Women's National Basketball Association
| Founded | April 24, 1996 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1997 |
| Country | United States |
| Number of teams | 13 (15 in 2026) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Commissioner's Cup |
| Current champions | New York Liberty (1st title) |
| Most championships | Houston Comets Minnesota Lynx Seattle Storm (4 titles each) |
| Commissioner | Cathy Engelbert |
| TV partners |
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| Website | wnba |
| 2025 WNBA season | |
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. The league comprises 13 teams (scheduled to expand to 15 in 2026). The WNBA is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
The WNBA was founded on April 24, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA); league play began in 1997. The regular season runs from May to September, with each team playing 44 games. The top eight teams (regardless of conference) qualify for the playoffs, culminating in the WNBA Finals, which is played in October.
The All-Star Game occurs midway through the season in July. The league hosts an annual mid-season competition, the Commissioner's Cup. The WNBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the governing body for basketball in the United States.