The powers that are at the NBA said, "Let them get next." And so, on April 24, 1997, they approved the proposal to begin the WNBA. The league would kick off in June, 1997.
It didn't make any sense to put this league up against the NBA or the NCAA basketball, so it was decided that WNBA basketball would be played during the summer. This would help to get games on TV, when a few networks had a shot at making room on their schedules. NBC, ESPN, and the Lifetime channel got TV deals to air WNBA games.
The first WNBA season was a huge success, but after just two years of winning the hearts of women's basketball fans, WNBA games were made available in 125 different countries. While the majority of those attending games were women, the WNBA TV audience is currently almost equally divided between men and women.
Since that first WNBA season the number of teams has doubled (to 16). In 1998 the Detroit Shock and the Washington Mystics were created. In 1999, the Orlando Miracle and the Minnesota Lynx. In 2000, the Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, and the Portland Fire.
Women's basketball has come a long way. The WNBA will only get bigger and better as more and more female athletes find themselves with basketball dreams.
WNBA Firsts
The First WNBA Player Signed?
Sheryl Swoopes on 10/23/96
The First WNBA President?
Val Ackerman
The First WNBA MVP?
Cynthia Cooper
The First WNBA Basket?
Scored by Penny Toler, L.A. Sparks
The only two teams to win WNBA Championships?
Houston Comets: 4-time champs
L.A. Sparks: 1-current champs
