The WNBA was founded on April 24, 1996 , by the National Basketball Association (NBA) as the premier professional women's basketball league in North America.

Its inaugural season kicked off with tremendous excitement on June 21, 1997 , featuring the first game between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks, won by the Liberty 67-57.

Founding Context

The league's creation rode a wave of momentum from the U.S. women's basketball team's gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics , spotlighting stars like Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes and proving demand for pro women's hoops. NBA leaders saw an opportunity to expand their brand into the summer offseason, launching with eight teams tied to NBA markets: Houston Comets, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Cleveland Rockers, Sacramento Monarchs, Charlotte Sting, and Utah Starzz.

First Season Highlights

  • Houston Comets dominated, winning the inaugural championship by defeating the New York Liberty.
  • Average attendance topped 10,000 per game, shattering expectations amid skepticism from doubters questioning women's pro sports viability.
  • Stars like Rebecca Lobo (Liberty) and Lisa Leslie (Sparks) drew crowds, blending athletic prowess with trailblazing charisma.

This origin story set the stage for decades of growth, navigating challenges like rival leagues (e.g., the American Basketball League folding in 1999) while building a legacy now booming in 2026 with expansion teams on the horizon.

TL;DR: Founded April 24, 1996; first games June 21, 1997—ignited by Olympic glory and NBA vision.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.