Women's National Basketball Association

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an American professional women's basketball league for women. It was made in April 22, 1996. The league first held games in June 1997. The WNBA has 13 teams, all in the United States, in its current 2025 season. Two more teams, one each in the U.S. and Canada, will start play in 2026. Three more U.S. teams have been announced, with one joining the league in each season from 2028 to 2040.

The games have four 10-minute quarters. There is also a 24-second shot clock. Each team is allowed to have 12 players, and must have at least 11 on the roster. Due to a strict salary cap, many teams only carry 11 players on their rosters. The ball used for WNBA games is 1 inch (2.54 cm) smaller in circumference and 2.5 ounces (70 g) lighter than the ball used for all adult men's full-court basketball (including the National Basketball Association, the top professional basketball league for men in the United States). The WNBA ball is the same size used for all adult women's full-court play. The ball also has alternating white and orange panels, unlike the all-orange NBA ball.

 Footnotes 

 References 

 Other websites 
 WNBA official website


Category:1997 establishments in the United States