The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) stands as a testament to the athletic prowess and dynamic appeal of women’s professional basketball. Founded in 1996, the league operates under the ownership of the NBA Board of Governors. It showcases a riveting blend of talent and competitive spirit across 12 teams, primarily based in the United States. The WNBA is recognized for its significant contribution to elevating women’s sports on a global stage, hosting games in major cities across the U.S. and broadcasting to a wide audience, demonstrating its expansive reach and influence in the realm of professional women’s basketball.
The Women’s National Basketball Association was conceived and founded by the NBA Board of Governors in April 1996, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of women’s professional sports. Since its inception, the WNBA has transcended being merely a sports league to become a symbol of empowerment and excellence in women’s basketball. Its major achievements include expanding women’s participation in professional sports, increasing visibility for women athletes, and establishing a platform for social advocacy. The WNBA has been instrumental in not only promoting basketball but also in championing gender equality and social justice. Today, the league enjoys a robust stature, continually enhancing its global presence, attracting top-tier talent, and expanding its fan base, affirming its crucial role in the sports world.
What is Women’s National Basketball Association?
The Women’s National Basketball Association, commonly known as the WNBA, is a professional basketball league for women, distinguished by its high level of competition and prominence in women’s sports. Established by the NBA Board of Governors, it represents the pinnacle of women’s professional basketball, offering a platform for both athletic excellence and social advocacy.
From 1997 to 2012 the Women’s National Basketball Association identified itself with an emblem logo. The old WNBA logo has an unusual shape. It is an inclined shield. The shield suggests traditions, while the incline implies movement and speed. The letters in the lettermark are also slanted. The color scheme (red, blue and white) reminds of the American flag.
Since the WNBA was established as the women’s counterpart to the NBA, the old WNBA logo looks very similar to the NBA logo. The only essential difference is that the white silhouette of the basketball player is unmistakably feminine.
In 2013 the WNBA redesigned its identity mark. As before, the WNBA new logo features a player in action but it differs radically from the previous NBA-based one. First of all, the blue-white-and-red color scheme gave place to orange and oatmeal, which is the pattern of their game balls. The new colors make the logo look simple, clean and powerful.
Secondly, it is not the original shield any longer, but a vertical rectangle. Thirdly, the silhouette is not dribbling now but is attacking the basket. The intention is to show that players have become more athletic, agile and competitive.
There was even a “who is the WNBA logo woman?” campaign. The league has not made any statements so far. It keeps saying that the logo is a celebration of all the athletes who have ever belonged to the WNBA. Yet, there is a popular opinion that the silhouette is modeled after Sue Bird.
For the 2019 logo update, they redrew the woman’s silhouette, mirrored it, painted it orange and presented it as the main emblem. It was naturally neighbored by a wordmark – the usual acronym written fully in orange and using wide sans-serif letters.