The Las Vegas Aces are the reigning WNBA champions after sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 Finals, their third title in four seasons, with A’ja Wilson named Finals MVP. Three franchises share the record with four championships each: the Houston Comets, who won the first four titles from 1997 to 2000, the Minnesota Lynx and the Seattle Storm. The full list of every WNBA champion, runner up, Finals result and Finals MVP is below.
WNBA Champions by Year
| Year | Champion | Runner up | Finals | Finals MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Las Vegas Aces | Phoenix Mercury | 4-0 | A’ja Wilson |
| 2024 | New York Liberty | Minnesota Lynx | 3-2 | Jonquel Jones |
| 2023 | Las Vegas Aces | New York Liberty | 3-1 | A’ja Wilson |
| 2022 | Las Vegas Aces | Connecticut Sun | 3-1 | Chelsea Gray |
| 2021 | Chicago Sky | Phoenix Mercury | 3-1 | Kahleah Copper |
| 2020 | Seattle Storm | Las Vegas Aces | 3-0 | Breanna Stewart |
| 2019 | Washington Mystics | Connecticut Sun | 3-2 | Emma Meesseman |
| 2018 | Seattle Storm | Washington Mystics | 3-0 | Breanna Stewart |
| 2017 | Minnesota Lynx | Los Angeles Sparks | 3-2 | Sylvia Fowles |
| 2016 | Los Angeles Sparks | Minnesota Lynx | 3-2 | Candace Parker |
| 2015 | Minnesota Lynx | Indiana Fever | 3-2 | Sylvia Fowles |
| 2014 | Phoenix Mercury | Chicago Sky | 3-0 | Diana Taurasi |
| 2013 | Minnesota Lynx | Atlanta Dream | 3-0 | Maya Moore |
| 2012 | Indiana Fever | Minnesota Lynx | 3-1 | Tamika Catchings |
| 2011 | Minnesota Lynx | Atlanta Dream | 3-0 | Seimone Augustus |
| 2010 | Seattle Storm | Atlanta Dream | 3-0 | Lauren Jackson |
| 2009 | Phoenix Mercury | Indiana Fever | 3-2 | Diana Taurasi |
| 2008 | Detroit Shock | San Antonio Silver Stars | 3-0 | Katie Smith |
| 2007 | Phoenix Mercury | Detroit Shock | 3-2 | Cappie Pondexter |
| 2006 | Detroit Shock | Sacramento Monarchs | 3-2 | Deanna Nolan |
| 2005 | Sacramento Monarchs | Connecticut Sun | 3-1 | Yolanda Griffith |
| 2004 | Seattle Storm | Connecticut Sun | 2-1 | Betty Lennox |
| 2003 | Detroit Shock | Los Angeles Sparks | 2-1 | Ruth Riley |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Sparks | New York Liberty | 2-0 | Lisa Leslie |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Sparks | Charlotte Sting | 2-0 | Lisa Leslie |
| 2000 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | 2-0 | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1999 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | 2-1 | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1998 | Houston Comets | Phoenix Mercury | 2-1 | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1997 | Houston Comets | New York Liberty | One game, 65-51 | Cynthia Cooper |
The Dynasties
The Comets set the standard, winning the league’s first four championships behind Cynthia Cooper, the Finals MVP every time, alongside Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson. The Minnesota Lynx won four titles in seven seasons from 2011 to 2017 with Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen and Sylvia Fowles. The Seattle Storm won four titles across three eras, in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020, with Sue Bird on all four teams. The Las Vegas Aces are the modern power, with championships in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Finals Format
The WNBA Finals began as a single game in 1997, moved to a best of three series from 1998 to 2004 and a best of five from 2005 to 2024. The Finals expanded to a best of seven in 2025, the first year of the new format.
2026 WNBA Playoffs
The 2026 playoffs began September 27, and the Finals start October 17. Follow every series on the WNBA playoff bracket, check the WNBA Finals schedule and see the latest WNBA championship odds.
Official records and history are available from WNBA.com and Basketball Reference.