Women's National Basketball Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Women's National Basketball Association

Founded	April 24, 1996; 30 years ago (1996-04-24)
Commissioner	Cathy Engelbert
No. of teams	15 (18 by 2030)
Countries	United States (14 teams) Canada (1 team)
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Most recent champion(s)	Las Vegas Aces (3rd title) (2025 Las Vegas Aces season)

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league features incredible athletes who play basketball at the highest level. It started with eight clubs in 1997. Today, it has 15 teams across the United States and Canada. More teams plan to join soon. The league is one of the top professional women's sports leagues in North America. Its main headquarters is located in New York City.

The league was founded on April 24, 1996. It was created by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to showcase talented women. The regular season runs from May through September each year. Each team plays 44 games against tough competition. The top eight teams make the playoffs. The tournament ends with the exciting WNBA Finals to decide the champion.

During the summer, the league hosts the popular All-Star Game. It also holds a special tournament called the Commissioner's Cup. The WNBA belongs to USA Basketball, which works with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Today, millions of fans watch these amazing athletes play.

History of the WNBA

How the League Started (1996–1997)

Basketball leaders approved the creation of the WNBA on April 24, 1996. Famous college stars joined the announcement. These players included Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes. Another group had created the American Basketball League (ABL) at the same time. Both leagues competed to attract the best players. The ABL stopped playing a few years later. That left the WNBA as the premier women's league.

The WNBA began with eight original teams divided into two conferences. The Eastern Conference had the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and New York Liberty. The Western Conference featured the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz.

Earlier groups had tried building women's pro leagues, like the WBL. However, the WNBA was special because it had full backing from the NBA. The famous "Logo Woman" silhouette was chosen from 50 different designs.

The American women won the gold medal in basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. That victory created great excitement for women's sports across the country. The WNBA played its first official game on June 21, 1997. The Liberty faced the Sparks in Los Angeles. The Liberty won the game by a score of 67–57. More than 14,000 fans cheered inside the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. Television networks like NBC, ESPN, and Lifetime broadcast games. Guard Penny Toler scored the very first basket in league history.

Houston Dynasty and Rapid Expansion (1997–2000)

The league launched a marketing campaign called "We Got Next" to build excitement. The campaign focused on top stars like Lobo, Leslie, and Swoopes. Swoopes missed early games because she was having a baby. Leslie worked hard to help her team grow. A new star named Cynthia Cooper took over the league. Cooper earned the MVP award while playing for the Houston Comets. The Comets defeated the New York Liberty in the first WNBA championship game. Later, the league changed its slogan to "We Got Game."

The league added two teams in 1998: the Detroit Shock and Washington Mystics. Two more joined in 1999: the Orlando Miracle and Minnesota Lynx. The players and owners signed the first collective bargaining agreement in women's professional sports. In 2000, four more clubs joined: the Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, Miami Sol, and Portland Fire. League president Val Ackerman wanted the sport to keep growing everywhere.

The rival American Basketball League closed down during the 1999 season. Great Olympic champions like Nikki McCray and Dawn Staley joined the WNBA. College stars like Kate Starbird and Jennifer Rizzotti joined as well. Their arrival raised the level of skill and competition across all teams.

The Comets visited the White House Rose Garden to celebrate their victories. They won four straight titles from 1997 through 2000. Cooper won the Finals MVP award in all four championship runs. Swoopes and forward Tina Thompson teamed up with Cooper as an unstoppable trio. Head coach Van Chancellor helped them win 98 games in four years. Cooper retired after 2000, bringing an end to the league's first great dynasty.

Sparks Triumphs and Changes in Ownership (2001–2002)

The Los Angeles Sparks became the next dominant team in the 2001 WNBA season. Hall of Fame center Lisa Leslie led the team to a 28–4 record. The Sparks reached the WNBA Finals and swept the Charlotte Sting.

The Sparks stayed dominant under head coach Michael Cooper during the 2002 season. Leslie played great basketball while the team went undefeated in the playoffs. They defeated the New York Liberty in the 2002 Finals to win back-to-back championships.

Originally, the NBA owned all of the teams in the WNBA. At the end of 2002, the NBA sold teams to local ownership groups. Some clubs moved to brand-new cities because of these changes. The Utah team moved to become the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Orlando team moved and became the Connecticut Sun. The Sun became the first club owned independently from an NBA team. Unfortunately, new owners were not found for the Miami Sol and Portland Fire, so both folded.

New Champions and New Milestones (2003–2006)

The Women's National Basketball Players Association worked to protect player rights in 2003. They negotiated a better contract with team owners before the 2003 WNBA draft.

Former NBA champion Bill Laimbeer became head coach of the Detroit Shock. Detroit had finished in last place during the previous season. Laimbeer coached stars like Swin Cash, Cheryl Ford, and Deanna Nolan. All three players made the 2003 All-Star Game. The Shock pulled off a stunning turnaround to win the Eastern Conference. In the 2003 Finals, Detroit defeated Los Angeles in front of 22,076 cheering fans. The Cleveland Rockers folded after the 2003 season when owners ceased operations.

The Seattle Storm selected superstar Lauren Jackson in 2001 and point guard Sue Bird in 2002. Together, they built a powerhouse team in the Western Conference. Seattle reached the Finals and defeated the Connecticut Sun. Head coach Anne Donovan became the first woman to coach a team to a WNBA title.

Val Ackerman stepped down in 2005 to spend time with her family. She later served as president of USA Basketball. NBA commissioner David Stern chose Donna Orender as the next league leader. Orender had played professional basketball in the Women's Pro Basketball League.

The Chicago Sky joined the league as an expansion team in 2005. New rules made the game faster and more exciting for fans. The 2005 Finals expanded to a best-of-five game series. The Sacramento Monarchs, led by rebounder Yolanda Griffith, defeated the Sun for the crown.

The league celebrated its tenth season of play in 2006. Officials named the WNBA's All-Decade Team to honor the top ten players. Scoring star Katie Smith joined the Detroit Shock that same year. Detroit defeated Sacramento in a thrilling five-game series during the 2006 Finals.

Fast Offenses and New Records (2007–2009)

The Charlotte Sting stopped operations before the 2007 season began. The league held a dispersal draft so other teams could choose Sting players.

The Phoenix Mercury hired coach Paul Westhead to run an up-tempo offense. The league shortened the shot clock from 30 to 24 seconds. The Mercury featured stars Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter, and Penny Taylor. They averaged 89.0 points per game, setting a brand-new scoring record. Phoenix defeated Detroit in the 2007 Finals to win their first title.

The league welcomed the Atlanta Dream in 2007 under owner Ron Terwilliger. Fans in Atlanta voted to choose the team's colors and nickname.

In 2008, teams played the outdoor Liberty Outdoor Classic at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Indiana Fever defeated the Liberty under the open sky. In the 2008 Finals, Detroit swept the San Antonio Silver Stars.

The four-time champion Houston Comets folded in late 2008 after ownership problems. A dispersal draft sent talented forward Sancho Lyttle to the Atlanta Dream.

Coach Corey Gaines took over the Mercury and pushed the pace even faster. In 2009, Phoenix scored an average of 92.8 points every single game. The Mercury met the defensive-minded Indiana Fever in the 2009 Finals. Game One finished 120–116 in overtime, the highest scoring playoff game ever. Phoenix won the series in five games for their second title. Teams across the league began playing faster basketball than during the inaugural season.

A New Generation Takes the Court (2010–2012)

The Detroit Shock relocated to become the Tulsa Shock in late 2009. Around that same time, the Sacramento Monarchs folded under the Maloof family, who owned the Sacramento Kings. A dispersal draft redistributed the Monarchs players across the remaining 12 clubs.

The Seattle Storm dominated the league during the 2010 season. Jackson and Bird led Seattle to a flawless 7–0 record in the playoffs. The Storm swept the Atlanta Dream to win the 2010 Finals. Atlanta had reached the championship behind rookie sensation Angel McCoughtry.

Donna Orender resigned, and David Stern appointed business executive Laurel J. Richie to lead the league. Richie worked to build new partnerships and grow media interest.

Head coach Cheryl Reeve took charge of the Minnesota Lynx in 2010. The team traded for Lindsay Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson to support Seimone Augustus. They drafted superstar forward Maya Moore with the top pick in 2011. Minnesota dominated opponents and swept Atlanta in the 2011 Finals. McCoughtry set scoring records during the playoffs, but Minnesota proved too strong.

The Lynx returned to the 2012 Finals the next season. However, defensive star Tamika Catchings led the Indiana Fever to victory. The Fever overcame an injury to Katie Douglas to capture their first championship.

The Three to See and Rivalries (2013–2019)

The 2013 WNBA draft brought three huge college stars to the league. Center Brittney Griner came from the Baylor Bears. Scorer Elena Delle Donne arrived from the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens. Guard Skylar Diggins starred for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Television networks called the trio "The Three To See."

Legends like Ticha Penicheiro, Smith, Swoopes, and Thompson retired from playing. The new rookie class helped boost television viewership numbers by 28 percent. In Los Angeles, Guggenheim Partners purchased the Sparks with support from Magic Johnson. The Golden State Warriors ownership also showed interest in women's basketball. On the court, the Lynx swept Atlanta in the 2013 Finals.

The 2014 Finals featured the Mercury against the Chicago Sky. Griner and Taurasi led Phoenix to a 29–5 regular season. Delle Donne and center Sylvia Fowles led Chicago into the final round. Phoenix swept the series to win another league championship.

Fowles joined the Minnesota Lynx during the 2015 season. She won the Finals MVP award as Minnesota won the 2015 Finals. After the season, the Shock moved to Texas to become the Dallas Wings. Laurel Richie left her role, and Lisa Borders took over as president.

The league changed its playoff format in 2016. The top eight teams made the postseason regardless of conference. The Sparks and Lynx developed a fierce rivalry, meeting in back-to-back Finals. In the 2016 Finals, Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles to the title. Ogwumike made a winning shot with 3.1 seconds remaining in Game Five. Minnesota got revenge in the 2017 Finals, winning in five games. It was the fourth championship for Moore, Whalen, Brunson, and Augustus.

The San Antonio Stars relocated to Nevada to become the Las Vegas Aces. Borders stepped down, and Mark Tatum served as interim leader. In May 2019, Cathy Engelbert was named the first official commissioner.

The Storm returned to the top after drafting Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart. In the 2018 Finals, Seattle swept the Washington Mystics.

Delle Donne led the Mystics to an incredible offensive season in 2019. She achieved a rare 50-40-90 season by shooting with extreme accuracy. Coach Mike Thibault guided Washington back to the 2019 Finals. The Mystics defeated Connecticut in five games to win their first title.

New Agreements and Expansion Plans (2020–2023)

The players worked through their union to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement in 2020. The deal boosted player pay by 50 percent and provided paid family leave. It also improved free-agency options so players could pick new teams more easily.

The league created an in-season tournament called the Commissioner's Cup. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced officials to delay the start of the season. Teams traveled to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, to play in a secure environment. Players lived and practiced together on campus without fans present. Seattle and Las Vegas advanced to the 2020 Finals. Stewart led the Storm to a clean sweep for their fourth championship.

The WNBA celebrated its 25th anniversary season in 2021 with the "Count It" campaign. A panel of experts selected The W25, honoring the 25 greatest players. The inaugural Cup Final took place on Amazon Prime Video, with Seattle winning. Later that fall, Candace Parker led the Chicago Sky to their first championship. Chicago defeated the Mercury in the 2021 Finals.

The league raised $75 million from investors in 2022 to fund new growth. The Las Vegas Aces hired former player Becky Hammon as head coach. Team owner Mark Davis constructed a brand-new $40 million training facility. The Aces relied on top picks Kelsey Plum, A'ja Wilson, and Jackie Young, plus point guard Chelsea Gray. Las Vegas won the Commissioner's Cup and the 2022 Finals over Connecticut.

The 2023 season featured a clash between two stacked teams: Las Vegas and New York. The Liberty added Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, and Jonquel Jones alongside guard Sabrina Ionescu. New York won the Commissioner's Cup Final. However, the Aces defended their crown in the 2023 Finals, winning in four games. Las Vegas became the first back-to-back champions in over twenty years.

The league announced that the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco would join as the 13th team. Leaders also awarded expansion franchises to Toronto and Portland to begin play in 2026.

Surging Popularity and Historic Growth (2024–Present)

Women's college basketball drew record audiences during the 2023 and 2024 NCAA championship games. College superstars brought millions of fans with them into the 2024 WNBA draft. The Indiana Fever selected sharpshooter Caitlin Clark with the first pick. The Chicago Sky selected rebounding star Angel Reese. Over 2.4 million people watched the draft broadcast.

Huge crowds attended games throughout the record-setting 2024 WNBA season. The matchup between Clark and Reese became an exciting rivalry. The 2024 All-Star Game drew 3.44 million television viewers. A record 20,711 fans filled the arena in Washington for a single game. The league signed a historic 11-year media contract worth $2.2 billion.

The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx reached the 2024 Finals. The five-game series was one of the closest ever played. Two games went into overtime, including the decisive Game Five. The Liberty won the championship, securing their first title in team history.

The Golden State Valkyries took the court for the 2025 season, increasing the schedule to 44 games. The Valkyries broke ticket sales records right away. On August 15, 2025, Seattle and Atlanta played a regular-season game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The Indiana Fever won the Commissioner's Cup Final. The Aces swept Phoenix in the best-of-seven 2025 Finals to win their third title in four years. Wilson earned her fourth regular-season MVP award.

The league awarded expansion teams to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. The Cleveland team is scheduled for 2028, Detroit for 2029, and Philadelphia for 2030.

The players and league signed a new seven-year labor agreement running through 2032. The deal shares 20 percent of league revenues directly with the players. The team salary budget increased from $1.5 million to $7 million. Average player salaries jumped to $583,000, and stars could earn supermax contracts worth $1.4 million. The agreement also created special rules allowing rising young stars to earn higher pay.

Teams and Arenas

The WNBA has grown from eight original teams to 15 clubs across North America. Four original teams from 1997 still play today: the Las Vegas Aces (originally Utah), Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, and Phoenix Mercury. Teams play in modern arenas with thousands of cheering fans.

Active WNBA Teams

Conference	Team	City	Arena	Capacity	Joined	Head coach
Eastern	Atlanta Dream	College Park, Georgia	Gateway Center Arena	3,500	2008	Karl Smesko
	Chicago Sky	Chicago, Illinois	Wintrust Arena	10,387	2006	Tyler Marsh
	Connecticut Sun	Uncasville, Connecticut	Mohegan Sun Arena	9,323	1999	Rachid Meziane
	Indiana Fever	Indianapolis, Indiana	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	17,274	2000	Stephanie White
	New York Liberty	Brooklyn, New York	Barclays Center	17,732	1997	Chris DeMarco
	Toronto Tempo	Toronto, Ontario	Coca-Cola Coliseum	8,700	2026	Sandy Brondello
	Washington Mystics	Washington, D.C.	CareFirst Arena	4,200	1998	Sydney Johnson
Western	Dallas Wings	Arlington, Texas	College Park Center	7,000	1998	Jose Fernandez
	Golden State Valkyries	San Francisco, California	Chase Center	18,064	2025	Natalie Nakase
	Las Vegas Aces	Paradise, Nevada	Michelob Ultra Arena	12,000	1997	Becky Hammon
	Los Angeles Sparks	Los Angeles, California	Crypto.com Arena	19,079	1997	Lynne Roberts
	Minnesota Lynx	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Target Center	18,798	1999	Cheryl Reeve
	Phoenix Mercury	Phoenix, Arizona	Mortgage Matchup Center	17,071	1997	Nate Tibbetts
	Portland Fire	Portland, Oregon	Moda Center	19,393	2026	Alex Sarama
	Seattle Storm	Seattle, Washington	Climate Pledge Arena	18,300	2000	Sonia Raman

Future Teams Joining the League

The WNBA continues to welcome new franchises in cities that love basketball.

Future Teams

Team	City	Arena	Capacity	Year
Cleveland Sirens	Cleveland, Ohio	Rocket Arena	19,432	2028
Detroit WNBA team	Detroit, Michigan	Little Caesars Arena	20,332	2029
Philadelphia WNBA team	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	New South Philadelphia Arena	21,000	2030

Connections to NBA Teams

Many WNBA clubs share partnerships with NBA teams in the same market. These connected clubs are often called sister teams:

• The Golden State Valkyries share ownership with the Golden State Warriors.
• The Indiana Fever share ownership with the Indiana Pacers.
• The Los Angeles Sparks share close ties with the Los Angeles Lakers.
• The Minnesota Lynx share ownership with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• The New York Liberty share ownership with the Brooklyn Nets.
• The Phoenix Mercury share ownership with the Phoenix Suns.
• The Washington Mystics share ownership with the Washington Wizards.
• The future Cleveland Sirens will partner with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• The future Detroit WNBA team will partner with the Detroit Pistons.
• The future Philadelphia WNBA team will partner with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Some teams share a market with an NBA club but have different owners. The Chicago Sky operate separately from the Chicago Bulls. The Dallas Wings operate independently from the Dallas Mavericks. The Portland Fire share ownership with Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League. In Canada, the Toronto Tempo are led by sports leader Larry Tanenbaum.

Other franchises play in cities without an NBA team. The Connecticut Sun play at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Seattle Storm operated alongside the SuperSonics until that club became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Local business leaders in Seattle bought the Storm to keep the team in town. The Utah team relocated to become the Silver Stars with the San Antonio Spurs. Later, MGM Resorts International bought the club and moved it to Nevada as the Las Vegas Aces.

How the Season Works

The Regular Season

Players report to training camp in April and May to practice drills and learn plays. Coaches use preseason games to select a final 12-player roster.

The regular season tips off in May. Each team plays 44 games against opponents across the league. Every club visits and hosts every other team at least once each year. The league plans to expand the schedule to 50 games in 2027.

When the Summer Olympics happen, the league pauses for one month. This break gives players time to compete for their national teams. The league also coordinates its calendar around the FIBA World Cup.

The Commissioner's Cup Tournament

The Commissioner's Cup is a special in-season tournament. Regular-season games played in early June count toward the Cup tournament standings. The top Eastern team and top Western team advance to the championship game. The winning team earns prize money and holds the trophy high.

The Midseason All-Star Game

Every July, the league pauses to enjoy the All-Star Game. Fans, players, and journalists vote together to select the starting lineups. Head coaches choose the reserve players for the bench. The two players who receive the most fan votes serve as team captains. The captains take turns drafting players to create two exciting rosters.

The weekend includes a three-point shooting contest and a skills challenge. In Olympic years, like the 2021 and 2024 games, the WNBA All-Stars played against the US national team.

Teams must complete all player trades before the midseason trading deadline. After that date passes, clubs cannot trade players for the rest of the year.

The Playoffs and the Finals

The playoffs begin in late summer with the top eight teams. Seeding is based entirely on overall record, ignoring conference boundaries. Since 2022, teams play in a straight bracket elimination tournament.

The first round uses a best-of-three game series. The semifinals use a best-of-five series. The WNBA Finals feature the two best teams playing in a best-of-seven series. The championship team receives the league trophy and championship rings. A special committee names the Finals MVP after the final buzzer sounds.

Great Players, Coaches, and Records

Many wonderful players have set records across league history. Hall of Fame guard Sue Bird played 19 seasons and 580 total games. Scoring leader Diana Taurasi scored over 10,000 career points for Phoenix.

The league celebrated its history by selecting the WNBA's All-Decade Team in 2006. Officials announced the WNBA's Top 15 Team in 2011 and the WNBA Top 20@20 in 2016. For the 25th season in 2021, the league unveiled The W25.

Over thirty players have scored at least 3,000 career points. Fifteen stars have reached 6,000 career points. This elite group includes Tina Charles, DeWanna Bonner, Tina Thompson, Tamika Catchings, Nneka Ogwumike, and Candice Dupree. It also includes Cappie Pondexter, Bird, Candace Parker, Katie Smith, Sylvia Fowles, Leslie, Augustus, and Jackson. Forward A'ja Wilson holds the highest career scoring average at over 21 points per game.

Coach Cheryl Reeve has won more than 380 regular-season games and 50 playoff games. In 2007, coach Paul Westhead became the first coach to win both an NBA and WNBA championship.

Trailblazer Nancy Lieberman played a game for the Shock in 2008 at age 50. Taurasi became the oldest full-time player when she played at age 42.

League Milestones

WNBA Historic Milestones

Milestone	Player	Team	Information
First player signed	Sheryl Swoopes	Houston Comets	Assigned to the Comets in 1996.
First points scored	Penny Toler	Los Angeles Sparks	Scored on a jump shot in 1997.
First triple-double	Sheryl Swoopes	Houston Comets	Had 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in 1998.
First slam dunk	Lisa Leslie	Los Angeles Sparks	Dunked on a fast break in 2002.
First 50–40–90 season	Elena Delle Donne	Washington Mystics	Shot over 50% FG, 40% 3FG, and 90% FT in 2019.
Most games played	Sue Bird	Seattle Storm	Played 580 career games.
Most career points	Diana Taurasi	Phoenix Mercury	Scored 10,646 career points.
Most career rebounds	Tina Charles	Multiple teams	Grabbed 4,207 career rebounds.
Most career assists	Sue Bird	Seattle Storm	Passed for 3,234 assists.
Most career blocks	Margo Dydek	Multiple teams	Blocked 877 shots.
Most career steals	Tamika Catchings	Indiana Fever	Collected 1,074 steals.
Most career 3-pointers	Diana Taurasi	Phoenix Mercury	Made 1,447 three-point shots.
Most points in a game	Liz Cambage, A'ja Wilson, Marina Mabrey	Dallas, Las Vegas, Toronto	Scored 53 points in a single contest.
Most rebounds in a game	Angel Reese	Atlanta Dream	Grabbed 26 rebounds in a single contest.
Most assists in a game	Caitlin Clark	Indiana Fever	Recorded 19 assists in a single contest.

End of Season Awards

At the close of each regular season, the league hands out special awards:

• The Most Valuable Player Award honors the best overall player in the league.
• The Defensive Player of the Year Award honors the best defensive stopper.
• The Rookie of the Year Award goes to the top first-year player.
• The Most Improved Player Award rewards a player who showed tremendous growth.
• The Sixth Player of the Year Award honors the best player coming off the bench.
• The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award honors fair play, kindness, and sportsmanship.
• The Coach of the Year Award recognizes the most successful head coach.
• The Executive of the Year Award honors the smartest team manager.
• The WNBA Cares Community Assist Award celebrates wonderful charity work in local communities.

Voters also select five players for the All-WNBA Team, five for the All-Defensive Team, and five for the All-Rookie Team.

Honored Retired Jerseys

Teams honor their greatest legends by hanging their uniform numbers in the arena rafters:

• Chicago Sky: Allie Quigley (14), Candace Parker (3)
• Connecticut Sun: Alyssa Thomas (25), Tina Charles (31), Jonquel Jones (35)
• Indiana Fever: Tamika Catchings (24)
• Las Vegas Aces: Becky Hammon (25)
• Los Angeles Sparks: Candace Parker (3), Lisa Leslie (9), Penny Toler (11)
• Minnesota Lynx: Lindsay Whalen (13), Maya Moore (23), Rebekkah Brunson (32), Seimone Augustus (33), Sylvia Fowles (34)
• Phoenix Mercury: Michele Timms (7), Penny Taylor (13), Jennifer Gillom (22), Bridget Pettis (32)
• Seattle Storm: Sue Bird (10), Lauren Jackson (15)

International Stars in the League

Talented players travel from all around the world to compete in the WNBA:

• Janeth Arcain (Brazil) won four championships with the Houston Comets.
• Elena Baranova (Russia) was an original international star and All-Star forward.
• Zheng Haixia (China) won the sportsmanship trophy in 1997.
• Margo Dydek (Poland) stood 7 feet 2 inches tall and led the league in blocked shots.
• Ticha Penicheiro (Portugal) led Sacramento to a championship with dazzling passes.
• Lauren Jackson (Australia) won three MVP awards and two titles with Seattle.
• Penny Taylor (Australia) helped Phoenix win three championships with clutch shooting.
• Tammy Sutton-Brown (Canada) was a two-time All-Star center.
• Sophia Young and Sancho Lyttle (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) became dominant rebounders.
• Liz Cambage (Australia) scored 53 points in a single game.
• Emma Meesseman (Belgium) won the 2019 Finals MVP award with Washington.
• Jonquel Jones (Bahamas) won the MVP award and led New York to a title.
• Satou Sabally (Germany) earned multiple All-Star selections as a high-scoring forward.

Rules and Court Dimensions

The WNBA follows standard basketball rules, but has a few special differences from the NBA:

• WNBA teams carry 12 players on a roster, while NBA clubs carry 15.
• The three-point line is 22 feet 1.75 inches from the basket, identical to international FIBA courts. The three-point distance in the corners matches the NBA at 22 feet.
• The official basketball has a circumference of 28.5 inches and weighs 20 ounces. It is one inch smaller and two ounces lighter than an NBA ball. Wilson manufactures the game balls.
• Games have four 10-minute quarters instead of the 12-minute quarters used in the NBA.
• Teams must shoot within a 24-second shot clock.
• Teams have eight seconds to advance the ball across the midcourt line.
• Swiss watchmaker Tissot operates the official clocks and timing systems in arenas.

Court Dimensions
Area	Imperial	Metric
Court length	94 ft	28.65 m
Court width	50 ft	15.24 m
Rim height	10 ft	3.05 m
Center circle diameter	12 ft	3.66 m
Three-point distance (arc)	22 ft 1.75 in	6.75 m
Three-point distance (corners)	22 ft	6.71 m
Free-throw line distance	15 ft	4.57 m

Business and Community Work

Community Support and Fair Play

WNBA players work hard to help communities and promote fairness. They support youth programs, good health, and equal opportunities for everyone. Leaders like Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, and Maya Moore have spoken out for fairness across society.

The Minnesota Lynx served as early leaders for fairness and kindness. Players wore shirts reminding people that positive change starts within communities. In 2020, players created the WNBA Social Justice Council with guidance from experts like Alicia Garza and Kimberlé Crenshaw. The council works to help all communities thrive together.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, teams worked to keep fans safe and healthy. Arenas hosted community clinics, and players made educational videos. Later, athletes produced a documentary titled Power of the Dream to share how players worked together.

Team Sponsors and Uniforms

In 2009, the Phoenix Mercury became the first team to add a company logo to their jerseys. Other clubs soon added partners to their uniforms. In 2011, phone company Boost Mobile partnered with teams across the league.

Uniform partner Adidas helped create lightweight uniforms for players. In 2019, AT&T partnered with the league to place its logo on every team's uniform. Companies join the WNBA Changemakers program to invest money and help women's sports grow.

Player Drafts and Salaries

College players enter the league through the WNBA draft held each spring. American college athletes must be at least 22 years old during the draft year. International players can enter the draft at age 20. The draft has three rounds, giving clubs 36 total draft picks. Teams that missed the playoffs enter the draft lottery to decide the top picks.

In earlier years, player salaries were smaller, leading many athletes to play overseas in Europe or Asia during the winter. Some players faced difficult injuries while playing year-round without rest. The 2026 labor agreement increased player salaries significantly. The average salary rose to $583,000, and top stars can earn up to $1.4 million. The league also created marketing agreements so players can earn money at home during the winter months.

During the winter of 2025, stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart launched Unrivaled. This fast-paced three-on-three league takes place in Florida, giving athletes a fun way to play during the winter.

Media Coverage and Watching Games

Television and Streaming

Fans can watch games on many television networks. ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 broadcast national games, the draft, and the All-Star Game. Games also air across NBC, USA Network, and Amazon Prime Video. Network CBS Sports and streaming platform Paramount+ broadcast weekend matches.

In 2023, Ion Television and Scripps Sports began broadcasting Friday night doubleheaders. Teams also broadcast games through local television and radio channels so local fans can follow along.

Fans can watch out-of-market games using the WNBA League Pass digital service. The subscription works on mobile phones, tablets, computers, and connected televisions.

Record Television Audiences

Television viewership has reached all-time record highs. Millions of new fans tune in to watch exciting games every week. Regular-season games on major networks routinely average more than one million viewers. Playoff and Finals games draw even larger crowds across the world.

See also

In Spanish: Women's National Basketball Association para niños

• Best WNBA Player ESPY Award
• List of WNBA career scoring leaders
• List of WNBA champions
• List of WNBA head coaches
• List of WNBA players
• List of WNBA seasons
• Timeline of women's basketball
• Women's sports in the United States