Wonderleague to Maintain 12-Club Format for 2026-27 Season
The Wonderleague women's basketball championship will retain its 12-club format for the 2026-27 season, despite persistent desires from club presidents to expand to 14 teams. This proposed expansion aimed to increase home game revenues, but the federation has ultimately rejected the initiative. Audrey Lacroix, President of Basket Landes, shed light on the federation's decision, citing concerns over the financial fragility of many clubs, the current insufficient structure of the second-tier Ligue 2, and the significant logistical challenges it would pose to the league calendar.
However, significant modifications are planned for the playoff structure. The league will revert to a best-of-three series format, mirroring the structure used in the finals. A notable change in this format is the hosting arrangement: the opening game of each series will be played at the home venue of the lower-ranked team, while subsequent games, including the decisive third match, will be hosted by the higher-ranked team. This innovative approach represents a reversal of conventional playoff hosting practices. Furthermore, the 2026-27 season is scheduled to extend until the end of May, a prolonged calendar that will inevitably lead to the absence of numerous WNBA players during the latter stages of the competition.
Explaining the rationale behind this new playoff format, Audrey Lacroix remarked, "Some were complaining that the home-and-away format wasn't fair because it didn't favor the higher-ranked teams in the championship. It must be recognized that this is true."
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