25 WNBA Facts

Copyright (c) 2021 Black Girls Talk Sports Podcast 25 WNBA Facts In celebration of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) 25th Season, Black Girls Talk Sports Podcast has developed 25 WNBA Facts for educational purposes.

WNBA began its first season on June 21, 1997. 1

The first eight WNBA franchises were located in 2 cities with NBA teams.

Currently, there are 12 WNBA teams: six in the eastern conference and 3 six in the western Sheryl Swoopes was the conference. first player signed to the 4 WNBA.

The eight teams with the best regular season record qualify for the 5 postseason.

Houston Comets (defunct) won the first four WNBA 6 titles: (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000). The 3-point line is 22 feet, 1.75 inches. 7

Cynthia Cooper is the only player in WNBA 8 history to win back-to-back WNBA MVP awards.

The Houston Comets (defunct), the Minnesota Lynx, and the Seattle 9 Storm are tied with the most championship wins In its inaugural season, (4) in league history. WNBA attendance 10 exceeded one million fans.

The tallest player is Margo Dydek (deceased). She was 7 feet, 2 inches. 11

Sue Bird became the first player in WNBA history to 12 win a championship in three different decades (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020).

WNBA's regulation ball is 28.5 inches in circumference and one 13 inch smaller than the NBA’s regulation ball. Starting in 2020, players were eligible to receive 14 100 percent of their base salary during pregnancy. WNBA's roster size is a maximum of 12 players. 15

Liz Cambage holds the record for the most points 16 in a single game with 53.

Draft eligibility: 22 years old and no remaining college eligibility or 17 renounces any future college eligibility. In 2002, Lisa Leslie became the first player to 18 dunk in the WNBA.

In 2010, Cynthia Cooper became the first WNBA player inducted into the 19 Naismith Memorial Cheryl Miller was the first Basketball Hall of Fame. Black coach to lead her 20 team to the WNBA Finals.

In 2021, there are five female head coaches: three in the western 21 conference and two in the eastern conference. Currently, the average 22 salary is $130,000.

As of June 17, 2021, Phoenix Mercury Diana Taurasi is the all-time 23 leading scorer with 8,994 "The average time a career points. woman plays professional 24 basketball is five years." ~ Lisa Borders, WNBA President (2015–2018)

On April 22, 1996, David Stern founded the WNBA. 25

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Cash, M. (2020, September 15). 7 WNBA Players Have Thrown Down Dunks Since the League Began — Here are Highlights of Each One. Insider, Inc. https://www.insider.com/wnba-players-dunk-video-highlights-2020-9

CBS and Associated Press. (2020, January 14). "Historic" WNBA Labor Deal to Hike Average Salary to $130,000, Provide Paid Maternity Leave. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wnba-salary-cba-new-labor-deal-hikes-average-salary-130000-paid-maternal-leave-today-2019-01-14/

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Guinness World Records. (2021). Tallest WNBA Player (Ever). Guinness World Records Limited. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/629886-tallest-wnba-player

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Lamonier, P. (2018, July 2). The Business of Being a WNBA Player. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/plamonier/2018/07/02/the-business-of-being-a-wnba-player/?sh=4e70c9c85af1

Queen Ballers Club. (2020, November 16). WNBA Facts: 25 Fascinating Finds. Queen Ballers Club. https://queenballers.club/basketball/wnba-facts

Voepel, M. (2021, April 1). Geno Auriemma Wants 3-Point Arc Moved Back in Women's College Basketball. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31179808/geno-auriemma-wants-3-point-arc-moved-back-women-college-basketball

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WNBA. (2021). WNBA Advanced Stats. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. https://stats.wnba.com/alltime-leaders/

WNBA. (2021). Coaches. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. https://www.wnba.com/coaches/

WNBA. (2002, May 3). History of the WNBA. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. https://www.wnba.com/news/history-of-the-wnba-2002/