2021 WNBA season
Official logo used for the WNBA's 25th season
League	Women's National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
Duration	May 14 – October 17, 2021
Games	32
Teams	12
Total attendance	434,906
Average attendance	2,636
TV partner(s)	ABC,ESPN,ESPN2,CBS,CBSSN,NBA TV
Top draft pick	Charli Collier
Picked by	Dallas Wings
Season MVP	/Jonquel Jones (Connecticut)
Finals champions	Chicago Sky
Runners-up	Phoenix Mercury
Finals MVP	Kahleah Copper (Chicago)
WNBA seasons
← 2020 2022 →

The2021 WNBA season was the 25th season of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA). TheSeattle Storm were the defending champions. In the playoffs, the Chicago Sky won in four games over the Phoenix Mercury. Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, teams played a 32-game season (rather than the 36 games agreed to in the original2020 season schedule) that included mini two-game series to reduce travel.^[1][2] The regular season ran from May 14 to September 19, with a break from July 12 to August 11 for theOlympic Games.^[2]

This season also marked the launch of theWNBA Commissioner's Cup, which had been intended to start in the 2020 season but was delayed due to COVID-19. The first home game and first away game for each team against each of its conference opponents doubled as Cup games; all such games were played before the league took its Olympic break. The Cup final, officially called the Commissioner's Cup Championship Game, featured the conference leaders in the Cup standings and was held on August 12, three days before the rest of the league resumed play, at theFootprint Center inPhoenix, Arizona. A prize pool of $500,000 was provided for the Cup, with players on the winning team guaranteed a minimum bonus of $30,000 and those of the losing team guaranteed $10,000, and the championship game MVP receiving an extra $5,000.^[3] TheSeattle Storm defeated theConnecticut Sun 79-57 to win the inaugural cup.Breanna Stewart was named MVP of the game.

The season had 100 games broadcast on national networks, including 25 acrossABC andESPN networks, 40 onCBS networks, and 35 onNBA TV.^[4] The remainder of games were broadcast on local networks and the WNBA's League Pass service; several games were also streamed onTwitter,Amazon Prime,^[5] andOculus.^[4]

This season sawWilson take over as the league's ball supplier.Spalding previously held the contract for the league's first 24 seasons.^[6]

TheNew York Liberty won the first pick in the2021 WNBA draft in the draft lottery, but the pick was later traded to theDallas Wings who pickedCharli Collier.

• On February 8, 2021,Crystal Langhorne announced her retirement after thirteen seasons of playing in the WNBA. She won the2018 and2020 WNBA titles with theSeattle Storm. Langhorne was a two-time All-Star and won theMost Improved Player Award in 2009. She announced her retirement to become the Storm's Director of Community Engagement.^[7][8]
• On February 9, 2021,Renee Montgomery announced her retirement after eleven seasons of playing in the WNBA. She won the2015 and2017 WNBA titles with theMinnesota Lynx. Montgomery won theWNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award in 2012 and was a two-time All-Star.^[9][10]
• On March 8, 2021,LaToya Sanders announced her retirement after nine seasons playing in the WNBA. She won the2019 WNBA title with theWashington Mystics.^[11][12]
• On March 15, 2021,Morgan Tuck announced her retirement after five seasons playing in the WNBA. She won the2020 WNBA title with theSeattle Storm.^[13][14]
• On May 13, 2021,Seimone Augustus announced her retirement after fifteen seasons playing in the WNBA. She was a four timeWNBA Champion, eight timeWNBA All-Star, one timeWNBA Finals MVP, and she wonWNBA Rookie of the Year in her rookie season. In addition to her decorated WNBA career she spent time playing overseas in Russia and Turkey, where she won theEuroCup twice andTurkish Cup once. Augustus joined theLos Angeles Sparks coaching staff.^[15][16]

Free agency negotiations started on January 15, 2021, and the signing period began on February 1, 2021.^[17]

Notes

(#) – League Standing

x – Clinched playoff berth

e – Eliminated from playoff contention

Source:Overall standings andCommissioner's Cup Standings

Note: Games highlighted in██ represent Commissioner’s Cup games.

The following shows the leaders in each statistical category during the 2021 regular season.^[23][24][25]

The WNBA continued its current playoff format for 2021. The top eight teams, regardless of conference, make the playoffs, with the top two teams receiving a bye to the semifinals. The remaining six teams play in two single-elimination playoff rounds, with the third and fourth seeds receiving a bye to the second round.^[26]

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Reference:^[27]

The award previously titled "Sixth Woman of the Year" was changed to "Sixth Player" starting with this season.

Notes:

• Year with team does not include 2021 season.
• Records are from time at current team and are through the end of the 2020 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 2021 season as head coach of each team.