Ball up. These 120 WNBA trivia questions cover the league’s 1997 launch, the Houston Comets dynasty, legendary scorers and passers, championship teams, drafts, MVPs, Olympic stars, famous firsts, modern expansion, and the players who turned women’s professional basketball into a summer institution.
The first quarter is friendly. The fourth is for people who remember the original eight teams.
Why the WNBA Makes Great Trivia
The WNBA has its own history, dynasties, rivalries, rules, draft stories, championship records, and generations of stars. The league was approved by the NBA Board of Governors in 1996 and began play in 1997 with eight teams, then grew through expansion, relocation, contraction, and a new wave of growth in the 2020s.
League history and records below are checked against WNBA’s official archives. Keep shooting with our NBA trivia, sports trivia, and Olympics trivia.
WNBA Origins & the First Season
Q: In what year was the WNBA officially approved?
A: 1996.
Q: In what year did the WNBA play its first season?
A: 1997.
Q: On what date was the first WNBA game played?
A: June 21, 1997.
Q: Which teams played in the first WNBA game?
A: The New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks.
Q: Where was the first WNBA game played?
A: The Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.
Q: Who won the first WNBA game?
A: The New York Liberty.
Q: How many teams played in the inaugural WNBA season?
A: Eight.
Q: Name four original WNBA teams.
A: Examples include the Houston Comets, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, and Phoenix Mercury.
Q: Which original team represented Charlotte?
A: The Charlotte Sting.
Q: Which original team represented Cleveland?
A: The Cleveland Rockers.
Q: Which original team represented Sacramento?
A: The Sacramento Monarchs.
Q: Which original team represented Utah?
A: The Utah Starzz.
Q: What slogan was used heavily in the WNBA’s launch campaign?
A: “We Got Next.”
Q: Which NBA commissioner was instrumental in launching the WNBA?
A: David Stern.
Q: Why was 1997 a major milestone for women’s basketball in the United States?
A: It established a long-term top-level professional women’s league backed by the NBA and built around many elite American and international players.
The Houston Comets Dynasty
Q: Which team won the first WNBA championship?
A: The Houston Comets.
Q: How many consecutive championships did the Houston Comets win to begin WNBA history?
A: Four.
Q: In what four seasons did Houston win those titles?
A: 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Q: Who was the star guard and Finals MVP of Houston’s first four championship teams?
A: Cynthia Cooper.
Q: What made Cynthia Cooper’s Finals record unique during the Comets dynasty?
A: She won Finals MVP in all four championship seasons.
Q: Which Houston star was nicknamed Lady Magic and became one of the league’s greatest rebounders and defenders?
A: Sheryl Swoopes was the iconic two-way star, while Tina Thompson was another cornerstone of the dynasty.
Q: Which Comets player was the first signing announced by the WNBA before league play began?
A: Sheryl Swoopes.
Q: Which forward became the first player selected in the inaugural WNBA Draft?
A: Tina Thompson.
Q: What college did Tina Thompson attend?
A: USC.
Q: What Hall of Fame center completed Houston’s legendary core?
A: Tina Thompson was a forward, while the Comets' famous core is usually identified as Cooper, Swoopes, and Thompson.
Q: Who coached the Houston Comets dynasty?
A: Van Chancellor.
Q: What team did Houston defeat in the inaugural 1997 championship game?
A: The New York Liberty.
Q: Why did the first WNBA championship use a single game rather than a long Finals series?
A: The postseason format was smaller in the inaugural season and evolved as the league grew.
Q: What happened to the Houston Comets franchise after the 2008 season?
A: The franchise folded.
Q: Why does the Comets dynasty remain one of the league’s most important trivia topics?
A: Houston won the first four championships and established several stars as the WNBA’s earliest household names.
Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes & Early Legends
Q: Which Los Angeles Sparks center became the first WNBA player to dunk in a game?
A: Lisa Leslie.
Q: In what year did Lisa Leslie make the WNBA’s first dunk?
A: 2002.
Q: Which team did Lisa Leslie spend her entire WNBA career with?
A: The Los Angeles Sparks.
Q: How many WNBA championships did Leslie win with the Sparks?
A: Two, in 2001 and 2002.
Q: Which Sparks teammate was nicknamed T-Spoon?
A: Teresa Weatherspoon was actually a New York Liberty legend, not a Sparks teammate.
Q: What Liberty guard hit a famous half-court shot to win Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals?
A: Teresa Weatherspoon.
Q: Which player became the first WNBA MVP in 1997?
A: Cynthia Cooper.
Q: Which Houston star won league MVP in 2000, 2002, and 2005?
A: Sheryl Swoopes.
Q: What historic first did Sheryl Swoopes achieve away from basketball in 2005?
A: She became one of the first prominent active American team-sport athletes to publicly come out as gay.
Q: Which New York Liberty star was known for toughness, defense, and elite passing in the league’s early years?
A: Teresa Weatherspoon.
Q: Which Sacramento Monarchs star won the 2005 WNBA MVP and helped the team win the title?
A: Yolanda Griffith.
Q: Which Cleveland Rockers guard became one of the early league’s elite scorers and international stars?
A: Eva Nemcova was a prominent Czech scorer, while players such as Suzie McConnell Serio and Merlakia Jones were also key Rockers.
Q: Which Phoenix Mercury player was one of the league’s first major international superstars from Australia?
A: Michele Timms.
Q: What generation helped establish the WNBA before later stars such as Taurasi and Parker arrived?
A: Players including Cooper, Swoopes, Leslie, Thompson, Weatherspoon, Griffith, Timms, and many 1996 Olympic standouts built the league’s early identity.
Q: Why are early-era records sometimes hard to compare with modern WNBA totals?
A: Seasons were shorter, playoff formats differed, franchises changed, and the league’s schedule expanded over time.
Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird & the 2000s Generation
Q: Which Phoenix Mercury guard became the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer?
A: Diana Taurasi.
Q: What college did Diana Taurasi attend?
A: UConn.
Q: In what year was Taurasi drafted No. 1 overall?
A: 2004.
Q: Which team drafted Taurasi?
A: Phoenix Mercury.
Q: How many WNBA championships did Taurasi win with Phoenix?
A: Three, in 2007, 2009, and 2014.
Q: What nickname is commonly associated with Diana Taurasi?
A: The White Mamba.
Q: Which Seattle Storm point guard became the WNBA’s all-time assists leader?
A: Sue Bird.
Q: What college did Sue Bird attend?
A: UConn.
Q: In what year was Sue Bird drafted No. 1 overall?
A: 2002.
Q: How many WNBA championships did Sue Bird win with Seattle?
A: Four, in 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020.
Q: Which Australian star teamed with Sue Bird on Seattle’s 2004 and 2010 title teams?
A: Lauren Jackson.
Q: How many WNBA MVP awards did Lauren Jackson win?
A: Three.
Q: Which Phoenix forward became a dominant scorer and won multiple championships beside Taurasi?
A: Penny Taylor was a major Mercury star, while Brittney Griner later formed another championship-era partnership with Taurasi.
Q: What makes Taurasi and Bird especially connected in basketball history?
A: Both starred at UConn, became No. 1 draft picks, won multiple WNBA titles, and accumulated extraordinary longevity records.
Q: Why is the 2000s generation central to WNBA trivia?
A: The league moved from its founding era into long careers, deeper international talent, stable star franchises, and records that shaped the next two decades.
Candace Parker, Maya Moore & Championship Dynasties
Q: Who was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft?
A: Candace Parker.
Q: Which team drafted Candace Parker?
A: Los Angeles Sparks.
Q: What unusual double did Parker accomplish in her rookie season?
A: She won both WNBA Rookie of the Year and league MVP in 2008.
Q: What college did Candace Parker attend?
A: Tennessee.
Q: Which legendary coach led Parker at Tennessee?
A: Pat Summitt.
Q: Which franchise built a 2010s dynasty around Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, and Rebekkah Brunson?
A: Minnesota Lynx.
Q: How many WNBA championships did Minnesota win from 2011 through 2017?
A: Four.
Q: In what years did the Lynx win those titles?
A: 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.
Q: Which Lynx star won the 2014 WNBA MVP?
A: Maya Moore.
Q: Which Lynx point guard later became a successful WNBA head coach?
A: Lindsay Whalen became a college coach, while Cheryl Reeve was the Lynx’s championship head coach throughout the dynasty.
Q: Who coached the Lynx dynasty?
A: Cheryl Reeve.
Q: Which Sparks star hit the game-winning shot in the decisive 2016 Finals game against Minnesota?
A: Nneka Ogwumike.
Q: What major title did Candace Parker win with her hometown Chicago Sky in 2021?
A: The WNBA championship.
Q: Which third franchise did Parker win a championship with in 2023?
A: Las Vegas Aces.
Q: Why does Candace Parker stand out in championship trivia?
A: She won WNBA titles with three different franchises: Los Angeles, Chicago, and Las Vegas.
A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart & the Modern Era
Q: Which Las Vegas Aces star was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft?
A: A’ja Wilson.
Q: What college did A’ja Wilson attend?
A: South Carolina.
Q: Who coached A’ja Wilson at South Carolina?
A: Dawn Staley.
Q: Which franchise won back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023?
A: Las Vegas Aces.
Q: Who coached the Aces to those titles?
A: Becky Hammon.
Q: Which UConn star was the No. 1 pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft?
A: Breanna Stewart.
Q: Which team drafted Breanna Stewart?
A: Seattle Storm.
Q: How many championships did Stewart win with Seattle?
A: Two, in 2018 and 2020.
Q: Which franchise did Stewart join in 2023?
A: New York Liberty.
Q: Which franchise won its first WNBA championship in 2024?
A: New York Liberty.
Q: Who was the 2024 Finals opponent of the New York Liberty?
A: Minnesota Lynx.
Q: What long wait ended with New York’s 2024 title?
A: The Liberty, one of the original WNBA franchises, finally won its first championship.
Q: Which Aces guard won the 2022 WNBA Finals MVP?
A: Chelsea Gray.
Q: Which Aces star is known for elite three-point shooting and perimeter scoring alongside Wilson?
A: Kelsey Plum is one of the core Aces guards.
Q: Why is modern WNBA trivia changing quickly?
A: Expansion, rising attendance and audiences, active-record chases, new collective bargaining developments, and a growing wave of young stars make current facts move faster than historical ones.
Drafts, Expansion & League Growth
Q: Who was the first player selected in the first WNBA Draft in 1997?
A: Tina Thompson.
Q: Which team selected Tina Thompson?
A: Houston Comets.
Q: What is an expansion team?
A: A newly created franchise added to the league.
Q: What Bay Area expansion team began WNBA play in 2025?
A: Golden State Valkyries.
Q: What Canadian expansion team began WNBA play in 2026?
A: Toronto Tempo.
Q: What Portland expansion franchise began WNBA play in 2026?
A: Portland Fire.
Q: How many WNBA teams are competing in the 2026 season after Toronto and Portland join?
A: Fifteen.
Q: What makes Toronto’s arrival historically notable?
A: It is the WNBA’s first franchise based outside the United States.
Q: What former Utah franchise eventually became the Las Vegas Aces after moves and name changes?
A: The Utah Starzz lineage moved to San Antonio and later became the Las Vegas Aces.
Q: What former Detroit franchise relocated and became the Tulsa Shock, then moved again?
A: The Detroit Shock lineage eventually became the Dallas Wings after its Tulsa period.
Q: What original Orlando franchise later became the Connecticut Sun?
A: Orlando Miracle.
Q: What WNBA team plays in Washington, D.C.?
A: Washington Mystics.
Q: What WNBA team plays in Indianapolis?
A: Indiana Fever.
Q: Why is franchise lineage important in WNBA trivia?
A: Relocations and renamings mean a team’s current city can inherit the records and history of an older franchise.
Q: What does the recent expansion wave signal about the league?
A: Growing demand, ownership investment, media attention, attendance, and player depth are supporting a larger WNBA footprint.
Hard WNBA Challenge: Records, Awards & Milestones
Q: Who is the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer?
A: Diana Taurasi.
Q: Who became the first WNBA player to reach 10,000 career points?
A: Diana Taurasi.
Q: Who is the WNBA’s all-time assists leader?
A: Sue Bird.
Q: Which player won the first WNBA MVP award?
A: Cynthia Cooper.
Q: Which player won the first four WNBA Finals MVP awards?
A: Cynthia Cooper.
Q: Which franchise won the league’s first four championships?
A: Houston Comets.
Q: Which player made the first dunk in a WNBA game?
A: Lisa Leslie.
Q: Which player is the only one to win WNBA Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the same season?
A: Candace Parker in 2008.
Q: Which franchise won four championships during its 2011 to 2017 dynasty?
A: Minnesota Lynx.
Q: Which team became the first to repeat as WNBA champion since the 2001 and 2002 Sparks when it won in 2022 and 2023?
A: Las Vegas Aces.
Q: Which original franchise finally won its first title in 2024?
A: New York Liberty.
Q: Which team was the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise?
A: Toronto Tempo.
Q: Which team became the league’s Bay Area expansion franchise in 2025?
A: Golden State Valkyries.
Q: What does the phrase “No. 1 overall pick” mean?
A: The first player selected in that year’s WNBA Draft.
Q: Why is WNBA trivia especially deep now?
A: Nearly three decades of champions, original franchises, relocations, Olympic stars, record careers, dynasties, expansion, historic firsts, elite international talent, and a rapidly growing modern audience give the league a much larger history than a simple list of MVPs.
How Did You Score?
If Tina Thompson, the first eight teams, Cooper’s four Finals MVPs, Lisa Leslie’s dunk, Sue Bird’s assists record, the 2024 Liberty title, and the 2026 expansion teams all came easily, your WNBA trivia is ready for tipoff.
Keep shooting with our NBA trivia, sports trivia, and Olympics trivia.
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