<P> The series is played between the winners of the playoff semifinals . At the conclusion of the championship round, the winner of the WNBA Finals is presented the championship trophy . The WNBA Finals has been played at the conclusion of every WNBA season in history, the first being held in 1997 . </P> <P> Since 2005, the winner of the WNBA Finals has been determined through a 2--2--1 format . The first, second, and fifth games of the series are played at the arena of the team who earned home court advantage by having the better record during the regular season . </P> <P> The WNBA Finals were originally a single championship game to decide the WNBA champion . However, in 1998, after the addition of two teams, the WNBA Finals were turned into a best - of - three games series . In 2005, the WNBA Finals adopted a best - of - five format . This finale series was known as the WNBA Championship from 1997 to 2001, before changing to reflect its NBA counterpart . In 2016, the WNBA changed to its current playoff format seeding teams #1 thru #8 regardless of conference making it possible for two Eastern Conference or two Western Conference teams to meet in the Finals . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Winner </Th> <Th> Result </Th> <Th> Loser </Th> <Th> Finals MVP </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> Houston Comets </Td> <Td> 65 - 51 </Td> <Td> New York Liberty </Td> <Td> Cynthia Cooper </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Houston Comets </Td> <Td> 2--1 </Td> <Td> Phoenix Mercury </Td> <Td> Cynthia Cooper </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Houston Comets </Td> <Td> 2--1 </Td> <Td> New York Liberty </Td> <Td> Cynthia Cooper </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000 </Td> <Td> Houston Comets </Td> <Td> 2--0 </Td> <Td> New York Liberty </Td> <Td> Cynthia Cooper </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Sparks </Td> <Td> 2--0 </Td> <Td> Charlotte Sting </Td> <Td> Lisa Leslie </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Sparks </Td> <Td> 2--0 </Td> <Td> New York Liberty </Td> <Td> Lisa Leslie </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> Detroit Shock </Td> <Td> 2--1 </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Sparks </Td> <Td> Ruth Riley </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Seattle Storm </Td> <Td> 2--1 </Td> <Td> Connecticut Sun </Td> <Td> Betty Lennox </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> Sacramento Monarchs </Td> <Td> 3--1 </Td> <Td> Connecticut Sun </Td> <Td> Yolanda Griffith </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Detroit Shock </Td> <Td> 3--2 </Td> <Td> Sacramento Monarchs </Td> <Td> Deanna Nolan </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> Phoenix Mercury </Td> <Td> 3--2 </Td> <Td> Detroit Shock </Td> <Td> Cappie Pondexter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> Detroit Shock </Td> <Td> 3--0 </Td> <Td> San Antonio Silver Stars </Td> <Td> Katie Smith </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> Phoenix Mercury </Td> <Td> 3--2 </Td> <Td> Indiana Fever </Td> <Td> Diana Taurasi </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Seattle Storm </Td> <Td> 3--0 </Td> <Td> Atlanta Dream </Td> <Td> Lauren Jackson </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> Minnesota Lynx </Td> <Td> 3--0 </Td> <Td> Atlanta Dream </Td> <Td> Seimone Augustus </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Indiana Fever </Td> <Td> 3--1 </Td> <Td> Minnesota Lynx </Td> <Td> Tamika Catchings </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Minnesota Lynx </Td> <Td> 3--0 </Td> <Td> Atlanta Dream </Td> <Td> Maya Moore </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Phoenix Mercury </Td> <Td> 3--0 </Td> <Td> Chicago Sky </Td> <Td> Diana Taurasi </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> Minnesota Lynx </Td> <Td> 3--2 </Td> <Td> Indiana Fever </Td> <Td> Sylvia Fowles </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Sparks </Td> <Td> 3--2 </Td> <Td> Minnesota Lynx </Td> <Td> Candace Parker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> Minnesota Lynx </Td> <Td> 3--2 </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Sparks </Td> <Td> Sylvia Fowles </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How many games are there in the wnba finals