, ESPN aired the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge, ABC aired the WNBA All-Star Game, and ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 exclusively aired the WNBA playoffs and WNBA Finals.[73]
Ion Television aired 47 regular-season games, exclusively on Friday nights. Select games were showcased nationally with others only shown to regional audiences. In 2024, Ion aired a weekly WNBA studio show for the first time.[74][75]
CBS Sports aired 20 regular-season games, with eight airing on CBS and 12 airing on CBS Sports Network.[76]
During the league's Olympic break, the WNBA announced on July 24, 2024 that a new 11-year media rights extension was made with ESPN/ABC and Prime Video, as well as a new deal with NBC Sports. These new deals, which were announced in conjunction with the NBA's new media rights deal with the three parties, will take effect starting with the 2026 season.
In April 2024, the Indiana Fever announced a new agreement with Tegna Inc. to air games locally on WTHR or WALV-CD.[79]
Related Research Articles
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