Women's National Basketball Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Women's National Basketball Association

Founded	April 24, 1996; 29 years ago (1996-04-24)
Country	United States
Number of teams	12 (13 in 2025 and 14 in 2026)
Domestic cup(s)	Commissioner's Cup
Current champions	Las Vegas Aces (2nd title)
Most championships	Houston Comets Minnesota Lynx Seattle Storm (4 titles each)
Commissioner	Cathy Engelbert
Website	WNBA.com
2024 WNBA season

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a professional basketball league for women in the United States. It has 12 teams. The league started on April 24, 1996, as a women's version of the NBA. Games officially began in 1997.

The regular season runs from May to September. A special All-Star game happens in July, unless it's an Olympic year. The WNBA Finals are played from late September to early October.

Some WNBA teams are connected to NBA teams and play in the same arenas. These include the Indiana Fever (with the Indiana Pacers), Los Angeles Sparks (with the Los Angeles Lakers), Minnesota Lynx (with the Minnesota Timberwolves), New York Liberty (with the Brooklyn Nets), and Phoenix Mercury (with the Phoenix Suns). Other teams, like the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, and Washington Mystics, have their own arenas.

History of the WNBA

How the League Started (1996–1997)

The idea for the WNBA was approved by the NBA on April 24, 1996. This was announced with famous players like Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes present. The WNBA had a rival league called the American Basketball League (ABL), which started in 1996 but closed down in 1998.

The WNBA began with eight teams. In the Eastern Conference, there were the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and New York Liberty. In the Western Conference, there were the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz.

The WNBA was not the first women's pro basketball league in the U.S. (that was the WBL). However, it was the first to have full support from the NBA. The WNBA's "Logo Woman" design was made to look like the NBA's logo.

After the 1996 USA Women's National Team won a gold medal at the Olympics, the WNBA's first season began on June 21, 1997. The very first game was between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks in Los Angeles. This game was shown on national TV by NBC. The WNBA also had TV deals with ESPN and Lifetime. Penny Toler scored the first point in league history.

Early Champions and Growth (1997–2000)

The WNBA's first marketing campaign was called "We Got Next." It focused on stars like Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes. In the first season, Lisa Leslie's Sparks didn't do as well as expected, and Sheryl Swoopes missed many games because she was pregnant.

The first big star of the WNBA was MVP Cynthia Cooper, who played for the Houston Comets. The Comets beat Lobo's New York Liberty in the first WNBA championship game.

The league grew quickly. Two teams were added in 1998 (Detroit and Washington), and two more in 1999 (Orlando and Minnesota). This brought the total to twelve teams. In 1999, players and the league signed their first collective bargaining agreement. This was a big step for women's professional sports.

In 1999, the WNBA also announced four more teams for the 2000 season: the Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, Miami Sol, and Portland Fire. This made the league 16 teams strong. The WNBA President, Val Ackerman, said they planned to keep growing.

When the ABL, the WNBA's main rival, closed down in 1999, many of its best players joined WNBA teams. This made the WNBA even stronger.

On May 23, 2000, the Houston Comets were the first WNBA team to be invited to the White House Rose Garden. Before this, only men's sports teams had visited the White House. The Comets won their fourth championship at the end of the 2000 season, winning every title since the league began. Led by their "Big Three" players—Swoopes, Tina Thompson, and Cooper—the Comets were almost unbeatable. After 2000, Cooper retired, and the Comets' amazing winning streak ended.

Sparks Win and League Changes (2001–2002)

In 2001, the Los Angeles Sparks became the top team. Led by Lisa Leslie, the Sparks had a great season and won their first WNBA Finals by beating the Charlotte Sting.

The Sparks won again in 2002, with Leslie leading the way. They had a perfect record in the playoffs and beat the New York Liberty in the Finals.

Until 2002, the NBA owned all WNBA teams. Then, the NBA sold the teams. Some were bought by their NBA partner teams, and others by new owners. This caused two teams to move: Utah moved to San Antonio, and Orlando moved to Connecticut. Orlando became the first WNBA team owned by a group not connected to an NBA team. Two teams, the Miami Sol and Portland Fire, closed down because no new owners could be found.

Bill Laimbeer's Impact (2003–2006)

In 2003, there was a disagreement between the players' union and the league about a new contract. This caused a delay in the start of the preseason and the 2003 WNBA draft.

Former NBA player Bill Laimbeer became the coach of the Detroit Shock in 2002. The team had been struggling, but Laimbeer helped them turn things around. In 2003, three Shock players made it to the All-Star Game. The Shock went from being one of the worst teams to finishing first in their conference. They then beat the two-time champion Los Angeles Sparks in the Finals.

After the 2003 season, the Cleveland Rockers, one of the original teams, closed because its owners didn't want to keep running it.

Val Ackerman, the first WNBA president, left her job in 2005. David Stern, the NBA Commissioner, announced that Donna Orender would take her place.

In 2006, a new team was added in Chicago (the Sky). Also, some rules were changed to make the WNBA more like the NBA.

The WNBA celebrated its tenth season in 2006. It was the first women's professional sports league to last for ten years in a row. For this anniversary, the WNBA named its WNBA's All-Decade Team, honoring the ten best players from the first decade.

The Shock won another championship in 2006, beating the Sacramento Monarchs in a five-game series.

Fast-Paced Basketball (2007–2009)

In December 2006, the Charlotte Sting team closed down. A special draft was held in January 2007 for other teams to pick up their players.

Paul Westhead, a former NBA championship coach, became the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in 2005. He brought a fast-paced style of play to the WNBA. This style worked well for his team, especially after the league shortened the shot clock from 30 to 24 seconds in 2006. The Mercury, led by their "Big Three" of Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi, and Penny Taylor, scored a lot of points.

In 2007, Phoenix scored a league-record 88.97 points per game. They were too fast for other teams and finished first in their conference. They beat the Detroit Shock in the Finals to win their first WNBA title.

In October 2007, the WNBA added another new team in Atlanta. This team was named the Dream.

Paul Westhead left the Mercury after their 2007 win, and Penny Taylor went back to Australia to get ready for the 2008 Summer Olympics. This caused the Mercury to struggle in 2008. The Detroit Shock won their third championship under coach Bill Laimbeer, but Laimbeer resigned in 2009, ending the Shock's winning era.

In 2008, the first outdoor professional basketball game in North America was played in New York City. The Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty in front of over 19,000 fans.

The WNBA took over ownership of the Houston Comets in late 2008. The Comets closed down on December 1, 2008, because no new owners could be found.

In 2009, the Mercury, with new coach Corey Gaines, went back to their fast-paced style of play. They averaged 92.82 points per game and reached the Finals again. The championship series was a clash of styles: the high-scoring Mercury against the strong defense of the Indiana Fever. The Mercury won in five exciting games, taking their second WNBA championship.

This fast-paced style of play, known as "Paul Ball," influenced the whole league. Players became more athletic and scored more points. By 2010, the league average was 80.35 points per game, much higher than the 69.2 average in the first season.

New Era of Stars (2010–2012)

On October 20, 2009, the Detroit Shock team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and became the Tulsa Shock. A month later, the Sacramento Monarchs closed down because their owners didn't want to support them anymore.

The 2010 season was very close in the East. Three teams were tied for first place on the last day. In the 2010 Finals, two new teams played: the Seattle Storm and the Atlanta Dream. Seattle won their first championship since 2004, and Atlanta reached the Finals in only their third year.

After the 2010 season, President Orender resigned. On April 21, 2011, NBA commissioner David Stern announced that Laurel J. Richie would become the new WNBA president.

The 2011 season started with a lot of excitement, partly because of new young stars and the NBA lockout. The 2011 NBA lockout began on July 1, 2011, but WNBA President Laurel J. Richie said it would not affect the WNBA season.

Many news outlets started covering the WNBA more. NBA TV showed over 70 regular-season games. New young players like Candace Parker (Sparks), Maya Moore (Lynx), DeWanna Bonner (Mercury), Angel McCoughtry (Dream), Sylvia Fowles (Sky), Tina Charles (Sun), and Liz Cambage (Shock) brought new energy to the game.

By the end of the 2011 regular season, nine of the twelve teams had more fans attending their games than in 2010. Connecticut Sun player Tina Charles set a league record with 23 double-doubles in a season. Sylvia Fowles of the Chicago Sky became only the second player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.

McCoughtry led her team to the Finals for the second year in a row, but the Dream lost again, this time to the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx won their first title.

In 2012, the WNBA had a long break for the Olympics. The Indiana Fever won the WNBA championship that year.

The "Three to See" (2013)

The 2013 WNBA draft was very popular because of three college stars: Brittney Griner from Baylor, Elena Delle Donne from Delaware, and Skylar Diggins from Notre Dame. They were the top three picks and were called "The Three To See." This draft was the first to be shown live on ESPN during prime time.

The retirement of legends like Katie Smith, Tina Thompson, Ticha Penicheiro, and Sheryl Swoopes, along with the arrival of these new talented players and new rules, marked a new chapter for the WNBA.

On the court, the Minnesota Lynx won their second title in three years, beating the Atlanta Dream in the Finals. They were the first team to sweep the playoffs since the Seattle Storm.

The popularity of Griner, Delle Donne, and Diggins helped TV ratings for the league go up by 28 percent. Half of the teams also made a profit that season.

Two more teams moved in the following years. The Tulsa Shock moved to Dallas–Fort Worth in Texas in 2016 and became the Dallas Wings. In 2018, the San Antonio Stars moved to Nevada and became the Las Vegas Aces.

New Player Rules and Commissioner's Cup (2020)

In January 2020, the WNBA and its players' union agreed on a new contract that would last until 2027. This new agreement brought many changes:

• Players' total pay increased by over 50%. This helped star players the most, but all players benefited. One goal was to reduce the need for top players to play overseas in the offseason.
• Players could become "unrestricted free agents" (meaning they could sign with any team) a year earlier than before.
• Players now fly in premium economy class for regular-season games and get their own hotel rooms on the road.
• Players get their full salary during maternity leave. They also receive $5,000 a year for childcare, and teams must provide apartments with at least two bedrooms for players with children. The league also helps with family planning costs up to $60,000 for adoption or other treatments.
• New rules made it harder for veteran players to be late for training camp. By 2025, players with more than two years of experience who miss the start of camp could be suspended for the season. There are exceptions for serious injuries or national team duties.
• The new rules also allowed WNBA players to work as coaches for NBA teams without salary limits.

Also in January 2020, the WNBA announced a new tournament called the Commissioner's Cup. It was planned to start in the 2020 season. Teams would play 10 special "Cup games" during the regular season. The top team from each conference would play in a final game in August.

The 2020 WNBA season was supposed to have a break for the Tokyo Olympics, but the Olympics were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WNBA season itself was also delayed. The draft still happened online. The Commissioner's Cup was not held in 2020.

2020 Season at IMG Academy

In June 2020, the WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, announced that the 2020 season would be shorter (22 games) and played entirely at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Players lived and practiced there, and all games were held in one location to keep everyone safe during the pandemic.

"Count It" and Expansion (2021–Present)

On March 15, 2021, the WNBA announced its "Count It" campaign to celebrate its 25th anniversary. As part of this, they revealed The W25, a list of the 25 greatest and most influential players in league history.

The Commissioner's Cup finally started in 2021. The first final game was held on August 12 and was shown on Amazon Prime Video. The winning team shared a prize pool of $500,000, with each player getting at least $30,000.

In February 2022, the league raised $75 million, which meant the WNBA was valued at $475 million. The Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, said the WNBA hoped to add one or two new cities for expansion teams by the end of 2022, with games starting as early as 2024.

On September 26, 2023, it was reported that the owners of the Golden State Warriors (an NBA team) were planning to start a WNBA team in San Francisco. This was officially announced on October 5, 2023. The new team, the Golden State Valkyries, will play at Chase Center and start in the 2025 season. It's the first new WNBA team since 2008. The expansion fee for this team was $50 million.

On the same day, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said she expected a 14th team to be added by 2025. She mentioned Toronto, Philadelphia, Denver, Portland, and Sacramento as cities interested in a team. In May 2024, it was reported that a group in Toronto was in talks to get a team.

WNBA Teams

The WNBA started with 8 teams in 1997. Over time, teams have been added, moved, or closed. Currently, there are 12 teams. In total, 18 different teams have been part of the WNBA.

As of the 2022 season, only four original teams from 1997 are still playing: the Las Vegas Aces (which used to be the Utah Starzz and San Antonio (Silver) Stars), Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, and Phoenix Mercury.

The arenas listed below are those expected to be used in the 2024 season.

Key

Symbol	Meaning
*	Franchise has relocated at some point in its existence

Overview of WNBA teams

Conference	Team	City	Arena	Capacity	Joined	Head coach
Eastern
	Atlanta Dream	College Park, Georgia	Gateway Center Arena	3,500	2008	Tanisha Wright
	Chicago Sky	Chicago, Illinois	Wintrust Arena	10,387	2006	Teresa Weatherspoon
	Connecticut Sun	Uncasville, Connecticut	Mohegan Sun Arena	9,323	1999*	Stephanie White
	Indiana Fever	Indianapolis, Indiana	Gainbridge Fieldhouse	17,923	2000	Christie Sides
	New York Liberty	Brooklyn, New York	Barclays Center	17,732	1997	Sandy Brondello
	Washington Mystics	Washington, D.C.	Entertainment and Sports Arena	4,200	1998	Eric Thibault
Western
	Dallas Wings	Arlington, Texas	College Park Center	7,000	1998*	Latricia Trammell
	Las Vegas Aces	Paradise, Nevada	Michelob Ultra Arena	12,000	1997*	Becky Hammon
	Los Angeles Sparks	Los Angeles, California	Crypto.com Arena	18,997	1997	Curt Miller
	Minnesota Lynx	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Target Center	19,356	1999	Cheryl Reeve
	Phoenix Mercury	Phoenix, Arizona	Footprint Center	18,422	1997	Nate Tibbetts
	Seattle Storm	Seattle, Washington	Climate Pledge Arena	18,100	2000	Noelle Quinn

Future Teams

Planned WNBA teams

Team	City	Arena	Joining	Head coach
Golden State Valkyries	San Francisco, California	Chase Center	2025	TBA
Toronto WNBA team	Toronto, Ontario	Coca-Cola Coliseum	2026	TBA

WNBA and NBA Team Connections

Six current WNBA teams and both future teams are linked to an NBA team in the same city. These are called "sister teams." For example, the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty are sister teams. The Golden State Warriors will be sister teams with the new Golden State Valkyries in 2025.

Some WNBA teams are in the same city as an NBA team but are not connected. The Chicago Sky and Bulls are an example.

The Seattle Storm used to be a sister team to the SuperSonics. But when the SuperSonics moved and became the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Storm was sold to a local group in Seattle.

Many former WNBA teams were also sister teams to NBA teams, like the Charlotte Sting and Hornets.

Seven current WNBA teams and both future teams share a city with an NBA G League team (a minor league for the NBA). Some of these teams even share arenas.

Timeline of WNBA Teams

Current member Former member Relocated member Future member

WNBA expansion and contraction

Season(s)	No. of teams
1997	8
1998	10
1999	12
2000–2002	16
2003	14
2004–2005	13
2006	14
2007	13
2008	14
2009	13
2010–2024	12
2025	13
2026–future	14

Teams That Moved

• Detroit Shock (1998–2009) moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Orlando Miracle (1999–2002) moved to Uncasville, Connecticut.
• Utah Starzz (1997–2002) moved to San Antonio, Texas.
• Tulsa Shock (2010–2015) moved to Arlington, Texas.
• San Antonio Stars (2003–2017) moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Teams That Closed Down

• Charlotte Sting (1997–2006)
• Cleveland Rockers (1997–2003)
• Houston Comets (1997–2008)
• Miami Sol (2000–2002)
• Portland Fire (2000–2002)
• Sacramento Monarchs (1997–2009)

How the Season Works

Regular Season Games

Teams start with training camps in May. Coaches use this time to get players ready and choose the 12 players for the team roster. After training camp, there are some practice games.

The WNBA regular season starts in May. Since 2023, each team plays 40 games, with 20 at home and 20 away. Every team plays against every other team at least once each season.

In years when the Summer Olympics are held, the WNBA takes a month-long break. This allows players to join their national teams for the Olympics. If the FIBA World Cup is happening, the WNBA either takes a break or ends its season early.

WNBA Commissioner's Cup

The Commissioner's Cup is a special tournament played during the regular season. It was first planned for 2020 but started in 2021 due to the pandemic. The first home and away games each team plays against its conference rivals count as Cup games. The top team from each conference then plays in a single final game, usually in August. The winning team gets a prize pool of $500,000.

WNBA All-Star Game

The first All-Star Game was held in 1999. The best players from the Eastern Conference played against the best from the Western Conference.

In July, the regular season pauses for the annual WNBA All-Star Game. This game is part of a weekend event in a chosen WNBA city. Fans, WNBA players, and sports reporters vote for the All-Star starters. The league's head coaches choose the reserve players. The two players with the most fan votes become team captains and pick their teams, similar to the NBA All-Star Game.

From 2008 to 2016, there was no All-Star Game in Olympic years. However, in 2021, an All-Star Game was played in an Olympic year, with a WNBA all-star team playing against the U.S. national team.

After the All-Star break, there's a "trading deadline." After this date, teams cannot trade players with each other for the rest of the season.

WNBA Playoffs

The WNBA Playoffs usually start in late September. The eight best teams from the regular season, regardless of their conference, qualify for the playoffs. Since 2022, the playoffs have a standard knockout format. The first round is a best-of-three series, and the semifinals and finals are best-of-five. Google has been the official sponsor since 2021.

Teams with a higher rank (seed) have advantages. They usually play a weaker team and get "home-court advantage," meaning they play more games at their home arena.

WNBA Finals

The final round of the playoffs is called the WNBA Finals. It's a best-of-five series between the two semifinal winners, usually held in October. The winning team's players receive a championship ring. The league also gives out a WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award to the best player in the Finals.

League Championships

The Houston Comets, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm have each won the most championships, with four titles each. The Comets team closed down in 2008. The Lynx have played in the championship game the most times, with six appearances between 2011 and 2017.

Teams in red have closed down.

Teams	Win	Loss	Total	Year(s) won	Year(s) lost
Minnesota Lynx	4	2	6	2011, 2013, 2015, 2017	2012, 2016
Houston Comets (folded in 2008)	4	0	4	1997, 1998, 1999, 2000	-
Seattle Storm	4	0	4	2004, 2010, 2018, 2020	-
Los Angeles Sparks	3	2	5	2001, 2002, 2016	2003, 2017
Phoenix Mercury	3	2	5	2007, 2009, 2014	1998, 2021
Detroit Shock (now Dallas Wings)	3	1	4	2003, 2006, 2008	2007
Las Vegas Aces (previously San Antonio Stars)	2	2	4	2022, 2023	2008, 2020
Indiana Fever	1	2	3	2012	2009, 2015
Sacramento Monarchs (folded in 2009)	1	1	2	2005	2006
Washington Mystics	1	1	2	2019	2018
Chicago Sky	1	1	2	2021	2014
New York Liberty	0	5	5	-	1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2023
Connecticut Sun	0	4	4	-	2004, 2005, 2019, 2022
Atlanta Dream	0	3	3	-	2010, 2011, 2013
Charlotte Sting (folded in 2006)	0	1	1	-	2001

Players and Coaches

In 2011, only two players from the WNBA's first season in 1997 were still playing: Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson. Lisa Leslie played her entire career (1997–2009) with the Los Angeles Sparks. Sue Bird holds records for the most seasons played (19) and most games played (580).

The WNBA's All-Decade Team was chosen in 2006 to celebrate the league's tenth anniversary. It included the 10 best and most important players of that first decade. Similar teams were chosen for the 15th, 20th, and 25th anniversaries.

Over 30 players have scored at least 3,000 points in their WNBA careers. Only 14 players have reached 6,000 points. The player with the highest scoring average is Cynthia Cooper, who averaged 21.0 points per game.

In 2007, Paul Westhead of the Phoenix Mercury became the first person to win championships as a coach in both the NBA and WNBA.

In 2008, 50-year-old Nancy Lieberman became the oldest player to play in a WNBA game. She broke her own record from 1997 when she was 39. The oldest player to play a full season was Sue Bird, who retired in 2022 just before turning 42.

Sue Bird also holds the record for most career assists with 3,234. Courtney Vandersloot holds the record for most assists per game, averaging 6.79.

Player Milestones

WNBA Milestones

Milestone	Player	Team	Date	Information
First player signed	Sheryl Swoopes	Houston Comets	October 23, 1996	Signed by the WNBA and assigned to Houston.
First points scored	Penny Toler	Los Angeles Sparks	June 21, 1997	Scored the first points on a baseline jump-shot.
First triple-double	Sheryl Swoopes	Houston Comets	July 27, 1998	14 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists
First slam dunk	Lisa Leslie	Los Angeles Sparks	July 30, 2002	Dunked on a fast break against Miami
First 50–40–90 season	Elena Delle Donne	Washington Mystics	2019	51.5% FG, 43.0% 3FG, 97.4% FT
Most games played	Sue Bird	Seattle Storm	2002–2012, 2014–2018, 2020–2022	580 games
Most career points	Diana Taurasi	Phoenix Mercury	2004–2014, 2016–present	10,108 points
Most career rebounds	Sylvia Fowles	Chicago Sky / Minnesota Lynx	2008–2022	4,006 rebounds
Most career assists	Sue Bird	Seattle Storm	2002–2012, 2014–2018, 2020–2022	3,234 assists
Most career blocks	Margo Dydek	Utah Starzz/San Antonio Silver Stars/Connecticut Sun/Los Angeles Sparks	1998–2004, 2005–2007, 2008	877 blocks
Most career steals	Tamika Catchings	Indiana Fever	2002–2016	1,074 steals
Most 3-pointers	Diana Taurasi	Phoenix Mercury	2004–2014, 2016–present	1,361 3-pointers
Most points in a game	Liz Cambage	Dallas Wings	July 17, 2018	53 points
	A'ja Wilson	Las Vegas Aces	August 22, 2023
Most rebounds in a game	Chamique Holdsclaw	Washington Mystics	May 23, 2003	24 rebounds
Most assists in a game	Courtney Vandersloot	Chicago Sky	August 31, 2020	18 assists
Most career wins for a coach	Mike Thibault	Connecticut Sun / Washington Mystics	2003–2022	379 wins
Most team points in one game	–	Phoenix Mercury	July 24, 2010	127 points in double overtime against Minnesota
Most team points in a regulation game	–	Phoenix Mercury	July 22, 2010	123 points against Tulsa
Largest margin of victory	–	Minnesota Lynx	August 18, 2017	59-point win (111–52) over Indiana
Largest attendance for one game	–	Detroit Shock	September 16, 2007	22,076 in game 5 of 2007 Finals

Awards for Players and Coaches

Around September, the regular season ends, and voting begins for individual awards.

• The Sixth Player of the Year Award goes to the best player who usually starts games from the bench.
• The Rookie of the Year Award is for the best first-year player.
• The Most Improved Player Award is for the player who has improved the most.
• The Defensive Player of the Year Award is for the best defender.
• The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award is for the player who shows great sportsmanship.
• The Coach of the Year Award is for the coach who made the biggest positive difference to their team.
• The Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is for the most valuable player of the season.
• The Basketball Executive of the Year Award is for the team executive who helped their team succeed the most.
• The Community Assist Award is given to a player for outstanding community service.

There are also All-WNBA Teams, All-Defensive Teams, and an All-Rookie Team, each made up of the top players in those categories.

Recent Award Winners (2023 Season)

Award		Winner	Position	Team	Votes/Statistic
Most Valuable Player Award		Breanna Stewart	Forward	New York Liberty	20 out of 60
Finals MVP Award		A'ja Wilson	Forward	Las Vegas Aces	N/A
Rookie of the Year Award		Aliyah Boston	Forward-center	Indiana Fever	60 out of 60
Most Improved Player Award		Satou Sabally	Forward	Dallas Wings	37 out of 60
Defensive Player of the Year Award		A'ja Wilson	Forward	Las Vegas Aces	32 out of 60
Sixth Player of the Year Award		Alysha Clark	Forward	Las Vegas Aces	35 out of 60
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award		Elizabeth Williams	Center	Chicago Sky	15 out of 60
Peak Performer: Points		Jewell Loyd	Guard	Seattle Storm	24.7 PPG
Peak Performer: Rebounds		Alyssa Thomas	Forward	Connecticut Sun	9.9 RPG
Peak Performer: Assists		Courtney Vandersloot	Guard	New York Liberty	8.1 APG
Coach of the Year Award		Stephanie White	Coach	Connecticut Sun	36 out of 60
Basketball Executive of the Year Award		Jonathan Kolb	General manager	New York Liberty	6 out of 11
Community Assist Award		Brittney Griner	Center	Phoenix Mercury	N/A

Retired Jersey Numbers

Teams sometimes retire jersey numbers to honor players who made a huge impact. This means no other player on that team will wear that number again.

No.	Team	Player	Pos.	Tenure	Ref.
9	Los Angeles Sparks	Leslie, LisaLisa Leslie	C	1997–2009
11		Toler, PennyPenny Toler	G	1997–99
24	Indiana Fever	Catchings, TamikaTamika Catchings	SF	2002–16
25	Las Vegas Aces	Hammon, BeckyBecky Hammon	G	2007–14
13	Minnesota Lynx	Whalen, LindsayLindsay Whalen	G	2010–18
32		Brunson, RebekkahRebekkah Brunson	F	2010-2018
33		Augustus, SeimoneSeimone Augustus	G	2006-2019
34		Sylvia Fowles	C	2015-2022
7	Phoenix Mercury	Timms, MicheleMichele Timms	G	1997–2001
13		Taylor, PennyPenny Taylor	G/F	2004–16
22		Gillom, JenniferJennifer Gillom	F	1997–2002
32		Pettis, BridgetBridget Pettis	G	1997–2006
15	Seattle Storm	Jackson, LaurenLauren Jackson	F/C	2001–12
10		Bird, SueSue Bird	G	2001–22

Upcoming Number Retirements

No.	Team	Player	Pos.	Tenure	Date	Ref.
23	Minnesota Lynx	Moore, MayaMaya Moore	F	2011–2018	August 24, 2024

Famous International Players

Many international players have become All-Stars or won MVP awards in the WNBA:

• Elena Baranova, Russia – One of the first international players (1997), one-time All-Star.
• Zheng Haixia, China – First international player to win a WNBA award (1997).
• Margo Dydek, Poland – First international player to be the #1 draft pick (1998).
• Lauren Jackson, Australia – Two-time champion, three-time MVP, and eight-time All-Star.
• Ticha Penicheiro, Portugal – Won a championship in 2005 and was a four-time All-Star.
• Penny Taylor, Australia – Three-time champion and four-time All-Star.
• Tammy Sutton-Brown, Canada – Two-time All-Star.
• Sophia Young, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Four-time All-Star.
• Janeth Arcain, Brazil – Four-time champion (1997–2000) and one-time All-Star.

Rules of the Game

The WNBA follows standard basketball rules like the NBA, but with a few differences:

• The three-point line is about 22 feet from the basket. This is similar to international and college women's basketball rules.
• The WNBA basketball is smaller and lighter than the NBA ball. It's used for all senior-level women's basketball worldwide.
• Games are divided into four 10-minute quarters, not two 20-minute halves. This is like international and college women's rules.

New WNBA rules often match NBA rules. For example, since 2006, the shot clock was changed from 30 to 24 seconds, matching international rules.

In 2007, more changes were made:

• Teams now have 8 seconds (instead of 10) to move the ball across the half-court line.
• A referee can call timeouts for a player or the coach.

In 2012, the WNBA added the "block/charge arc" under the basket. In 2013, the defensive three-second rule and anti-flopping rules were added. The three-point line was also extended.

Since 2017, Tissot is the official timekeeper, using a single system for game time and shot clock.

Court Sizes

WNBA Court Dimensions
Area	Imperial	Metric
Length of court (baseline to baseline)	94 ft	28.65 m
Width of court (sideline to sideline)	50 ft	15.24 m
Rim height (floor to rim)	10 ft	3.05 m
Center circle diameter	12 ft	3.66 m
Three-point line distance from center of basket	22 ft 1.75 in	6.75 m
3-point line distance from center of basket (corners)	22 ft	6.71 m
Shaded area/Lane/Key length	19 ft	5.8 m
Shaded area/Lane/Key width	16 ft	4.88 m
Restricted area (aka "block/charge arc") (distance from center of basket)	4 ft	1.22 m
Free-throw line (distance from backboard)	15 ft	4.57 m
Free-throw half-circle radius	6 ft	1.83 m
Backboard width (side to side)	6 ft	1.83 m
Coaching box width (from baseline)	28 ft	8.54 m
*All dimensions are in line with NBA regulations except the main three-point arc. The three-point distance at the corners is identical in the NBA and WNBA.

Business of the WNBA

Money Matters

In the mid-2000s, the NBA spent over $10 million each year to help the WNBA stay in business. Teams were estimated to be losing $1.5 million to $2 million a year.

The WNBA has not always made a profit because not enough people watched the games. The league expected to lose around $400 million by 2010.

However, the league has been doing better financially in recent years. In 2010, one team made a profit for the first time. In 2011, three teams were profitable, and in 2013, six of the 12 teams made money. The league has also signed new TV deals with ESPN and sponsorship deals with companies like Boost Mobile.

Players and Social Causes

The New York Times called the WNBA "the most socially progressive pro league" in 2020.

As the league has grown, players have used their voices to support many social causes. They often focus on fairness between men's and women's sports. Many players, like Brittney Griner and Breanna Stewart, have spoken about equality for gender, sexual orientation, and race. They also support movements like Black Lives Matter.

The Minnesota Lynx were early supporters of social justice. Before a game in 2016, their captains wore black t-shirts saying "Change starts with us - Justice and Accountability" and the names of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, who had been killed by police.

In 2020, the league and players' union decided to put "Black Lives Matter" and "Say Her Name" slogans on warm-up gear and uniforms. When a team owner criticized this, her team wore t-shirts supporting her election opponent.

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the WNBA led American pro sports in promoting the COVID-19 vaccine. Teams hosted vaccine clinics, and 99% of players were fully vaccinated.

A documentary film called Power of the Dream will be released in June 2024. It focuses on the league's support for Black Lives Matter.

Sponsorships

On June 1, 2009, the Phoenix Mercury was the first WNBA team to have a sponsor's logo on their jerseys and warm-ups. This was a partnership with LifeLock. Other teams soon followed, with sponsors on their jerseys.

On August 22, 2011, the WNBA announced a league-wide sponsorship with Boost Mobile. Their logo was placed on 11 of the 12 teams' jerseys.

In April 2019, the WNBA announced a partnership with AT&T, making them the first non-clothing company to have its logo on the front of all 12 team jerseys.

Salaries and Team Rosters

Before the 2009 season, the maximum team roster size was changed from 13 players to 11. In March 2014, a new agreement increased the roster size to 12 players.

The WNBA draft happens every spring. American players must be at least 22 years old to be drafted, and international players must be 20. The draft has three rounds.

In 2010, the minimum salary for a player with three or more years of experience was $51,000, and the maximum was $101,500. Many WNBA players play in European or other international leagues during the offseason to earn more money.

The WNBA has been criticized for paying its players a smaller share of the league's money compared to the NBA. For example, in 2015, superstar Diana Taurasi chose to skip the WNBA season because a Russian club offered her a much higher salary to play for them instead.

In 2019, the reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart tore her Achilles tendon while playing overseas. This injury highlighted the issue of WNBA players needing to play year-round to earn enough money, which can lead to injuries. About 70% of WNBA players go overseas in the offseason.

The current player contract, which started in 2020, significantly increased minimum and maximum salaries. However, the total money teams can spend on player salaries (the "salary cap") did not increase as much. This means many teams now have only 11 players instead of the maximum 12. This makes it harder for new players to join the league. The WNBA also doesn't have a minor league like the NBA G League.

Another rule in the 2020 contract, called "prioritization," means veteran players who miss the start of training camp can be fined or even suspended. This rule makes it harder for players to play overseas and still join their WNBA team on time.

Player Earnings

WNBA players earn less than NBA players because the WNBA makes less money from things like ticket sales and TV deals. NBA players get about 50% of their league's yearly income, while WNBA players only get about 20%. Players like Kelsey Plum have said they want to be paid the same percentage of revenue, not the same total amount as men.

Audience and Viewership

In sports, how much money a league makes and how many people watch are very important. This money comes from ticket sales, merchandise, and TV broadcasts. In 2019, the WNBA made $102 million. New data shows that in 2023, the league and teams together are estimated to make $180 million to $200 million.

The WNBA's audience has grown a lot. In 2023, viewership increased by 67% halfway through the season, with an average of over 556,000 viewers per game. The league's social media presence has also become very popular.

Player Marketing Agreements

Player marketing agreements (PMAs) are contracts that allow WNBA players to earn more money by promoting the WNBA all year. As of 2022, 10 players have signed PMAs. The league plans to spend $1 million on PMAs each year, divided among the players who sign these contracts. This helps players earn more during the offseason and encourages them to stay with the WNBA instead of playing overseas.

NBA Support

The NBA partly owns the WNBA and gives it between $10-$15 million each year. The NBA makes much more money, earning up to $10 billion in 2022. Some people argue that the NBA should give more money to the WNBA to help it grow. The WNBA also makes less money from sponsorships and TV deals compared to the NBA.

Merchandise Sales

Here are the top jersey sales during the 2021 regular season, based on sales from the WNBA's official online store.

However, some people have pointed out that these rankings might not tell the whole story. For example, it's often hard to find ready-to-ship jerseys for many top players, especially in youth sizes. Also, the rankings only include sales from the WNBA's online store, not from other places like Dick's Sporting Goods.

Some have also noted that white players often get more media attention than Black players, which might affect jersey sales.

Jersey Sales
Rank	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Player	Sabrina Ionescu	Sue Bird	Diana Taurasi	A'ja Wilson	Breanna Stewart	Candace Parker	Skylar Diggins-Smith	Elena Delle Donne	Maya Moore	Liz Cambage
Team	Liberty	Storm	Mercury	Aces	Storm	Sky	Mercury	Mystics	Lynx	Aces

Here are the top teams in merchandise sales during the 2021 regular season.

Team Sales
Rank	1	2	3	4	5
Team	Seattle Storm	New York Liberty	Las Vegas Aces	Phoenix Mercury	Chicago Sky

WNBA Leaders

The league's top leader used to be called "President" but is now called "Commissioner."

• Val Ackerman, 1996–2005
• Donna Orender, 2005–2010
• Chris Granger, 2011 (temporary)
• Laurel J. Richie, 2011–2015
• Lisa Borders, 2015–2018
• Mark Tatum, 2018–2019 (temporary)
• Cathy Engelbert, 2019–present

Fan Attendance

In 2012, the average number of fans per game dropped to 7,457. This number stayed around 7,520 for a while. In 2015, it dropped again to 7,318, which was the lowest since the WNBA started.

However, attendance has improved recently. The 2018 and 2019 seasons had the lowest average attendance in WNBA history (6,769 and 6,535). But this was partly because some teams moved to smaller arenas. For example, the New York Liberty moved from Madison Square Garden (19,812 seats) to a smaller arena (5,000 seats).

In 2019, half of the league's teams saw more fans, and the number of sold-out games stayed the same. The 2023 season broke records for both viewership and attendance. Viewership was up 21% from 2022, and the average attendance per game was 6,615, the highest since 2018.

Media Coverage

WNBA games are shown on TV in the U.S. by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Ion Television, NBATV, CBS, and CBS Sports Network.

In the early years, women's networks like Lifetime and Oxygen also showed games. NBC broadcast games from 1997 to 2002.

In 2007, the WNBA signed a new contract with ESPN. This was the first time a women's professional league was paid for its TV rights. The deal meant at least 18 games would be shown each season on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2.

In 2013, the WNBA and ESPN signed another deal to show 30 games each season. Each team would get about $1 million per year from this deal.

In 2019, CBS Sports Network signed a deal to show 40 WNBA games each season.

In 2023, Ion Television signed a deal to show two WNBA games every Friday night. This was the first national sports broadcast for Ion since 2011.

Some teams also have games on local radio or TV stations.

In 2011, regular-season broadcasts had 270,000 viewers, a 5% increase from 2010. The league also saw growth on social media, with Instagram growing by 51%.

WNBA League Pass

In 2009, the WNBA launched WNBA LiveAccess, a service on WNBA.com that let fans watch over 200 live games online. These games were also saved to watch later.

In 2012, fans had to pay $4.99 to use LiveAccess, which increased to $14.99 in 2013. In 2014, the service was renamed WNBA League Pass.

WNBA League Pass is available through the WNBA App and costs $16.99 for the season. Some games shown on ESPN or CBS Sports Network are not available live, but can be watched on demand later.

Viewership Numbers

Year	Season	Telecasts on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC/CBS	Average viewership	+/− over previous
2005	Regular	Unknown	282,000	+
2006	Regular	14	242,000	+
2007	Regular	16	221,000	–
2008	Regular	13	248,000	+
	Playoffs	12	282,000	–
2009	Regular	12	269,000	+
	Playoffs	13	435,000	+
2010	Regular	18	258,000	–
	Playoffs	7	370,000	–
2011	Regular	11	270,000	+
	Playoffs	15	Unknown
2012	Regular	10	180,000	–
	Playoffs	19	301,000	+
2013	Regular	13	231,000	+
	Playoffs	17	344,000	+
2014	Regular	19	240,000	+
	Playoffs	10	489,000	+
2015	Regular	11 (includes 1 on ESPN)	202,000	–
	Playoffs	Unknown	Unknown
2016	Regular	Unknown	224,000	+
	Playoffs	Unknown	Unknown
2017	Regular	Unknown	171,000
	Playoffs	Unknown	346,000	2018	Regular		231,000
	Playoffs		319,000
	2019	Regular		246,000
		Playoffs		258,000
	2021	Playoffs	Unknown	367,000
	2022	Regular Playoffs	Unknown	412,000	+
2023	Regular Playoffs	Unknown	505,000	+

On the 2008 season opening day, over 1 million viewers watched the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury game, featuring new player Candace Parker.

While WNBA ratings are lower than NBA games, ESPN viewership grew 35% from 2017 to 2018. The 2023 season broke viewership and attendance records, with viewership up 21% from 2022.

All-Time Team History (through 2024)

Team	Years	Attendance Avg.	W	L	PCT	Playoffs	Playoffs W	Playoffs L	Playoffs PCT	Titles
Atlanta Dream	2008–present	6,455	160	180	.471	7	15	18	.455	0
Charlotte Sting	1997–2006	6,851	143	179	.444	6	6	13	.316	0
Chicago Sky	2006–present	5,054	179	229	.439	4	7	12	.368	1
Cleveland Rockers	1997–2003	8,885	108	112	.491	4	6	9	.400	0
Connecticut Sun (total) 1	1999–present	7,132	339	299	.531	10	21	21	.500	0
Connecticut Sun	2003–present	6,887	279	231	.547	9	20	19	.513	0
Dallas Wings (total) 2	1998–present	7,382	296	372	.443	10	30	22	.577	3
Dallas Wings	2016–present	4,640	27	41	.397	1	0	1	.550	0
Detroit Shock	1998–2009	8,463	210	186	.530	7	30	19	.612	3
Golden State Valkyries	To begin 2025
Houston Comets	1997–2008	9,592	241	149	.618	9	20	14	.588	4
Indiana Fever	2000–present	8,138	310	296	.512	13	35	33	.515	1
Las Vegas Aces (total) 3	1997–present	7,692	291	405	.418	9	10	23	.303	0
Las Vegas Aces	2018–present	9,551	137	61	.850	6	66	29	.695	2
Los Angeles Sparks	1997–present	9,080	424	272	.609	17	45	38	.542	3
Miami Sol	2000–2002	8,556	48	48	.500	1	1	2	.333	0
Minnesota Lynx	1999–present	8,008	347	291	.544	9	41	19	.683	4
New York Liberty	1997–present	10,873	371	325	.533	15	27	36	.429	0
Orlando Miracle	1999–2002	7,927	60	68	.469	1	1	2	.333	0
Phoenix Mercury	1997–present	9,307	358	338	.514	12	36	29	.554	3
Portland Fire	2000–2002	8,321	37	59	.385	0	0	0	.000	0
Sacramento Monarchs	1997–2009	8,287	224	200	.527	9	24	19	.558	1
San Antonio Stars	2003–2017	7,857	204	306	.400	7	8	18	.308	0
Seattle Storm	2000–present	7,697	303	303	.500	13	19	22	.463	4
Toronto WNBA team	To begin 2026
Tulsa Shock	2010–2015	5,173	59	145	.289	1	0	2	.000	0
Utah Starzz	1997–2002	7,334	87	99	.468	2	2	5	.286	0
Washington Mystics	1998–present	11,288	273	395	.409	10	8	21	.276	1

• ¹  The Connecticut Sun was known as the Orlando Miracle from 1999–2002.
• ²  The Dallas Wings were known as the Tulsa Shock from 2010–2015 and the Detroit Shock from 1998–2009.
• ³  The Las Vegas Aces were known as the Utah Starzz from 1997–2002, the San Antonio Silver Stars from 2003–2013, and the San Antonio Stars from 2014–2017.

Offseason Plans

Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx are planning a new league called Unrivaled. This league will allow WNBA players to play from January through March in Miami. The plan is for 30 players on six teams to play three-on-three and one-on-one games. The new league is expected to start in 2025.

See also

In Spanish: Women's National Basketball Association para niños