Updated on March 26, 2025
If you’re planning on taking your kids to a WNBA basketball game – excellent choice! WNBA games are fun, kid-friendly, and a great way to see some quality basketball. I’m a huge fan and love taking my kids with me to watch women’s professional basketball.
If you’re not up to speed with the WNBA, look through this quick guide to:
- The league
- The teams
- Important dates
- How to follow your team(s)
Enjoy the season and maybe we’ll see you at a game!
WNBA Basics for 2025
League Play Began: 1997
Number of Teams: There will be 13 teams for 2025, with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries. In 2026, there will be 15 teams, with the addition of the new teams in Toronto (the Tempo) and Portland (name yet to be announced).
Growth: In 2024, the WNBA broke attendance records, television records, and experienced tremendous growth. This is an exciting time to watch or go to a WNBA game!
Number of Games: 44
Playoffs: The top 8 teams from regular season play match up to begin the playoffs (1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v5), with the winners of each meeting for the semi-finals. The remaining two teams meet for the finals. 2025 playoff rounds will be best-of-three, best-of-three, and best-of-seven.
Reigning Champs: NY Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 best-of-five finals series; Jonquel Jones of the NY Liberty was crowned Finals MVP
Reigning WNBA Award Winners: Aja Wilson (MVP), Napheesa Collier (Defensive Player of the Year), Caitlin Clark (Rookie of the Year), Tiffany Hayes (6th Player of the Year), DiJonai Carrington (Most Improved Player)
Map of Current & Future WNBA Teams
WNBA Teams in 2025
Atlanta Dream
Location: Atlanta, GA
Arena: Gateway Center Arena
Official Website: Atlanta Dream
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones
2024 Finish: 8th regular season, lost in first round of playoffs
Mascot: none, former mascot Star (a bird) retired in 2020
Fun Fact: The Dream get their name from Atlanta native Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
Chicago Sky
Location: Chicago, IL
Arena: Wintrust Arena
Official Website: Chicago Sky
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Angel Reese, Courtney Vandersloot, Kia Nurse
2024 Finish: 10th
Mascot: Skye, a lioness
Fun Fact: The Sky’s colors (yellow and blue) represent Chicago’s skyline – with bright blue sky and golden yellow sunlight.
Read about
Going to a Chicago Sky Game with Kids
Visiting Chicago with a 10-Year-Old
Connecticut Sun
Location: Uncasville, CT
Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena
Official Website: Connecticut Sun
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Tina Charles, Marina Mabrey
2024 Finish: 3rd, lost in playoff semifinals
Mascot: Blaze, an orange furry creature
Fun Fact: The log of the Sun is a modern take on an ancient Mohegan symbol. The Mohegan Tribe is indigenous to southern New England, and owns the Connecticut Sun.
Dallas Wings
Location: Arlington, TX
Arena: College Park Center
Official Website: Dallas Wings
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Arike Ogunbowale, Dijonai Carrington, #1 Draft pick for 2025 (likely Paige Bueckers)
2024 Finish: 11th
Mascot: Lightning, a pegasus
Fun Fact: Before being the Dallas Wings, the teams was the Shock, and it played in Detroit, Michigan and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Golden State Valkyries
Location: Oakland, CA
Arena: Chase Center
Official Website: Golden State Valkyries
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Kayla Thornton, Temi Fagbenle
2024 Finish: N/A
Mascot: will likely be a Valkyrie
Fun Fact: Purple was chosen as the main team color because it’s associated with ambition.
Indiana Fever
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Arena: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Official Website: Indiana Fever
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard
2024 Finish: 6th, lost in first round of playoffs
Mascot: Freddy, a furry red creature
Fun Fact: Indianapolis will host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.
Read about
Going to an Indiana Fever Game with Kids
Getting Caitlin Clark’s Autograph and Gainbridge Fieldhouse – A Guide for Kids
Las Vegas Aces
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Arena: Michelob Ultra Arena
Official Website: Las Vegas Aces
Conference: Western
Current Stars: A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray
2024 Finish: 4th regular season, lost in playoff semi-finals
Mascot: Bucket$, a jackrabbit
Fun Fact: The Aces were back-to-back champions in 2022 and 2023.
Los Angeles Sparks
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Arena: Crypto.com Arena
Official Website: Los Angeles Sparks
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Kelsey Plum
2024 Finish: 12th
Mascot: Sparky, a dog
Fun Fact: The Sparks have retired the number 9, worn by legend Lisa Leslie, one of the members of the first Sparks team from 1997. She was the first WNBA player to dunk in a game!
Minnesota Lynx
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Arena: Target Center
Official Website: Minnesota Lynx
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams
2024 Finish: 2nd, lost in the playoff finals
Mascot: Prowl, a lynx
Fun Fact: The Lynx have 4 WNBA championships, tied with the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm.
New York Liberty
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Arena: Barclays Center
Official Website: New York Liberty
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud
2024 Finish: 1st, won the playoff championship
Mascot: Ellie, an elephant (and fan favorite mascot)
Fun Fact: The Liberty had lost in the finals 5 times before finally winning on its 6th try in 2024.
Phoenix Mercury
Location: Atlanta, GA
Arena: PHX Arena (formerly Footprint Center)
Official Website: Phoenix Mercury
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas
2024 Finish: 7th, lost in first round of playoffs
Mascot: Scorch, an extraterrestrial from Mercury (the planet)
Fun Fact: The Mercury are one of three remaining teams from the first (1997) season, along with the NY Liberty and the LA Sparks.
Seattle Storm
Location: Seattle, WA
Arena: Climate Pledge Arena
Official Website: Seattle Storm
Conference: Western
Current Stars: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ezi Magbegor, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams
2024 Finish: 5th, lost in first round of playoffs
Mascot: Doppler, a red, furry creature
Fun Fact: The Storm have never lost a WNBA finals… if they make it to the championship game, they win.
Read my Tips for Going to a Seattle Storm Game with Kids
Washington Mystics
Location: Washington, DC
Arena: Entertainment & Sports Arena
Official Website: Washington Mystics
Conference: Eastern
Current Stars: Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards
2024 Finish: 9th
Mascot: Pax, a panda
Fun Fact: The team’s name (Mystics) is tied to its NBA counterpart, the Washington Wizards.
Good To Know: I’ve listed each team’s arena, but sometimes they move to larger arenas for big matchups.
Important Dates for the 2025 WNBA Season
November 17, 2024 – Draft lottery (the bottom four teams from 2024 had a lottery draw to see the order of the first four picks in the 2025 draft). Results: #1 – Dallas, #2 – Los Angeles (later traded to Seattle), #3 – Chicago (later traded to Washington), #4 – Washington
December 6, 2024 – Expansion draft, when the GS Valkyries were able to draft players from existing teams. Each team was able to ‘protect’ six of its players from the expansion draft.
April 14, 2025 – WNBA Draft
Good To Know: The new Golden State Valkyries will get the 5th pick in the 2025 draft.
May 16, 2025 – Regular Season play begins
How to Follow the WNBA
If you want to keep track of your favorite team or the WNBA as a whole, check out:
WNBA League Pass – I have this and even though they’ve raised the price by $10 this year to $34.99, it’s still a bargain. Note that you can’t watch games live if you’re in the blackout area or it’s nationally televised.
Official Team sites (linked above in each team’s section) and team apps
WNBA site and the WNBA app – Good places for game highlights, short video clips, player of the week clips, etc. I check the app often during the season and prefer it to individual teams’ apps.
NY Times (The Athletic)
Sports sites like NBS Sports, ESPN, ABC News
Reddit – WNBA and team subreddits
Where to Get WNBA Clothing and Gear
I’m a big Caitlin Clark fan (and now my boys are too). We’ve purchased clothing, basketballs, and other merch (like water bottles, towels, etc). Here are where I’ve had the best luck with availability, quality, and selection:
- Online team stores
- Physical team stores at arenas
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Fanatics
- Wilson (for basketballs)
- Nike (online)
- Gatorade (for water bottles & towels)
Helpful Tip: Shop around because sometimes you’ll find discount codes for signing up for a newsletter, and that 20% off can really add up!
I hope this has helped you understand the WNBA a little bit more and that you enjoy watching the season with your family!
