Women's National Basketball Association: Founding and Early Growth (1996–2010)

1. NBA approves creation of the WNBA

   Apr 24, 1996Labels: NBA Board

   • WNBA Formation

2. National TV partners announced for launch

   Jul 16, 1996Labels: NBC, ESPN

   • WNBA Formation

3. Val Ackerman named first WNBA president

   Aug 7, 1996Labels: Val Ackerman

   • WNBA Formation
   • Ackerman Bio

4. Eight charter cities selected as founding teams

   Oct 30, 1996Labels: Founding teams

   • WNBA Formation

5. First player allocations and drafts build rosters

   Apr 28, 1997Labels: Player allocation

   • WNBA Formation
   • 1997 Draft

6. WNBA begins play with inaugural regular-season game

   Jun 21, 1997Labels: Inaugural game, New York

   • WNBA Formation
   • Liberty History

7. Houston Comets win first WNBA championship

   Aug 30, 1997Labels: Houston Comets

   • 1997 Finals
   • Comets Dynasty

8. First expansion draft adds Detroit and Washington

   Feb 18, 1998Labels: Expansion draft

   • 1998 Expansion

9. ABL folds, sending talent pool toward WNBA

   Dec 22, 1998Labels: American Basketball

   • ABL History

10. WNBA and players reach first collective bargaining agreement

    Apr 29, 1999Labels: Collective bargaining

    • Washington Post

11. First WNBA All-Star Game held at Madison Square Garden

    Jul 14, 1999Labels: All-Star Game, Madison Square

    • All Star Notes
    • All Star History

12. Four-team expansion draft creates a 16-team league

    Dec 15, 1999Labels: Expansion draft

    • 2000 Expansion

13. Los Angeles Sparks win first franchise championship

    Sep 1, 2001Labels: Los Angeles

    • 2001 Finals
    • Britannica Sparks

14. Draft lottery introduced to set top draft order

    Nov 13, 2001Labels: Draft lottery

    • ESPN Wire
    • 2002 Draft

15. Championship series rebranded as the WNBA Finals

    Aug 29, 2002Labels: WNBA Finals

    • 2002 Finals

16. Detroit Shock win 2003 title, ending Sparks’ repeat bid

    Sep 16, 2003Labels: Detroit Shock

    • WNBA Recap

17. Houston Comets suspended operations, marking early-era endpoint

    Dec 1, 2008Labels: Houston Comets

    • SBJ Report

18. WNBA enters 2010 with established labor structure and national footprint

    Jan 1, 2010Labels: League era

    • WNBA History
    • All Star History