The WNBA has just announced that the league will expand to 50 games in 2027, up from 44 this season. It was decided in the CBA before the start of the season that the league could have a maximum of 50 games for 2027 and 2028, and potentially 52 for 2029.

The WNBA is celebrating its 30th anniversary this season. And rightly so, the demand for the games have reached an all-time high. The league is now one of the fastest-growing in terms of revenue(the latest TV deal is valued at over $2.2 billion) and viewership both. So this move was not a surprise.

The league’s roster now features some players who have practically transcended the sport to become global stars. They attract millions of viewers by themselves, and it was only natural that the league would look to expand games in the coming seasons.

This is good news for the fans and viewers alike, and their reaction has been immediate. And they have reacted across the spectrum.

One user reacted by posting, “Hmm, I wonder what changed in the last three years to drive that increased demand? Could it be CAITLIN ELIZABETH CLARK,” signalling the fact that Caitlin Clark has indeed become the poster girl of the league, and the fans simply can’t get enough of her. Indeed, all 44 of the Indiana Fever’s games are broadcast, and they are the only ones to have this spotlight.

Another fan posted, “Make sure the games are spread out then and not 3 at the same time, same night!!” expressing concerns about scheduling. The fans voiced concern that they want to watch a variety of games and don’t want games to overlap.

One individual pointed “12 min quarters should be next,” indicating that not only do they want more games, but they also want longer games. The fans, it seems, just can’t get enough.

One user put forward a critical fan demand, “Can we put them on one streaming app,” signalling that fans want a more streamlined viewing experience as well, to go with more games.

Some fans expressed excitement about watching the upcoming rookies, some of whom are already playing like top players. “I admit. The game is fun to watch, especially with the new talent coming in the past 2/3 years. Olivia Miles is fun to watch.”

One individual commented, ” Now expand the playoff series.” This means that the community wants more playoff games and not just the regular games.

One fan perhaps best summed it up. “This is great news for our WNBA players, keep our players stateside, more play, more games, more teams, and opportunities, a better way of living for them, they deserve it, keep it going ladies,” highlighting the fact that after this expansion, the players will feel a lesser need to go overseas to play to supplement their income.

WNBA Is Among the Fastest Growing Brands

The WNBA was the fastest-growing brand in 2024, as per Forbes. The league added two new teams this year. These are the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo.

There are already talks of adding even more teams. And the CBA already talks about having a potential 52 games for the 2029 season.

WNBA has become the fifth most popular professional sport, behind the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, and ahead of the MLS and PGA, as per Forbes.

The Golden State Valkyries initially paid a $50 million expansion fee to secure their place in the league. They announced in March 2025 that they have become the first WNBA outfit to sell 10,000 season tickets, as per Sportspro. And team president at the time, Jess Smith, believes the competition has “all the components that it needs to grow exponentially”.

So the WNBA is on the growth path. They would do well to keep on it while heeding the players’ demands and prioritizing their well-being.