The Valkyries Will Debut in 2025, But Until Then, Learn More About the League's History and Current Landscape as We Tip Off the 28th WNBA Season

The WNBA began its 28th season on Tuesday, coinciding with the unveiling of Golden State's WNBA team identity. The Valkyries will debut in 2025, but until then, learn more about the league's history and current landscape. 

HOW IT STARTED
On April 24, 1996, the NBA Board of Governors approved the WNBA to begin play, set to feature the world's best women's basketball players. Today, the NBA and WNBA are played very similarly, with the three main on-court differences being the size of their regulation basketball (WNBA 28.5 inches, NBA 29.5 inches), the distance of their 3-point line (WNBA just over 22 feet, NBA 23 feet and nine inches) and the length of their quarters (WNBA 10 minutes, NBA 12 minutes). NCAA players seeking to join the WNBA must be at least 22 years old or graduating seniors to enter the draft, while NBA players can enter as early as age 19 or after their freshman season. The Golden State Valkyries have become the sixth WNBA team to have an NBA affiliate, joining the Indiana Fever (Pacers), Los Angeles Sparks (Lakers), Minnesota Lynx (Timberwolves), New York Liberty (Brooklyn Nets) and Phoenix Mercury (Suns). The WNBA season is 40 games long spanning from May through September. 

FRANCHISE RESUMES
The Houston Comets, led by Hall of Fame guard Cynthia Cooper, won the first four WNBA championships. However, with the Comets no longer an active WNBA team, the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm are the two active franchises with the most titles (4). Nine active WNBA franchises have won a championship and the Las Vegas Aces have won the last two league championships. 

CURRENT STARPOWER LANDSCAPE
The WNBA has a plethora of elite starpower, headlined by its five active MVPs, three of whom were named to the W25 list, which recognized the league's 25 greatest players for its 25th anniversary. Las Vegas Aces' forward A'ja Wilson and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart both have two MVPs, with Stewart getting the nod last season and Wilson taking home Finals MVP for the second consecutive season. 

Active WNBA MVPs: Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)

Active Members of the W25: Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu faced Warriors' guard Stephen Curry in the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-point shootout during the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend, coming within three points of the NBA's all-time leader in made 3-pointers (29-26). 

At the 2023 WNBA 3-Point Contest, Ionescu had the best performance in the event’s history, scoring 37 points out of a possible 40.

STACKED 2024 DRAFT CLASS
The 2024 WNBA Draft class brought unprecedented viewership and fan interest, headlined by No. 1 overall pick Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), college basketball's all-time leading scorer (men’s or women’s). Other highlights of the 2024 rookie class include 2023 NCAA Champion and Final Four Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), former Stanford center Cameron Brink (Los Angeles Sparks) and former South Carolina center and reigning National Champion Kamilla Cardoso. 

VALKYRIES ROSTER BUILDING
The Valkyries made their first basketball operations hire last week with Ohemaa Nyanin being named general manager. Nyanin will be tasked with hiring other basketball staffing positions, including a head coach, before ultimately filling out the player roster via the expansion draft, free agency (February) and the WNBA Draft (April). When all said and done, twelve of the world's best women's basketball players will be representing the Bay at Chase Center with the action tipping off in May of 2025.