Welcome to the ultimate resource for every WNBA fan! Whether you’re a seasoned supporter or new to “the W,” this comprehensive guide offers a deep dive into everything WNBA. From understanding the league’s makeup to exploring the players, championships, and fan essentials – we’ve got it all covered.
Understanding the WNBA
What is the WNBA?
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is the pinnacle of professional women’s professional basketball in the United States.
Founded in 1996 by David Stern, the then NBA commissioner, the WNBA held its inaugural season in 1997, marking the dawn of a new era in women’s sports. The league was established as a counterpart to the NBA, and it launched on the heels of the gold-medal success of the U.S. women’s basketball team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The WNBA season runs through the summer season, kicking off in May and concluding with the championship finals in October. Our article – How Many Games Are in a WNBA Season? – breaks down the structure of a season.
WNBA Teams and Locations
There are currently 12 teams in the WNBA, a structure in place since 2010. The league is evenly divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Our detailed WNBA team map dives deeper into the geographical spread of each of the 12 teams.
Atlanta Dream
Founded in 2008, the Atlanta Dream is part of the Eastern Conference. Led by three All-Stars in Allisha Gray, Cheyenne Parker, and Rhyne Howard, the team plays at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky was founded ahead of the 2006 season and is part of the Eastern Conference. WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper and Marina Mabrey lead the team. It plays its home games at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun was initially the Orlando Miracle from 1999 to 2003. It relocated to Uncasville, Connecticut, in 2003. Led by triple-double specialist Alyssa Thomas and five-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner, the team is part of the Eastern Conference. It plays at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.
Dallas Wings
Founded in 1998 as the Detroit Shock, the team relocated and became the Dallas Wings in 2016. The team is now part of the Western Conference. They’re led by scoring champion Arike Ogunbowale and most-improved player Satou Sabally. The team plays at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Indiana Fever
Established in 2000, the Indiana Fever is a proud member of the Eastern Conference. The team features the talents of Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston and All-Star Kelsey Mitchell. Fans hit up the newly renovated Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, to catch the Fever.
Las Vegas Aces
The Las Vegas Aces, founded in 1997 and formerly known as the Utah Starzz and San Antonio Stars, now shine bright in the Western Conference. A’ja Wilson, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and league MVP, and two-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum lead the team. The Aces host their games at Michelob ULTRA Arena on the Las Vegas Strip.
Los Angeles Sparks
Since their inception in 1997, the Los Angeles Sparks have illuminated the Western Conference. The team boasts former MVP and champion Nneka Ogwumike and two-time WNBA champion Jordin Canada among its stars. The Sparks play home games at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx, established in 1999, is a Western Conference powerhouse. With three-time All-Stars Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride leading the charge, the Lynx are a force. The team’s home is the Target Center, located in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
New York Liberty
Founded in 1997, the New York Liberty stands tall in the Eastern Conference. Two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, basketball assists leader Courtney Vandersloot, and All-Star Betnijah Laney anchor the team. The Liberty showcases their talents at the renowned Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Phoenix Mercury
Since 1997, the Phoenix Mercury has competed in the Western Conference. The team is home to WNBA legends, including all-time scoring leader Diana Taurasi and the veteran phenom Brittney Griner. Fans watch the Mercury play at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm, established in 2000, is led by the scoring machine Jewell Loyd and All-Star Eli Magbegor. Since 2022, fans have enjoyed the team’s performances at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Washington Mystics
Founded in 1998, the Washington Mystics enchant fans in the Eastern Conference. Two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne and the defensive wizard Natasha Cloud lead the team. The Mystics play at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C.
The WNBA wasn’t always composed of 12 teams. In its inaugural 1997 season, the league started with eight teams. The number eventually ballooned to 16 teams in 2000. It bounced up and down for several years before settling at 12 teams again in 2010.
In addition, a change is on the horizon as the league is set to welcome two new additions in 2025 and 2026 by introducing a San Francisco Bay Area team and a Toronto franchise. With the expansion, the league will consist of 14 teams.
The WNBA Draft
The WNBA is arguably the most challenging professional league to break into. Every year in April, the league’s 12 teams take turns selecting from a pool of college and overseas players to strengthen their squads. After three rounds of 12 selections, 36 new players get their chance to start a career in the W.
Leading up to the draft is not just an exciting time for prospects. Fans fervently discuss talk possibilities and consider how their favorite teams may improve. And nearly everyone in the sports media world further fans the flame by publishing their own WNBA mock draft, adding to the discussions.
Our WNBA guide – How Does The WNBA Draft Work? – breaks down the intricacies of the draft, including the draft order and selection processes, and what you can look forward to in 2024.
WNBA Game Insights
The WNBA season runs through the summer season, kicking off in May and concluding with the championship finals in October. Teams battle it out for 40 regular season games, with the top eight teams moving on to the WNBA playoffs to compete for a championship.
WNBA games are made up of four 10-minute quarters for a total of 40 minutes of play. Games can’t end in ties, so teams play another five minutes in case the game is locked up at the end of regulation. For more detail on the length and structure of games, read our post on How Long are WNBA Games?
Teams win games by scoring more points than their opponent. To score, players need to successfully shoot the ball so that it passes through the hoop and rim. The rim is positioned 10 feet high. Our article – How Tall is a Basketball Hoop? – breaks this down. Players can score one, two, three, or, in rare cases, four points during a possession:
- Players score 1 point for made free throws.
- Players score 2 points for a made basket inside the 3-point line.
- Players score 3 points for a made basket outside the 3-point line.
In each game, players cannot commit six personal fouls, or they foul out and are disqualified for the rest of the game. Some fouls players can get called for include reaching, blocking, charging, hand-checking, and even transition take fouls. To learn more about the WNBA and fouls, check out our article on How Many Fouls to Foul Out in the WNBA.
How to Watch the WNBA
There are more ways than ever to catch a WNBA game. Let’s be real – a WNBA game is best experienced live and in person, with an electrifying arena atmosphere. If you live or can travel to one of the 12 cities home to WNBA teams and can afford the WNBA ticket prices, there’s no better way to get into the action. But not everyone can witness the games in person. Thankfully, technology bridges the gap, offering options to catch all the action live from home.
WNBA League Pass comes in clutch for those cozy nights when the living room becomes the arena. Accessible via the WNBA App, you can catch the live action on your phone, tablet, or any connected device. There’s also the WNBA’s broadcast landscape, with partners like CBS Television Network/Paramount+ and the CBS Network, ION, NBA TV, Prime Video, Meta, and Twitter, each distributing games throughout the season. Our list of things to know before subscribing to WNBA League Pass will help you get started.
WNBA Players
Player Heights
Basketball players are known for their height, and WNBA hoopers are certainly taller than average. In fact, the average WNBA height is 6 feet 0.7 inches, an incredible 8 inches taller than the average woman in the United States.
From the towering giants to the agile playmakers, explore the diversity in player heights through our articles on the tallest WNBA players and shortest WNBA players.
Player Ages
One of the most intriguing aspects of the league is the age range of the players. In 2023, there is a 20-year span between the youngest and oldest players. From the youngest stars like Aliyah Boston making their debut to seasoned legends like Diana Taurasi continuing their legacy, every player brings a unique narrative to the court.
Our article detailing the age dynamics in the WNBA, including unveiling the youngest and oldest WNBA player, explores this topic further.
Player Salaries
Roughly 144 players compete in the WNBA each season, 12 on each of the 12 teams. Their skills and personalities have been instrumental in the WNBA being the longest-running professional women’s sports league in the United States.
Thankfully, they’re being financially compensated better than ever. Whether you’re wondering who the highest paid WNBA player is or who brings home the lowest WNBA salary, our blog post – How Much Do WNBA Players Make? – breaks it down.
Lately, there’s been much debate of WNBA player salaries. We’ve put together a guide of 10 ways to support the WNBA if you want to help support the players and the league.
WNBA Playoffs and Championships
How Playoffs Work
Each season, the top eight teams in the regular season move on to the playoffs, where they compete for a WNBA Championship. Once the field is set, it’s on! Regardless of struggles in the regular season or season records, each team is on a mission to earn a ring. Check out this WNBA playoffs format refresher to explore the teams, the bracket, and the schedule of the WNBA Playoffs 2023.
Championship Records
After the marquee matchups, upsets, and surprises of the playoffs, only one team comes out on top at the end of the season. So, who reigns supreme in the annals of WNBA history?
Discover the teams and players with the most championships and the iconic moments that defined their victories in our WNBA guide, Who Has the Most WNBA Championships?
Commissioner’s Cup
The Commissioner’s Cup is a unique in-season tournament that started in 2021. All teams have 5 regular-season games against others in their conference designated as “Commissioner’s Cup games.” The top teams in the Eastern and Western conferences face off in a one-game final.
That final comes with a prize pool of $500,000 for the players; the winning team’s players receive roughly $45,000 each, and the losing team’s players get $10,000. The competition also involves charitable donations made on behalf of the 12 teams throughout the season series. Our guide explains more about how the Commissioner’s Cup works.
Fan Essentials
WNBA All-Star Games
The annual WNBA All-Star Game is a midseason showcase celebrating the players around the league who are performing the best.
The Eastern and Western Conference are represented by a team of 12 players, determined by fan voting, coaches, and media personality selections.
In addition to the game, the All-Star Game Event also features the Three-Point Contest and the Skills Challenge.
The All-Star Event also features an interactive “WNBA Live” fan festival with player appearances, booths, and more for the public to enjoy.
Fan Gear and Gifts
A WNBA guide would be incomplete without shouting out the best gear and gifts. If you’re a WNBA fan and want to show it, there is no shortage of sweet WNBA gear to satisfy you. Unleash your fandom or share it with someone else with our list of the best WNBA merch for 2024.
We’ve also compiled our list of the best A’ja Wilson shirts to keep you fitted while showing your support for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. And check out our favorite Caitlin Clark shirts if you want to support the star rookie.
WNBA Trivia and Fun Facts
WNBA Logo
You’ve seen the WNBA logo on the now iconic orange hoodie. The silhouette of an athlete mid-jump with an outstretched arm and basketball in hand. But who is the face behind the iconic WNBA logo? Unravel the mystery and the history through our article, Who is the WNBA Logo?
WNBA Dunks
A rare but electrifying moment – the WNBA dunk! Only eight women have dunked in a game in the league’s 27-year history. Explore the history, the players, and the iconic dunks that got fans on their feet by reading our article, How Many Dunks Have There Been in the WNBA?
WNBA Inspiration
Your favorite WNBA players are impressive on the court, but they can also deliver some serious inspiration. Check out our compilation of favorite WNBA quotes to see what greats like Sue Bird, Brittney Griner, and Chelsea Gray have to say about focus, motivation, and believing in yourself. Or take a look at our curated list of motivating Dawn Staley quotes, uplifting Angel Reese quotes, and inspiring Caitlin Clark quotes.
