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The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was created by the National Basketball Association (NBA) Board of Governors on April 24, 1996, and began play in June 1997. The WNBA is a women's analogue to the NBA and the first eight WNBA franchises were located in cities that were also home to NBA teams. The WNBA has been the home of the world's best women's basketball talent for over 25 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of formation | 24 April 1996 |
| Start of play | June 1997 |
| First season | 2024 |
| No. of teams at formation | 8 |
| Teams at formation | Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, Utah Starzz |
| Competition | American Basketball League |
| Ownership | NBA |
| Logo | "Logo Woman" |
| No. of designs for logo | 50 |
| No. of seasons | 28 |
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What You'll Learn
The WNBA was approved by the NBA Board of Governors on 24 April 1996
The WNBA, or the Women's National Basketball Association, was approved by the NBA Board of Governors on 24 April 1996, with play beginning in June 1997. The WNBA was created as a women's analogue to the NBA, with each of the first eight franchises located in a city that was also home to an NBA team. The creation of the WNBA was announced at a press conference with Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes in attendance. The WNBA was not the first women's professional basketball league in the United States, but it was the first to receive full backing from the NBA.
The eight inaugural teams of the WNBA were:
- Charlotte Sting
- Cleveland Rockers
- Houston Comets
- New York Liberty (Eastern Conference)
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Phoenix Mercury
- Sacramento Monarchs
- Utah Starzz (Western Conference)
The WNBA celebrated its 25th season in 2021, and in 2024, it will celebrate its 28th season.
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The first season began in June 1997
The formation of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was approved by the NBA Board of Governors on April 24, 1996, with the first season beginning in June 1997. The WNBA was created as a women's counterpart to the NBA, with each of the first eight franchises located in a city that was also home to an NBA team. The teams often shared nicknames and uniform colours with their male counterparts.
The WNBA's first season in 1997 marked the beginning of the league's rich history, celebrating its 25th season in 2021 and its 28th in 2024. The league has featured the best players in the game and created some of the most memorable moments in women's basketball history.
The inaugural WNBA season in 1997 saw eight teams compete: 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 New York Liberty won the first WNBA Championship, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in five games. The Liberty's success in the league's early years helped establish the WNBA as a prominent women's sports league.
The 1997 season was also significant as it marked the beginning of competition between the WNBA and the American Basketball League (ABL), another professional women's basketball league formed around the same time.
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The first eight teams were all located in cities with NBA teams
The formation of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was officially approved by the NBA Board of Governors on April 24, 1996, with the first season commencing in June 1997. The WNBA was created as a women's counterpart to the NBA, with the initial eight teams all located in cities that were also home to NBA franchises. These first teams 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 NBA owned and controlled all the original WNBA franchises, and they often shared similarities with their male counterparts, such as nicknames and uniform colours. For example, the New York Liberty shared a similar name to the New York Knicks, and the Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Lakers both had similar names and were based in the same city.
The early years of the WNBA were competitive, with the league having to compete with the American Basketball League (ABL), another professional women's basketball league that began in 1996 but ceased operations in the 1998-99 season. The Houston Comets emerged as the first dominant force in the WNBA, winning the first four league titles, boasting superstars like Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes.
At the end of 2002, the NBA began selling WNBA franchises to new owners. This resulted in some teams relocating, such as Utah moving to San Antonio, and Orlando moving to Connecticut. The Connecticut team became the first WNBA franchise to be owned by a third party instead of an NBA franchise. This ownership transition marked a new era for the WNBA, with the league continuing to grow and evolve in the years that followed.
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The WNBA competed with the American Basketball League
The WNBA was officially formed on April 24, 1996, when the NBA Board of Governors approved the concept of a Women's National Basketball Association. The WNBA's first season began in June 1997, making it the oldest women's professional sports league in North America.
When the WNBA was launched, it had to compete with the American Basketball League (ABL), another professional women's basketball league. The ABL began play in the fall of 1996 but ceased operations during its 1998-99 season due to bankruptcy. The WNBA and the ABL were the first major women's professional basketball leagues in the United States.
The WNBA started with eight teams: 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 ABL's bankruptcy in 1999 resulted in many of its star players, including Olympic gold medalists and standout college performers, joining the rosters of WNBA teams. This enhanced the overall quality of play in the WNBA league.
The competition between the WNBA and the ABL was intense, as both leagues vied for the best players and worked to establish themselves as the premier women's basketball league in the United States. The WNBA, with the full backing of the NBA, was able to survive and thrive, becoming the home for the world's best women's basketball talent.
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The NBA sold WNBA teams at the end of 2002
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was founded on April 24, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA). The creation of the WNBA was approved by the NBA Board of Governors, and the league play began in 1997.
The WNBA started with eight teams: 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.
Initially, the teams and the league were collectively owned by the NBA. However, this changed at the end of 2002 when the NBA sold the WNBA teams. The NBA sold the teams either to their counterparts in the same city or to a third party. This decision was influenced by the dot-com bubble. As a result of the sales, two teams moved: Utah moved to San Antonio, and Orlando moved to Connecticut. The Orlando team became the first WNBA franchise to be owned by a third party instead of an NBA franchise.
The sale of the teams also led to the folding of two teams, the Miami Sol and Portland Fire, as new owners could not be found. Over time, several WNBA teams have changed ownership and relocated. For example, the Detroit Shock was previously owned by the Pistons but was later sold to investors and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The WNBA has continued to grow and evolve since its formation. As of the upcoming 2025 season, it comprises 13 teams, with plans to expand to 15 teams in 2026. The league has featured some of the best players in women's basketball and has celebrated its talented stars.
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Frequently asked questions
The WNBA was formed on April 24, 1996, and began play in June 1997.
The creation of the WNBA was approved by the NBA Board of Governors.
Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes were in attendance at the press conference.
The WNBA started with eight teams.
