Ayrton Oneill
The WNBA, or Women's National Basketball Association, is a professional basketball league for women that was founded in 1996 and began play in 1997. The WNBA is the women's analogue to the NBA and has become the most successful American women's professional sports league ever. The league consists of two divisions, each with six teams, and holds an annual WNBA Draft, usually in April, where teams select from a pool of college basketball players and others playing in leagues across the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Women's National Basketball Association |
| Started In | 1997 |
| Governing Body | NBA Board of Governors |
| Current Season | 2024 |
| Number of Teams | 16 |
| Draft | Annually, usually in April |
| Playoff Format | Traditional |
| Games | 22-game regular season |
| Games Streaming | YouTube TV, WNBA League Pass |
| Notable Players | Diana Taurasi, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, Rebecca Lobo, Arike Ogunbowale |
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What You'll Learn
Women's National Basketball Association
WNBA stands for the Women's National Basketball Association, an American women's professional basketball league. The league is home to some of the world's best female basketball talent and is the women's analogue to the NBA.
The WNBA was created by the NBA Board of Governors, with the concept approved on April 24, 1996, and play commencing in June 1997. Each of the first eight WNBA franchises was located in a city that was also home to an NBA team, with nicknames and uniform colours mirroring their male counterparts. The NBA owned each of the franchises until 2002, when it began allowing the sale of franchises to unaffiliated ownership groups.
The WNBA has grown to become the most successful American women's professional sports league ever, helped by the dissolution of its chief rival, the American Basketball League (ABL), in 1999. Many of the ABL's star players, including Olympic gold medalists, joined the WNBA, enhancing the overall quality of play. The WNBA has also benefited from the popularity of outstanding players such as Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson.
The league is divided into two divisions, each consisting of six teams. The WNBA takes a month off during years when the Summer Olympics are held to allow players to practice and compete with their national teams. Similarly, during years with the FIBA World Cup, the WNBA either takes a break or ends its season early.
The WNBA has a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), which sets out the terms and conditions of employment for players, as well as the rights and obligations of the league, teams, and players. The current CBA, which started in 2020, is set to remain in effect through the 2027 season unless terminated early by either party after the 2025 season.
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WNBA players
WNBA stands for the Women's National Basketball Association. The league is home to some of the world's top female basketball talent and is the first women's professional sports league to sign a collective bargaining agreement. The agreement between the league and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) sets out the terms and conditions of employment for WNBA players, as well as the rights and obligations of the league, teams, and players.
The WNBA was established in 1996 and held its first games in 1997. The league has since grown, with the addition of new teams over the years, and celebrated its 25th season in 2021. The 2024 season marks the 28th in the league's history.
The league also features Olympic gold medalists like Nikki McCray and Dawn Staley, who joined the WNBA in 1999 after the bankruptcy of the American Basketball League (ABL). The arrival of standout college performers and highly touted rookies has further enhanced the quality of play in the WNBA.
The WNBA takes a month-long break during Olympic years to allow players to compete with their national teams. The league also takes a break or ends its season early during the FIBA World Cup, depending on the scheduling of the tournament.
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WNBA history
WNBA stands for the Women's National Basketball Association. It was established on April 24, 1996, when the NBA Board of Governors approved the concept of a Women's National Basketball Association, with the first games taking place in June 1997.
The WNBA has been the home of the world's best women's basketball talent, with stars such as Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes featuring in its marketing campaigns. The first season saw Swoopes sit out much of the games due to her pregnancy, while Leslie's Los Angeles Sparks underperformed. The first star of the league was perhaps MVP Cynthia Cooper, Swoopes' teammate on the Houston Comets. The Comets defeated Lobo's New York Liberty in the first WNBA championship game.
The WNBA has continued to grow, with two teams added in 1998 (Detroit and Washington), and two more in 1999 (Orlando and Minnesota), bringing the total number of teams to 12. The 1999 season also marked the first collective bargaining agreement to be signed in the history of women's professional sports. The WNBA added four more teams for the 2000 season (the Indiana Fever, the Seattle Storm, the Miami Sol, and the Portland Fire), bringing the league to 16 teams.
The league has continued to expand and thrive, celebrating its 25th season in 2021, and its 28th in 2024. The 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the league has since returned to full strength, with plans for expansion to new cities in the coming years. The WNBA has featured some of the best players in the world, such as Diana Taurasi, who was voted the greatest of all time (GOAT) by fans in 2021, and A'ja Wilson, who won her third WNBA Most Valuable Player award in 2024.
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WNBA teams
The WNBA, or Women's National Basketball Association, is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. The league is comprised of 13 teams and is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan. The WNBA was founded on April 24, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the NBA, and league play began in 1997. The regular season runs from May to September, with each team playing 44 games. The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs, which culminate in the WNBA Finals in October. The league also hosts an annual mid-season competition, the Commissioner's Cup.
The original eight teams in the WNBA were the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference; and the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz in the Western Conference. The first game in the WNBA featured the New York Liberty against the Los Angeles Sparks, with the Liberty winning 67-57.
The league has since expanded several times, with the addition of two teams in 1998 (Detroit and Washington), two more in 1999 (Orlando and Minnesota), and four more for the 2000 season (the Indiana Fever, the Seattle Storm, the Miami Sol, and the Portland Fire), bringing the total number of teams in the league to 16. The Houston Comets dominated the early years of the league, winning the first four championships. However, their dynasty came to an end after the 2000 season when Cynthia Cooper retired.
The WNBA has continued to grow and evolve, with new stars emerging and teams expanding. The league takes a month off during years with the Summer Olympics to allow players to practice and compete with their national teams. The 2020 season was planned to be the first for the Commissioner's Cup, an in-season tournament, but it was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league also announced plans for expansion to Toronto and Portland, with play beginning in 2026.
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WNBA schedule
WNBA stands for the Women's National Basketball Association. The league has been home to the world's top female basketball talent since 1997.
The WNBA Schedule
The WNBA schedule is structured around a regular season, with each team playing a set number of games. For example, in 2020, the league announced a 22-game regular season. The regular season is followed by the playoffs, which culminate in the WNBA Finals to determine the league champion.
The WNBA typically takes a month-long break during the Summer Olympics to allow players to represent their national teams. Similarly, during the FIBA World Cup years, the WNBA either takes a break or ends its season early, depending on the World Cup schedule.
The WNBA also introduced the Commissioner's Cup in 2021, an in-season tournament. Each team's first home and away games against conference opponents are designated as Cup games. After each team plays 10 Cup games, the top team in each conference advances to the Commissioner's Cup Final, played as a single match in August.
Draft and Expansion
The WNBA Draft is held annually, usually in April, where teams select from a pool of college players and others from around the world. The league also undergoes expansion to include new teams. For example, in 1999, four new teams were added for the 2000 season, and in 2024, the Golden State Valkyries will join, with Toronto and Portland teams expected to follow in 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
WNBA stands for the Women's National Basketball Association.
The WNBA was founded in 1996 and began play in 1997.
The WNBA is an American women's professional basketball league created by the NBA Board of Governors as a women's analogue to the NBA.
The WNBA currently consists of 16 teams, each located in a city that is also home to an NBA team.
Tickets for every team are available on each team's website. Games are also streamed on various platforms, such as YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, and the WNBA League Pass.
