** indicates that the 2020 regular season was shortened to 22 games (instead of 36) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Year | Champion | Series | Runner-up | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Las Vegas Aces | 3-1 | Connecticut Sun | Chelsea Gray |
| 2021 | Chicago Sky | 3-1 | Phoenix Mercury | Kahleah Copper |
| 2020** | Seattle Storm | 3-0 | Las Vegas Aces | Breanna Stewart |
| 2019 | Washington Mystics | 3-2 | Connecticut Sun | Emma Meesseman |
| 2018 | Seattle Storm | 3-0 | Washington Mystics | Breanna Stewart |
| 2017 | Minnesota Lynx | 3-2 | Los Angeles Sparks | Sylvia Fowles |
| 2016 | Los Angeles Sparks | 3-2 | Minnesota Lynx | Candace Parker |
| 2015 | Minnesota Lynx | 3-2 | Indiana Fever | Sylvia Fowles |
| 2014 | Phoenix Mercury | 3-0 | Chicago Sky | Diana Taurasi |
| 2013 | Minnesota Lynx | 3-0 | Atlanta Dream | Maya Moore |
| 2012 | Indiana Fever | 3-1 | Minnesota Lynx | Tamika Catchings |
| 2011 | Minnesota Lynx | 3-0 | Atlanta Dream | Seimone Augustus |
| 2010 | Seattle Storm | 3-0 | Atlanta Dream | Lauren Jackson |
| 2009 | Phoenix Mercury | 3-2 | Indiana Fever | Diana Taurasi |
| 2008 | Detroit Shock | 3-0 | San Antonio Silver Stars | Katie Smith |
| 2007 | Phoenix Mercury | 3-2 | Detroit Shock | Cappie Pondexter |
| 2006 | Detroit Shock | 3-2 | Sacramento Monarchs | Deanna Nolan |
| 2005 | Sacramento Monarchs | 3-1 | Connecticut Sun | Yolanda Griffith |
| 2004 | Seattle Storm | 2-1 | Connecticut Sun | Betty Lennox |
| 2003 | Detroit Shock | 2-1 | Los Angeles Sparks | Ruth Riley |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Sparks | 2-0 | New York Liberty | Lisa Leslie |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Sparks | 2-0 | Charlotte Sting | Lisa Leslie |
| 2000 | Houston Comets | 2-0 | New York Liberty | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1999 | Houston Comets | 2-1 | New York Liberty | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1998 | Houston Comets | 2-1 | Phoenix Mercury | Cynthia Cooper |
| 1997 | Houston Comets | 1-0 | New York Liberty | Cynthia Cooper |