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The Women's National Basketball Association, or WNBA, is a professional basketball league that features the best women's basketball players in the world. The WNBA is the oldest women's professional sports league in North America, founded on April 24, 1996, with the first season beginning in 1997. The league has grown since its inception and currently consists of 12 to 13 teams, with plans for expansion in the coming years. The WNBA has been home to some of the most talented players in the sport, including Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Women's National Basketball Association |
| Year of Inception | 24 April 1996 |
| Year of the First Season | 1997 |
| Number of Teams | 12 or 13 |
| Number of Divisions | 2 |
| Number of Conferences | 2 (Eastern and Western) |
| Upcoming Expansion Teams | Portland and Toronto (2026), Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) |
| Governing Body | WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) |
| Rules | Standard basketball rules as defined by the NBA with a few exceptions |
| Notable Players | Jonquel Jones, Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins, Tayler Hill, Layshia Clarendon, Alex Bentley, Katie Smith, Tina Thompson, Ticha Penicheiro, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, Arike Ogunbowale, A'ja Wilson |
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What You'll Learn
WNBA history
WNBA stands for the Women's National Basketball Association. The concept of the WNBA was approved by the NBA Board of Governors on April 24, 1996, with the league beginning play in June 1997. The WNBA has been the home of the world's best women's basketball talent and has featured the game's best players, creating some of the best moments in women's basketball history.
The first four WNBA titles were won by the Houston Comets, with teams that featured two of the league's first superstars, Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes. The WNBA's marketing campaign, "We Got Next," centred around stars Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Swoopes. The Comets defeated Lobo's New York Liberty in the first WNBA championship game. The initial "We Got Next" advertisement ran before each season until it was replaced with a "We Got Game" campaign.
The WNBA grew in the early years of the 21st century to become the most successful American women's professional sports league ever, aided by the dissolution of the rival American Basketball League in 1999. The league expanded to 12 teams in 1999 with the addition of Orlando and Minnesota. The 1999 season also marked the first collective bargaining agreement to be signed in the history of women's professional sports.
The 2007 season saw the Phoenix Mercury rise to prominence with their own Big Three of Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi, and Penny Taylor. The Mercury captured their first championship that year, averaging a league-record 88.97 points per game. The Detroit Shock won the 2008 championship, their third title, solidifying their place in WNBA history.
The 2013 WNBA draft produced top picks Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, and Skylar Diggins, who were labelled "The Three To See." The Minnesota Lynx won their second title in three years that season, defeating the Atlanta Dream. The arrival of highly touted rookies and new rule changes marked the end of an era for the WNBA and the beginning of another.
The WNBA celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021 with a ceremonial logo, basketball, and uniforms as part of its "Count It" campaign. The league unveiled "The W25," a list of the 25 greatest and most influential players in WNBA history, with Diana Taurasi receiving the honour of WNBA GOAT as voted by the fans.
The 2025 WNBA Playoffs are making history with a record-setting expansion team, a revamped playoff format, and a lineup of powerhouse franchises. The Golden State Valkyries, the league's newest franchise, became the first WNBA expansion team to reach the postseason in their inaugural season. The WNBA Playoffs have expanded to a best-of-seven series, matching global basketball standards and providing fans with more basketball action.
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WNBA rules
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) rules are governed by standard basketball rules as defined by the NBA, with some exceptions. Here are the details of some of the WNBA rules:
Game Timing and Format
WNBA games are divided into four 10-minute quarters, differing from the original format of two 20-minute halves. Overtime periods last 5 minutes each, and there is no restriction on when a team must call timeouts during overtime. Teams can carry over one unused regular or 20-second timeout as an additional 20-second timeout in overtime, with a maximum of two 20-second timeouts per team.
The 2025 WNBA playoffs introduced a 1-1-1 format for the best-of-three series, where the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1 and 3, while the lower seed hosts Game 2.
Player Eligibility and Conduct
WNBA players must be at least 22 years old (for domestic players) or 20 years old (for international players) to enter the draft. Domestic players must have no remaining college eligibility and are required to graduate from a four-year college or university.
Players are expected to prioritise their WNBA commitments over international leagues. Participating in outside tournaments or All-Star games requires consent from the WNBA, except when it involves the player's national team or offseason obligations.
Players are not allowed to stand near their team's bench for extended periods during gameplay, as it is deemed unsportsmanlike conduct. This rule also applies to coaches.
Equipment and Uniforms
The WNBA regulation ball is 28.5 inches in circumference and weighs 20 ounces, smaller and lighter than the NBA ball.
Players must wear numbered jerseys with the number contrasting in colour with the shirt, and the jersey must be tucked into their shorts. Jewellery is not permitted during games, although players can express their individuality through their choice of clothes, shoes, makeup, and hair.
Gameplay Rules
The three-point line in the WNBA is 22 feet 1.75 inches from the centre of the basket, with a distance of 22 feet at the corners. This line was extended in 2017 to match the NBA's.
In 2012, the WNBA introduced the block/charge arc under the basket, and in 2013, the defensive three-second rule and anti-flopping guidelines were implemented.
These rules showcase the unique aspects of the WNBA's gameplay and athlete protocols, contributing to the league's growth and popularity.
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WNBA teams
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. The league play began in 1997 with eight teams: Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz.
Since its inception, the WNBA has grown and expanded to include more teams. In 1998, two new teams joined the league: Detroit and Washington. The following year, in 1999, another two teams were added: Orlando and Minnesota, bringing the total number of teams to 12. The WNBA continued to expand in 2000, adding four more teams: Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, Miami Sol, and Portland Fire. This expansion brought the total number of teams in the league to 16.
Over the years, the WNBA has featured some of the best players in women's basketball and created memorable moments in the sport. The league currently comprises 13 teams and is scheduled to expand further, with Portland and Toronto joining in 2026, Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030.
Some notable teams in the WNBA include the Houston Comets, who won the first four WNBA championships, the Los Angeles Sparks, the New York Liberty, the Minnesota Lynx, and the Las Vegas Aces. These teams have featured superstars such as Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Tina Thompson. The league's marketing campaigns, such as "We Got Next" and "We Got Game," have helped to promote the league and its stars, including Rebecca Lobo and Lauren Jackson.
The WNBA has also introduced competitions and awards to honour outstanding players and teams. The Commissioner's Cup, first introduced in 2020, is an annual mid-season competition that adds excitement to the regular season. The league also hosts the WNBA Finals, with the top eight teams qualifying for the playoffs. Awards such as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Most Improved Player recognize the achievements of individual players.
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WNBA players
WNBA stands for the Women's National Basketball Association. It was approved by the NBA Board of Governors in 1996 and began play in 1997. The league has grown to become the most successful American women's professional sports league ever, with players such as Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson contributing to its popularity.
The WNBA has featured some of the game's best players and has created some of the most memorable moments in women's basketball history. The league's inaugural season in 1997 saw the Houston Comets win the first of four consecutive WNBA titles, with Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes emerging as the league's first superstars.
Over the years, the WNBA has continued to grow and expand, with new teams joining the league and the arrival of highly touted rookies. The 2013 WNBA draft, for example, produced top picks Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, and Skylar Diggins, who were labelled "The Three To See." The promotion of these talented players helped boost television ratings for the league by 28 percent.
The WNBA continues to celebrate its players and their impact on the league. In 2021, as part of its 25th-anniversary campaign, the WNBA unveiled The W25, a list of 25 players recognised as the league's greatest and most influential.
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WNBA drafts
The WNBA draft is an annual event where teams from the Women's National Basketball Association select eligible players to join their roster. The age limit for eligibility in the WNBA draft is 20 for international players and 22 for US players, as of December 31 of the calendar year of the draft.
The WNBA draft process has undergone several iterations since its inception. The 1997 WNBA draft, for instance, was divided into three parts: the initial allocation of 16 players to teams, the WNBA Elite draft for experienced players from other leagues, and the regular draft consisting of four rounds. The subsequent three seasons, from 1998 to 2000, featured expansion drafts, with another one occurring in 2006.
WNBA prospects must notify the league office of their intent to enter the draft while renouncing their remaining college eligibility. This notification deadline is set at 10 days before the draft. However, players involved in the NCAA tournament have a unique set of guidelines due to the proximity of their final game to the standard deadline. In such cases, they must declare within 24 hours after their last game, with a minimum notice of 3 hours before the draft commences.
It's worth noting that the WNBA draft eligibility rules remained unchanged in the latest WNBA CBA agreed upon in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 draft saw a modification where all age-eligible college players intending to participate had to opt-in.
Here's a list of the first overall WNBA draft picks from 2010 to 2025:
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Tina Charles | Connecticut Sun |
| 2011 | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2012 | Nneka Ogwumike | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2013 | Brittney Griner | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2014 | Chiney Ogwumike | Connecticut Sun |
| 2015 | Jewell Loyd | Seattle Storm |
| 2016 | Breanna Stewart | Seattle Storm |
| 2017 | Kelsey Plum | San Antonio Stars |
| 2018 | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2019 | Jackie Young | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2020 | Sabrina Ionescu | New York Liberty |
| 2021 | Charli Collier | Dallas Wings |
| 2022 | Rhyne Howard | Atlanta Dream |
| 2023 | Aliyah Boston | Indiana Fever |
| 2024 | Caitlin Clark | Indiana Fever |
| 2025 | TBD | TBD |
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Frequently asked questions
WNBA stands for Women's National Basketball Association.
The WNBA was founded on April 24, 1996, and its first season began in 1997.
There are currently 13 teams in the WNBA—six in the Eastern Conference and seven in the Western Conference.
The WNBA has had many notable moments throughout its history. Here are a few:
- The Houston Comets won the first four WNBA titles, with superstars Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes on the team.
- In 2013, the Minnesota Lynx won their second title in three years, becoming the first team to sweep the playoff series since the Seattle Storm.
- In 2020, the WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed an eight-year CBA focusing on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, and expanded career development opportunities for female athletes.
