These Secrets About the WNBA Are Worth a Triple-Double

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When the plan to launch the WNBA was finalized in 1996, it was nothing short of “revolutionary.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remembered telling ESPN The Magazine in 2016 that they studied previous women’s leagues. He explained that while there had been efforts to start similar leagues before, none had really succeeded, and they were hoping to change that pattern.

Former NBA Commissioner David Stern said they believed the idea had great potential, but they understood it would take a significant amount of time to succeed.

The Women’s Professional Basketball League definitely benefited from the popularity of men’s basketball. However, the concept itself was a guaranteed success, regardless of who made it happen.

Oh my gosh, when I think back to the beginnings of the WNBA, it all comes down to players like Sheryl Swoopes – she was the very first player they signed, can you believe it?! And Rebecca Lobo, and Lisa Leslie… they were just amazing, truly groundbreaking. They were the ones who started it all, and honestly, everything that happened after that feels like history unfolding right before my eyes!

“The WNBA, when I first heard about it,” Lobo told ESPN, “meant a dream being realized.”

The WNBA is gaining popularity thanks to exciting players like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, and Sabrina Ionescu. While still developing, the league has a dedicated and growing number of fans.

Last year, Caitlin Clark—who is expected to become the WNBA’s biggest star after being the first pick in the 2024 draft by the Indiana Fever—told CNN Sports that the enthusiastic fan response the team was receiving on the road was almost unbelievable.

New York Liberty guard Kelsey Mitchell shared her thoughts on the increased attention she’s receiving, saying, “It’s been a change to have so much media coverage and be constantly in the spotlight, especially from people you wouldn’t anticipate. I’ve been in the WNBA for a while, so I knew this would happen eventually, but I didn’t realize how impactful – and positive – it would be.”

Leslie Hull, a small forward, thought her basketball career would be over after she finished her studies at Stanford in 2022.

The WNBA is now a viable career path for young girls, inspiring them to dream of playing professional basketball from a very young age. She believes the sport will be incredible when future players have been focused on this goal since childhood.

Just before the WNBA’s 30th season tips off on May 8th, here’s a lot of interesting inside information that you can share with everyone!

1. The WNBA was founded in 1996. 

The league began with eight teams: the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz.

Okay, so listen, I’ve been following the WNBA forever, and as of 2026, there are fifteen incredible teams! We’ve got the Atlanta Dream, the Chicago Sky, the Connecticut Sun, the Dallas Wings, and I’m SO excited about the new Golden State Valkyries! Then there’s the Indiana Fever, the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces, the Minnesota Lynx, and the Portland Fire. Of course, we can’t forget the Seattle Storm and the Toronto Tempo, and finally, my beloved Washington Mystics! Fifteen teams… it’s a dream come true!

Over its thirty-year history, the league has seen significant changes. Teams like the Starzz moved cities, first to San Antonio and then to Las Vegas, while others—the Sting, Rockers, Monarchs, and Rockets—disappeared. Most recently, Tilman Fertitta bought the Connecticut Sun and intends to move and rebrand the team in Texas.

At 30 years old, the WNBA is the longest-running professional sports league for women in North America.

4. The first ever WNBA game featured the New York Liberty facing the Los Angeles Sparks in L.A. 

On June 21, 1997, a highly anticipated game featured two basketball stars: two-time champion Lisa Leslie and Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Lobo.

Leslie led the Los Angeles Sparks to championships in 2001 and 2002, and in 2002, she made WNBA history by performing the league’s first-ever dunk during a game.

Oh my gosh, I still can’t believe it! It was the 1999 WNBA Finals, and Teresa Weatherspoon of the New York Liberty… she just launched one from beyond half court with, like, seconds left! A buzzer-beater! Seriously, the first ever in a Finals game! And she says she knew it was going in, but she also described it like everything slowed down, like you’re actually living that moment. It was magical, absolutely magical! I’ve rewatched it a million times, and it still gives me chills!

Even before becoming a four-time WNBA champion, Sheryl Swoopes was a star at Texas Tech and made history as the very first player signed to a WNBA team after completing her successful college career.

9. The three-time MVP also had the league’s first triple-double in 1999. 

Tina Thompson, a forward for the Houston Comets, holds the distinction of being the very first player drafted in the WNBA. She was the top pick in the 1997 draft, following a successful college career at the University of Southern California.

11. She and her teammates were the first WNBA Champions, defeating the Liberty on Aug. 30, 1997. 

Cynthia Cooper, the point guard for the Houston Comets, made history as the first-ever WNBA Most Valuable Player. She won the award in both 1997 and 1998.

Tracy Reid of the Charlotte Sting was the very first WNBA Rookie of the Year, receiving the award in 1998.

14. Some key stats of WNBA play: Games are played with four quarters that are 10 minutes each. 

15. The WNBA season takes place from May until October, with each team playing 44 games. 

Okay, so I’ve been following the WNBA FOREVER, and honestly, the Seattle Storm, Minnesota Lynx, and the old Houston Comets? They’re the queens! Each of those teams has won the championship FOUR times – that’s more than anyone else over all 29 seasons! It’s just… amazing. They really set the standard, you know?

Rebekkah Brunson is the most decorated player in league history with a total of five championships. She won titles with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005 and the Minnesota Lynx in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Currently, she’s an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx.

Currently, only three WNBA teams haven’t won a championship: the Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Sun, and Dallas Stars. The Dallas Stars recently made UConn player Azzi Fudd their first pick in the 2026 draft.

In 2008, Candace Parker achieved a unique feat: she was named both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season – a first in WNBA history.

Australian basketball star Lauren Jackson had an incredible career, winning two championships with the Seattle Storm, earning four Olympic medals, and receiving three MVP awards. She made history as the first – and so far, only – player who wasn’t American to achieve this level of success.

 

21. Whitney Houston sang the National Anthem at the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game in 1999. 

22. Only one WNBA All-Star Game has gone into overtime, when the East defeated the West in 2014. 

A’ja Wilson, center for the Las Vegas Aces, is consistently a strong performer. In 2024, she made history as the first WNBA player to reach 1,000 points in a single season, and also earned her third MVP award that same year.

She currently shares the WNBA record for most points scored in a single game with Liz Cambage. Both players, who play center, scored 53 points in their record-setting games.

Alysia Wilson, a University of South Carolina graduate, has won the league’s Most Valuable Player award four times – more than any other player. She’s expected to be a strong contender to win again in 2026.

One of her opponents is Caitlin Clark from the Indiana Fever, who currently holds the WNBA record for the most assists in a single game with 19.

Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer and record holder for three-pointers, field goals, and free throws, retired in 2024 after two decades with the Phoenix Mercury. She made history in 2018 as the first WNBA player to score 1,000 three-point shots.

Tina Charles, center for the Connecticut Sun, holds the WNBA record for most career double-doubles, with a total of 194.

Sue Bird is unique in WNBA history, having won championships with the Seattle Storm in four different decades: 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020. She’s the only player to achieve this feat.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s just part of the game. For example, the longest game in WNBA history, played in 2001, went into four extra periods of overtime.

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2026-05-08 21:48