The 2025 WNBA postseason is underway — and so is its change to the first-round series.

Last October, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the first-round best-of-three series would follow a 1-1-1 format , with the higher seeds hosting Game 1 and a decisive Game 3.

That’s been on full display after the conclusion of the league’s first-ever 44-game regular season. And teams are sounding off on the change.

“I don’t know if there’s advantages. I think it’s the best setup for the league,” second-year Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said of the 2025 format. “I think the league needs 1-1-1.”

The new format differs from the previous 2-1 format that’s been in place beginning in 2022. Before 2025, lower seeds weren’t guaranteed a home playoff game as higher seeds hosted Games 1

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