Women's basketball facts for kids
Women's basketball is a sport for women. The rules are the same as men's basketball, but the ball is smaller. It is popular in colleges, universities, and professionally.
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Different rules
Modern rules for women's basketball are much the same as those for men's basketball, with a few changes.
Basketball size
The correct size for the ball in WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) rules is a minimum of 28.5 inches (72.4 cm) in circumference. This is 1.00 inch (2.54 cm) smaller than the NBA ball. From 2004, this size is used for all professional women's competitions around the world.
Court dimensions
The three-point line (a line from which a ball thrown into the basket is worth three points) is 20 feet and 6.25 inches (6.25 m) from the middle of the basket in WNBA competition. Also, there is no block/charge arc under the basket.
Shot clock
The WNBA shot clock is 24 seconds. Women's NCAA college basketball uses a 30-second shot clock. Men's basketball uses a 34-second shot clock.
Game clock
Basketball is normally played in two 20 minute halves. WNBA games are played in four 10 minute quarters.
Levels of competition
College
Women's basketball is very popular in colleges in North America. It is sponsored by athletics associations (groups that help organise sports). The most important competition is organised by a group called the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), and the winner is called the 'national champion'.
The 2007-08 national champion was the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers.
American Professional Leagues
Women's Pro Basketball League
The Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) was a professional women's basketball league in the United States. The league played three seasons from the fall of 1978 to the spring of 1981. The league is the first American professional women's basketball league.
Women's Basketball Association
The Women's Basketball Association (WBA) was a professional women's basketball league in the United States. The league played three seasons from the summer of 1993 to the summer of 1995. The league is said to be the first American professional women's basketball league to be played in Summer.
American Basketball League
The American Basketball League was started in 1996 because the Olympics made people more interested in basketball. The league played two full seasons (1996-97 and 1997-98) and started a third (1998-99) before it ended in 1998.
Women's National Basketball Association
The WNBA is a group that organizes professional basketball games for women. It is like the NBA (National Basketball Association), but for women. It was started in 1996.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A player from Webber International (black jersey) attempts a free throw against Stetson University (white jerseys). November 30, 2018.
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University of California-Berkeley women's basketball team, photographed in 1899
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Freshman Women's Basketball Team - 1914
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Arctic Sisterhood women's basketball team in Nome Alaska circa 1908
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Australia women's national basketball team on winning the 2006 FIBA World Championship
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Smith College's class of 1902 women's basketball team.
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See also
In Spanish: Baloncesto femenino para niños
