More WNBA news

Rumored Rift Between Caitlin Clark and Christie Sides May Have Sparked Fever Coaching Shake-Up, Claims ESPN Analyst

Does Christie Sides' firing from the Indiana Fever related to Caitlin Clark? Were there any problems between the two?

WNBA: Indiana Fever at Phoenix Mercury

“Unfair to the Other Players”: Caitlin Clark’s Rumored $1 Million Plus Equity Deal With Unrivaled Enrages WNBA Fans

WNBA star Caitlin Clark's rumored deal worth $1 million has caused tension as the fans worry over new rivalry.

WNBA: Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever

Caitlin Clark’s $100,000 Side Hustle May Leave Struggling Angel Reese Jealous After Exorbitant Unrivaled Offer

Caitlin Clark's off-court earnings soar as she takes a unique route, as it could spark envy in Angel Reese.

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

Angel Reese Racks Up A New Collab With $24.53 Billion Worth Co. as WNBA Star’s Rent Struggles Could Disappear for Good

Angel Reese signs a major deal with shoe and apparel brand, boosting her profile and potentially easing her financial challenges.

WNBA: All Star Game-USA Women’s National Team at Team WNBA

Angel Reese Dazzles in Halloween ‘Poison Ivy’ Outfit as WNBA Star Reignites Iconic Bond With Her ‘Twin’

Angel Reese dazzles in a bold Poison Ivy costume while celebrating Halloween at a concert with Usher and Megan Thee Stallion.

Angel Reese

“Be Careful With These Women”: Angel Reese Urges 17YO Kiyan Anthony to Sign NDAs After La La’s Disapproval

Kiyan Anthony navigates dating and independence with insights from Angel Reese and mom La La, ensuring he stays grounded.

Who Decides War Spring/Summer 2024 Fashion Show

After $1 Million+ Stake, Caitlin Clark Receives a Huge Privilege as Unrivaled Hope to Land WNBA Starlet

Caitlin Clark's potential signing with Unrivaled remains uncertain as the league expands, offering yet another privilege to the reigning ROTY.

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

Jayson Tatum to Engage in Bidding War With Patrick & Brittany Mahomes for $200 Million Check

Jayson Tatum to go head-to-head with Patrick Mahomes and Brittany as the Celtics star aims to bring WNBA to St. Louis.

Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mahomes, Jayson Tatum

With $1M at Stake, Caitlin Clark’s ‘Unrivaled’ Involvement Faces a Major Barrier, Uncovers Rachel DeMita

What did Rachel DeMita had to say about Caitlin Clark's possible participation in the Unrivaled and can her words come true?

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

Lexie Hull Holds No Grudges Over Losing Out to Caitlin Clark as Fever Starlet’s Leadership Comes to Light

Caitlin Clark's arrival in Indiana altered Lexie Hull's role within the team but the veteran emerged as a key player with CC's help.

Copy of ESWNBA: Preseason-Indiana Fever at Dallas Wings

Caitlin Clark Makes 374-Mile Journey All for Boyfriend Connor McCaffery as WNBA Star Gears Up for NCAA Season

Caitlin Clark takes a big leap, literally, to support boyfriend Connor McCaffery’s, proving love knows no distance.

Caitlin Clark- Connor

Stephanie White Could Fulfill Caitlin Clark’s Dream: Indiana Fever Potential Head Coach’s Methods Revealed

Discover how the potential reunion of Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White could help CC in the best way possible and shape the Indiana Fever.

Stephanie White and Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark Outshines LeBron James in Key Contest, Giving Cathy Engelbert New Cause for Pride

Caitlin Clark's rookie season in the WNBA has captivated fans and even surpassed LeBron James in one category

Caitlin Clark and LeBron James

Caitlin Clark Takes 1 Key Attribute to the Golf Course as Latest Details Over LPGA Preparations Come to Light

Caitlin Clark is stepping into the world of golf this offseason, training with LPGA pro Martha Foyer-Faulconer for her upcoming Pro-Am debut.

Caitlin Clark

Lexie Hull Presumes Caitlin Clark’s Likely Betrayal as the WNBA ROTY’s Plans Following Iowa Homecoming Are Revealed

Caitlin Clark has had a busy Iowa homecoming but returning to Indiana soon, CC has something planned that might not include Lexie Hull!

Copy of ESWNBA: Preseason-Indiana Fever at Dallas Wings

Taking a Dig at Angel Reese, Sue Bird Finds a Key Rookie Link With Caitlin Clark

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark might have outshone the 2024 draft class but star rookie of her own time, Sue Bird has this in commin with CC.

Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Sue Bird

Fans in Disbelief as $3B Brand Unites LeBron James, Lionel Messi, & Angel Reese in Surprise Collab

LeBron James shared a video advertisement on Instagram where he collaborates with biggest names across multiple sports.

LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Angel Reese

Shaquille O’Neal’s Controversial ‘Lower the Rim’ WNBA Take Gets Wilder as Netflix Coach Provides More Radical Suggestion

Shaquille O'Neal's idea of lowering the rim gets a vote of confidence from Netflix coach as he demands a further change.

Shaquille O’Neal Angel Reese

With Caitlin Clark Still Holding Off on $1M Deal, Unrivaled Turns to Another Close Ally

Caitlin Clark is not interested in playing basketball this offseason, but then will one Fever teammate might be snatched up by Unrivaled?

WNBA: Playoffs-Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun

Kelsey Mitchell Could Upset Caitlin Clark as the Fever Star Joins 6’1 Chicago Sky Rival in the Offseason Adventure

Discover how Kelsey Mitchell's offseason move could challenge Caitlin Clark's rise and intensify competition in the league.

NBA: Preseason-Memphis Grizzlies at Indiana Pacers

With Boyfriend Conor McCaffery Away, Caitlin Clark Extends Iowa Reunion With “Un-Fur-Gettable” Outing Alongside Ex-Teammate

Caitlin Clark is back in Iowa with a former teammate, but missing fellow alum and boyfriend Connor McCaffery, she's visiting some old friends

Connor McCaffery and Caitlin Clark

Outshining Angel Reese Again, Caitlin Clark Receives “Inspiring” Honor From Major Company

Even in the offseason, Caitlin Clark continues to grab honors, and the latest one is coming from TIME magazine!

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese

Overwhelmed by Angel Reese & Gabrielle Union, KAT’s Girlfriend Reveals Secret to Dazzling Outfit

Angel Reese, Gabrielle Union, and Jordyn Woods captivate with their bold styles redefining fashion inspiring confidence on and off the court.

(L-R) Angel Reese, Gabrielle Union

Almost Retiring in High School, NY Liberty Star Now Witnesses Her Jersey Retirement After 2024 WNBA Championship Win

Jaylyn Sherrod's journey to WNBA champion has been remarkable. Now honored with a jersey retirement at Ramsay High, know her biggest setback.

Jaylyn Sherrod

Caitlin Clark Succession Plan in Full Swing as Juju Watkins Embraces NCAA Seniority After Tough Year With USC

Juju Watkins seems all set to take over Caitlin Clark's college basketball spotlight, breaking records and embracing growth for USC's new era

Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins

Diana Taurasi Once Humbled a WNBA Franchise’s Owner With Epic Encounter

The former WNBA star and now franchise owner recalls rivalries with Diana Taurasi, highlighting her reputation for intense physical play.

Syndication: Arizona Republic

About WNBA

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women's professional basketball league, the women’s counterpart of the National Basketball Association (NBA). But unlike the men’s league, which has 30 teams, the WNBA is relatively newer and smaller with 12 teams.

Founded on April 24, 1996, the women’s basketball league began play in June 1997 after the NBA Board of Governors approved their concept. The WNBA now has a 5-month long regular season, played from May to September, with the All-Star game being played midway through the season in July. The playoffs usually begin in mid-September, with the WNBA Finals at the end of September until the beginning of October.

With names like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese popularizing the NCAA side of things, the rookies’ advent into the pro leagues has helped the sport reach wider audiences across the globe. But veterans like Sheryl Swoopes and legends like Diana Taurasi are impacting the game in their own way.

For all the news on major sports moments to niche storylines, we are a one-stop hub for all your WNBA-related questions. From the New York Liberty to the Indiana Fever, from the Las Vegas Aces to the Minnesota Lynx, we also explore game-unrelated content featuring the entities’ personal lives and families. You’ll be able to find posts related to Brittney Griner’s son and A’ja Wilson’s family to Aerial Powers’ dating life.

Regular Season format

The pre-season begins with training camps in May that allow the coaching staff to prepare the players for the regular season and determine the 12-woman roster with which they will begin the regular season. The last part before the actual season starts is a series of exhibition games.

The WNBA regular season then begins in May and goes on till late September/ early October. As of 2023, each team will play 40 regular season games, 20 each home and away. As in the NBA, each team hosts and visits every other team at least once every season.

The rules allow for a slight relaxation every four years when the Summer Olympics are held. The WNBA takes a month off in the middle of the season to allow players to practice and compete with their respective national teams. 

Similarly, during years in which the FIBA World Cup is held, the WNBA either takes a break for the World Cup or ends its season early, depending on the scheduling of the World Cup.

Postseason/Playoffs Format

The WNBA Playoffs usually begin in late September, with the only exception being the FIBA World Cup, when they begin in August. In the current system, the eight best teams by the regular-season record, without regard to conference alignment, qualify for the playoffs. Since 2022, the playoffs have been held in a standard knockout format, with the first round consisting of the best-of-three series and the semifinals and finals being best-of-five.

Leading the playoff standings and having a higher seed means several advantages - they will face weaker teams in the beginning and have home-court advantage in each round. In the current playoff format, all first-round matchups use a 2–1 home-court pattern, which allows the higher seed the opportunity to win the series without having to visit the lower seed. This, in turn, means that a lower seed that wins one of the first two games will host the series decider.

The first round is bracketed in the normal manner for an 8-team tournament, with 1 vs. 8 and 4 vs. 5 on one side of the bracket and 2 vs. 7 and 3 vs. 6 on the other. The winners of each series advance to the semifinals, with the bracket not being reseeded. The semifinals use a 2–2–1 home-court pattern, meaning that the higher-seeded team will have home court in games 1, 2, and 5 while the other team plays at home in games 3 and 4. The Finals are also played in a 2–2–1 home-court pattern.

WNBA’s All-Star Game

In the middle of the season in July, the WNBA season takes a pause to host the annual WNBA All-Star Game. It’s a weekend-long event, held in a selected WNBA city each year.

Like numerous other sports, through the 2017 edition, the All-Star Game featured star players from the Western Conference facing star players from the Eastern Conference. But since 2018, conference affiliations have not influenced team selections.

During the season, voting for All-Star starters takes place among fans, WNBA players, and sports media members. The starters are selected by a weighted vote (fans 50%, players and media 25% each), while reserves are selected by the league's head coaches. The two players with the most fan votes are named team captains, who then fill out their teams in a draft format similar to that currently used for the NBA All-Star Game.

WNBA Teams which are counterparts of NBA teams

Five WNBA teams have direct NBA counterparts and normally play in the same arena: Indiana Fever (Indiana Pacers), New York Liberty (Brooklyn Nets), Minnesota Lynx (Minnesota Timberwolves), Los Angeles Sparks (Los Angeles Lakers), and Phoenix Mercury (Phoenix Suns).

The Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, and Washington Mystics do not share an arena with a direct NBA counterpart.

WNBA expansion over the years

The WNBA originated with 8 teams in 1997, and through a sequence of expansions, contractions, and relocations currently consists of 12 teams. There have been a total of 18 franchises in WNBA history.

As of the league's most recent 2022 season, the Las Vegas Aces (formerly the Utah Starzz and San Antonio (Silver) Stars), Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, and Phoenix Mercury are the only remaining franchises that were founded in 1997.

Upcoming teams in the WNBA:

TeamCityArenaCapacityJoiningHead Coach
Golden State ValkyriesSan Francisco, CaliforniaChase Center18,0642025TBA
Toronto WNBA TeamToronto, OntarioCoca-Cola Coliseum87002026TBA

Teams with the most championships

TeamTotal Championships Year(s) Won
Minnesota Lynx42011, 2013, 2015, 2017
Houston Comets41997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Seattle Storm42004, 2010, 2018, 2020
Los Angeles Sparks32001, 2002, 2016
Phoenix Mercury32007, 2009, 2014
Detroit Shock (Now Dallas Wings)32003, 2006, 2008
Las Vegas Aces22022, 2023

Awards given in the WNBA

When the regular season ends in September (or August if it’s a FIBA year), the voting for individual awards begins. Performances in the playoffs have no bearing on all-season-long awards, as they have their own set of honors.

Beginning with Rookie of the Year, the award goes to the most outstanding first-year player. The Most Improved Player Award is given to the WNBA player who has undergone the most positive change in the last season.

The Sixth Player of the Year Award, previously known as the "Sixth Woman" award, is given to the best player coming off the bench. But they must have more games coming off the bench than actual games started.

Another prestigious honor is the Defensive Player of the Year Award, which goes to the league's best defender. There is also an award for the best sportsman, called the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.

Coaches get recognized too with the Coach of the Year Award for making a significant difference to a team in a positive direction.

And finally, one of the most awaited awards, the Most Valuable Player Award is given to the player deemed the most valuable for her team that season.

A new title that began in 2019 is a season-long version of the WNBA Community Assist Award given to a player for her exceptional contribution to community service.

Focusing on teams, there is the Basketball Executive of the Year Award, presented to the team executive most instrumental in his or her team's success in that season. Then there are also the All-WNBA Teams, the All-Defensive Teams, and the All-Rookie Team, consisting of 5 players each without regard to position. And lastly, there is also an All-Rookie team, consisting of the top five first-year players regardless of position.Â