WNBA History WNBA Champions Finals by Team WNBA Teams Dispersal Draft

WNBA Awards MVP Coach of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Most Improved Player

More Awards Rookie of the Year Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Sixth Woman of the Year

Records & Teams Points in a Game Home Arenas Retired Numbers

1997-2013 Original WNBA logo

2013-2019 WNBA silhouette logo

2019-Present Modern WNBA identity

The Women's National Basketball Association, commonly known as the WNBA, is the leading women's professional basketball league in the United States and one of the most important women's sports leagues in the world. Approved in 1996 and launched in 1997, the WNBA created a permanent professional stage for many of the greatest players in women's basketball history.

The league began with eight teams and a summer schedule designed to avoid direct competition with the NBA season. From those beginnings, the WNBA developed into a league with a growing national audience, international talent, historic franchises and an increasingly important position in American sports culture.

WNBA history includes championship dynasties, expansion and relocation, labor progress, international stars, social advocacy and enormous changes in the visibility of women's basketball.

The Growth of Women's Basketball

The WNBA did not emerge in isolation. Women's basketball had already been played for more than a century when the league was created. Women's college basketball expanded dramatically during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly after Title IX increased athletic opportunities for women in American schools and universities.

The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women organized national championships before the NCAA began sponsoring women's basketball in 1982. Programs such as Louisiana Tech, Tennessee, Connecticut, Southern California, Old Dominion and Stanford helped build the popularity of the women's college game.

Professional women's leagues had also existed before the WNBA. The Women's Professional Basketball League operated from 1978 through 1981, while American players frequently went overseas to continue their professional careers.

The 1996 United States Olympic Team

One of the most important events leading to the WNBA was the success of the 1996 United States women's Olympic basketball team. The national team trained and toured together before the Atlanta Olympics and included stars such as Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Dawn Staley, Teresa Edwards, Katrina McClain and Ruthie Bolton.

The United States completed an undefeated Olympic run and won the gold medal. The team's popularity demonstrated the potential audience for elite women's basketball while giving the future WNBA many of its first recognizable stars.

The WNBA Is Approved

On April 24, 1996, the NBA Board of Governors approved the creation of the Women's National Basketball Association. The new league was backed by the NBA, giving it access to established arenas, business relationships, television partners and marketing resources.

Val Ackerman was named the first president of the WNBA. The league adopted the promotional slogan "We Got Next", which became closely identified with its early years.

The Eight Original WNBA Teams

• Charlotte Sting
• Cleveland Rockers
• Houston Comets
• Los Angeles Sparks
• New York Liberty
• Phoenix Mercury
• Sacramento Monarchs
• Utah Starzz

The original teams were placed in cities that already had NBA organizations. Several of the franchises eventually relocated or ceased operations, while the Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury remained important parts of the league decades later.

The First WNBA Players

Rebecca Lobo and Sheryl Swoopes became the first players to sign with the new league in October 1996. Lisa Leslie and Ruthie Bolton soon followed. The WNBA used an initial player allocation process to place prominent stars with franchises and also conducted an Elite Draft and its first regular college draft before the inaugural season.

The First WNBA Game

The first WNBA game was played on June 21, 1997, when the Los Angeles Sparks hosted the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. Penny Toler scored the first basket in league history, while New York defeated Los Angeles 67-57.

The inaugural season consisted of 28 regular-season games for each team. By August 1997, total league attendance had surpassed one million.

The Houston Comets Dynasty

The Houston Comets became the first great dynasty in WNBA history. Led by Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, Houston won the league's first four championships from 1997 through 2000.

Cooper became the WNBA's first dominant postseason star and was named Finals MVP in all four championship seasons. Head coach Van Chancellor built Houston around experience, defense, perimeter scoring and strong team chemistry.

Cynthia Cooper

Cynthia Cooper became the defining player of the WNBA's first era. Already 34 years old when the league began, she quickly established herself as one of its premier scorers and late-game performers. Her success also brought long-overdue American recognition to a player who had spent much of her professional career overseas.

Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson

Sheryl Swoopes became one of the WNBA's first nationally recognizable stars and developed into an elite scorer and defender. Tina Thompson, the first overall selection in the inaugural WNBA Draft, provided scoring, rebounding and versatility.

Together with Cooper, Swoopes and Thompson formed one of the greatest trios in women's professional basketball history.

The Los Angeles Sparks Rise

After Houston's championship run ended, the Los Angeles Sparks became the league's next dominant team. Led by Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles won championships in 2001 and 2002 under head coach Michael Cooper.

Leslie won Finals MVP in both championship seasons and in 2002 became the first player to dunk during a WNBA game.

The Detroit Shock

The Detroit Shock became one of the league's strongest teams of the 2000s. Under head coach Bill Laimbeer, Detroit developed a physical and defensively aggressive identity. The Shock won championships in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

The Sacramento Monarchs

The Sacramento Monarchs were one of the original WNBA franchises and built a loyal following in Northern California. Led by Yolanda Griffith, Ticha Penicheiro and a deep supporting cast, Sacramento won the 2005 WNBA championship.

The Phoenix Mercury

The Phoenix Mercury became one of the WNBA's most successful franchises. Led by Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor, Phoenix won championships in 2007 and 2009. The Mercury added another championship in 2014 behind Taurasi, Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner.

Diana Taurasi

Diana Taurasi became one of the defining players in WNBA history. Selected first overall by Phoenix in 2004, Taurasi developed into the league's career scoring leader and one of its most accomplished postseason performers.

The Seattle Storm

Seattle won its first championship in 2004 behind Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Finals MVP Betty Lennox. The Storm won again in 2010 and then began another championship era with Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd, winning titles in 2018 and 2020.

Sue Bird

Sue Bird spent her entire WNBA career with Seattle after being selected first overall in 2002. She won four championships and became the league's career assists leader, connecting multiple generations of Storm basketball.

Indiana and Tamika Catchings

The Indiana Fever became a consistent contender behind Tamika Catchings, one of the greatest two-way players in league history. Indiana reached the Finals in 2009 and won the championship in 2012, when Catchings was named Finals MVP.

The Minnesota Lynx Dynasty

The Minnesota Lynx became the dominant WNBA franchise of the 2010s. Led by Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson and Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota won championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

The Lynx reached six Finals in seven seasons from 2011 through 2017 and joined Houston and Seattle as four-time champions.

Maya Moore

Maya Moore immediately helped Minnesota win a championship as a rookie in 2011. She developed into one of the league's greatest winners before stepping away from basketball while still near the height of her career.

The Sparks Return to the Top

Los Angeles returned to championship prominence in 2016 behind Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Kristi Toliver and Chelsea Gray. The Sparks defeated Minnesota in a five-game Finals series, with Parker earning Finals MVP.

The WNBA expanded quickly in its first several seasons. Detroit and Washington joined in 1998. Minnesota and Orlando followed in 1999, and Indiana, Miami, Portland and Seattle entered in 2000. The league grew from eight teams in 1997 to 16 in 2000.

That rapid expansion also created financial challenges. Miami and Portland ceased operations after 2002, Cleveland after 2003 and Charlotte after 2006.

Several franchises relocated. The Orlando Miracle moved to Connecticut and became the Sun. The Utah Starzz moved to San Antonio and ultimately became the Las Vegas Aces. The Detroit Shock moved to Tulsa and later to the Dallas area, where the franchise became the Wings.

The 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement

The WNBA and WNBPA reached a landmark collective bargaining agreement before the 2020 season. The agreement improved compensation, travel standards, maternity and family-planning benefits, career development and other working conditions.

The 2020 Bubble Season

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the WNBA to stage its 2020 season in Bradenton, Florida, in a controlled environment that became known as the "Wubble." Seattle defeated Las Vegas in the Finals to capture its fourth championship.

The Commissioner's Cup

The WNBA introduced the Commissioner's Cup in 2021 as an in-season competition. Designated regular-season games counted toward Cup standings, giving teams an additional championship to pursue during the season.

The Chicago Sky Win in 2021

Chicago won the first championship in franchise history in 2021. Led by Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley and Kahleah Copper, the Sky defeated Phoenix in four games in the Finals. Copper was named Finals MVP.

The Las Vegas Aces

The Las Vegas Aces became one of the league's premier organizations after the franchise relocated from San Antonio. Led by A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, Las Vegas won championships in 2022 and 2023.

The Aces returned to the top in 2025, giving the franchise three championships in four seasons.

A'ja Wilson

A'ja Wilson became the defining player of the Aces era. Selected first overall in 2018, Wilson developed into an elite scorer, rebounder and defender while collecting MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, championship and Finals MVP honors.

The New York Liberty Win Their First Championship

The New York Liberty were one of the league's original franchises and appeared in the inaugural championship game in 1997. After decades of near misses, New York defeated the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 Finals to win the first championship in franchise history.

Jonquel Jones was named Finals MVP for a Liberty team that also featured Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.

Growing Popularity

The WNBA experienced major growth in attendance, television audiences, merchandise sales and digital engagement during the 2020s. Established stars such as A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Napheesa Collier were joined by a highly publicized generation of younger players.

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Paige Bueckers and other recent college stars brought additional attention to the league. Teams increasingly moved selected games into larger arenas to meet demand.

Caitlin Clark and a New Audience

Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA in 2024 after becoming the NCAA Division I career scoring leader at Iowa. Indiana selected her first overall. Her shooting range, passing and enormous college following accelerated attendance, television and merchandise interest around a league that was already growing rapidly.

Golden State, Toronto and Portland

The Golden State Valkyries began play in 2025, becoming the league's first expansion franchise since Atlanta joined in 2008.

Toronto and Portland joined the league for the 2026 season. Toronto became the first WNBA franchise based outside the United States, while Portland returned to the league after previously hosting a franchise from 2000 through 2002.

Additional expansion franchises have been approved for Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, continuing the largest expansion period in WNBA history.

For complete Finals opponents, series results and Finals MVPs, visit the complete WNBA Champions page.

Season Champion 1997 Houston Comets 1998 Houston Comets 1999 Houston Comets 2000 Houston Comets 2001 Los Angeles Sparks 2002 Los Angeles Sparks 2003 Detroit Shock 2004 Seattle Storm 2005 Sacramento Monarchs 2006 Detroit Shock 2007 Phoenix Mercury 2008 Detroit Shock 2009 Phoenix Mercury 2010 Seattle Storm 2011 Minnesota Lynx

Season Champion 2012 Indiana Fever 2013 Minnesota Lynx 2014 Phoenix Mercury 2015 Minnesota Lynx 2016 Los Angeles Sparks 2017 Minnesota Lynx 2018 Seattle Storm 2019 Washington Mystics 2020 Seattle Storm 2021 Chicago Sky 2022 Las Vegas Aces 2023 Las Vegas Aces 2024 New York Liberty 2025 Las Vegas Aces

• Cynthia Cooper
• Sheryl Swoopes
• Tina Thompson
• Lisa Leslie
• Rebecca Lobo
• Teresa Weatherspoon
• Yolanda Griffith
• Lauren Jackson
• Sue Bird
• Diana Taurasi
• Tamika Catchings
• Candace Parker
• Maya Moore
• Seimone Augustus
• Sylvia Fowles
• Becky Hammon
• Brittney Griner
• Elena Delle Donne
• Breanna Stewart
• A'ja Wilson
• Napheesa Collier
• Jonquel Jones
• Sabrina Ionescu
• Caitlin Clark

International Influence

The WNBA has always featured international talent. Players from Australia, Canada, Brazil, France, Spain, Belgium, China, Russia, the Bahamas and many other nations have competed in the league. International stars such as Lauren Jackson, Ticha Penicheiro, Janeth Arcain, Emma Meesseman and Jonquel Jones played major roles in WNBA history.

The Importance of College Basketball

Women's college basketball remains closely connected to the WNBA. The NCAA Tournament introduces fans to future professional stars before they enter the league. Connecticut, Tennessee, South Carolina, Stanford, Notre Dame, Baylor, Louisiana Tech and Southern California are among the programs that have produced generations of WNBA players.

Leader	Position	Tenure
Val Ackerman	President	1996-2005
Donna Orender	President	2005-2010
Chris Granger	Interim President	2011
Laurel J. Richie	President	2011-2015
Lisa Borders	President	2015-2018
Mark Tatum	Interim Leadership	2018-2019
Cathy Engelbert	Commissioner	2019-2026

The WNBA survived challenges that caused earlier women's professional basketball leagues to disappear. Its connection to the NBA provided an important foundation, but the league's longevity ultimately depended on its players, fans, owners, coaches, sponsors and communities.

The league created a visible professional destination for generations of basketball players while also providing opportunities for women as coaches, executives, broadcasters, officials and sports business leaders.

Its history includes some of the greatest athletes in basketball, from Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie to Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson. Its teams produced memorable dynasties in Houston, Los Angeles, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle and Las Vegas.

What began with eight teams and a game between the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks in June 1997 developed into a lasting professional league with an international talent base, a growing audience and a major place in basketball history.

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