Article by: Drayten Nobles, Contributing Writer, Photo obtained from ABC 7

Since the league’s debut in 1997, the WNBA has gone from a small league of eight teams to one of the most notable sports leagues in the world. Over its almost three decades of existence, the league has given women from around the world the opportunity to show off their talents and to change women’s basketball forever.

The WNBA has grown and added seven teams since its inception, with more possibly coming in the future. While the league itself has grown in size, so has its production. Since 2022, many franchises’ values have tripled, with teams being worth as much as $400 million. With larger viewership and TV deals, the league will continue to grow in the coming years.

Timeline

On June 21, 1997, the WNBA tipped off for the first time in a game between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. The Liberty would win the game 67-57, led by Rebecca Lobo and Teresa Weatherspoon. In a game that included three future WNBA Hall of Famers, the star-studded matchup would just be the start of big things to come.

The Houston Comets, who would win the WNBA’s first four championships, dominated the league’s early years. This team, which was led by Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, is still widely regarded as one of the best dynasties in all of women’s sports.

Throughout the 2000s, several teams and players made their mark on the league. Teams such as the Sparks, the Detroit Shock, and the Phoenix Mercury all won titles throughout the decade.

In the 2010s, the Minnesota Lynx would form a new dynasty, led by dominant player Maya Moore and others. This dynamic team would reach the finals six times and win four championships. While the Lynx were dominant, there were still many teams who held their own throughout the 2010s, including the Sparks, who were the Lynx’s biggest rivals throughout the decade. In 2016, the Lynx faced off against the Sparks in one of the most memorable WNBA finals in the league’s history. In Game 5, Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 WNBA Finals MVP, scored the game-winning shot to win the championship for the Sparks.

Later in the 2010s, the WNBA’s impact on the court would start to take shape off the court. The league players’ activism became one of its strengths as they used their platform to speak on issues such as social justice and equality. This advocacy would continue during the league’s 2020 season, when teams would play their games in the “Wubble” at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. During the season, players used their voices to advocate for social justice issues such as racial justice and voting rights. Some examples of players using their voice include A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who formed the Social Justice Council, created to educate, amplify, and mobilize for action against systemic inequality. Many players, including Stewart, also pushed for the league to paint “Black Lives Matter” along the baselines of the court at IMG Academy. Before the 2020 season opener between the Seattle Sonics and the New York Liberty, both teams walked off the court before the national anthem was played, where players Stewart and Layshia Clarendon dedicated the season to Breonna Taylor and the #SayHerName campaign.

In recent times, the league has expanded, adding four new teams and having one team take the league by storm. The Las Vegas Aces, led by A’ja Wilson, have been a force to be reckoned with, winning three of the last four WNBA championships. Wilson is on pace to be remembered as one of the best WNBA players of her generation, if not ever. Since players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have been drafted, viewership numbers have hit all-time highs and are continuing to grow each season.

The WNBA’s Next Chapter

In the nearly 30 years of the WNBA, the league has created moments that will last a lifetime and that will serve as reminders of just how far the league has come. While the WNBA is a place for women around the world to showcase their talents on the court, it has also given women the opportunity and platform to make a change around the world. The recent success is only a small fraction of what the league can become.

Visit ESPN’s website at WNBA Scores, 2026 Season – ESPN for updates on scores and more information.