![WNBA at 30: The League That Refused to Fail](https://cdn.slatesource.com/0/b/6/0b6a614f-1949-4e49-8c17-e5ec88bb323b.webp) # WNBA at 30: The League That Refused to Fail - [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/wnba-at-30-the-league-that-refused-to-fail) - By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph) - Created on Jul 25, 2026 MOMENT June 21, 1997. Opening Night. The First Tip. WNBA founding teams (1997) 8 WNBA teams in 2026 16 (two new: Toronto Tempo, Portland) Average WNBA attendance per game 1997 9,800 Average WNBA attendance per game 2025 11,700 (all-time record) Indiana Fever single-season home attendance 2024 340,715 (new record) WNBA national TV deal value increase 2025 CBA more than 300 percent Caitlin Clark career PPG average entering All-Star 2026 21.0 ## Why 20262026 Is DifferentDifferent The WNBA'sWNBA's 30th30th seasonseason openedopened on MayMay 8 in ChicagoChicago, and almostalmost nothingnothing about it resembledresembled 19971997 exceptexcept the ballball. The leagueleague has a transformationaltransformational newnew collectivecollective bargainingbargaining agreementagreement signedsigned in MarchMarch 20262026, the firstfirst to includeinclude a revenue-sharingrevenue-sharing modelmodel, with significantsignificant salarysalary increasesincreases acrossacross everyevery rosterroster tiertier. TwoTwo newnew franchisesfranchises launchedlaunched this yearyear: the TorontoToronto TempoTempo, the league'sleague's firstfirst CanadianCanadian teamteam, and PortlandPortland, bringingbringing the leagueleague to 16 teamsteams for the firstfirst timetime. The nationalnational televisiontelevision dealdeal that kickskicks in this seasonseason payspays the leagueleague moremore than 300300 percentpercent aboveabove what the previousprevious dealdeal paidpaid. SelloutsSellouts that were onceonce occasionaloccasional are nownow routineroutine. The sportsport that nearlynearly nobodynobody investedinvested in for a decadedecade is nownow oneone of the fastest-growingfastest-growing brandsbrands in AmericanAmerican sportssports. ![Travel photo 1](https://cdn.slatesource.com/f/8/f/f8f9b5a5-4ca3-42a2-8419-117a6e0c7b66.webp) ![Travel photo 2](https://cdn.slatesource.com/1/8/c/18cb1005-78fa-41ed-9ed1-a11ea89821ea.webp) ![Travel photo 3](https://cdn.slatesource.com/3/1/4/3143ff35-30ef-4d1d-9e08-5f72b7996575.webp) MOMENT The Jump Shot Heard Everywhere. USA Basketball Training, 2014. MOMENT The Drive That Does Not Stop. USA Basketball, 2014. MOMENT A Sold-Out Arena Is Now the Baseline. The Present. ## The NumbersNumbers BehindBehind the ClarkClark EffectEffect CaitlinCaitlin ClarkClark was drafteddrafted firstfirst overalloverall by the IndianaIndiana FeverFever in AprilApril 20242024 and has donedone thingsthings in the leagueleague with a speedspeed that has no precedentprecedent. In 59 careercareer gamesgames she registeredregistered her 500th500th assistassist, shatteringshattering the recordrecord for the fastestfastest playerplayer to reachreach that markmark. She scoredscored the firstfirst 45-point45-point, 10-assist10-assist gamegame in WNBAWNBA historyhistory. EnteringEntering the 20262026 All-StarAll-Star GameGame she averagesaverages a career-highcareer-high 21.0 pointspoints perper gamegame. Her presencepresence has drivendriven the FeverFever to sellsell out nearlynearly everyevery homehome gamegame and has catalysedcatalysed a broaderbroader shiftshift in how the sportsport is coveredcovered, discusseddiscussed, and watchedwatched. The argumentargument was alwaysalways that a greatgreat enoughenough playerplayer wouldwould transformtransform women'swomen's basketballbasketball. ClarkClark arrivedarrived to testtest it. The 2026 All-Star Game returned to Chicago's United Center on July 25, the first time the city has hosted since the league's early years. The format honoured the 30th anniversary: WNBA legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the squads, named Team Coop and Team Spoon. Tyla headlined the halftime show, becoming the first international artist to headline the WNBA All-Star halftime in the event's 28-year history. The game tipped off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Where the WNBA stands after 30 years. Founded 1997 with 8 teams and a borrowed primetime slot on Lifetime. The league has survived two rival leagues folding, a global pandemic, seasons played in a bubble, three ownership restructurings, and years of low salaries that sent most stars to play in Europe in the offseason. It is still here, and it is growing faster than at any point in its history. What the new CBA changes. The March 2026 agreement is the first in WNBA history to include a revenue-sharing model tied to league performance. Base salaries rise significantly across all roster tiers. Enhanced travel standards, charter flights for all teams (already piloted in 2025), improved medical coverage, and a parental leave structure are part of the deal. The players association called it "a new era." > It is pretty incredible to see how far this league has come in 30 years. It makes me really excited for the future of the WNBA, how much it is going to continue to grow. WNBA champions in the last 4 seasons Las Vegas Aces (3 of 4) Most decorated USA Basketball player ever Breanna Stewart First WNBA player to score 500 career assists in under 60 games Caitlin Clark Season the WNBA first chartered flights for all teams 2025 Players who competed in WNBA and then EuroLeague offseasons historically most stars Year the WNBA introduced its first Canadian franchise 2026 (Toronto Tempo) [WNBA official: schedules, stats, and 30th season content](https://www.wnba.com/?utm_source=slatesource) [WNBA 30th Season: league's official anniversary hub](https://pr.nba.com/wnba-30th-season-celebration?utm_source=slatesource)