THE SECOND WOMEN’S LEAGUE In 1892 women were introduced to the sport of basketball Over 100 years later the American Basketball League ABL a professional women’s league opened It was followed soon after by the Women’s National Basketball Association WNBA which opened its first season in July 1997 Smith College in the northeastern United States was the first college to have a women’s basketball team 4
Women’s basketball uniforms have gone through many changes since 1892 This photo taken in 1905 shows a team wearing the long skirts required for women basketball players at that time FUN FACT The Olympics helped make women’s basketball popular Its popularity after the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta led to the opening of both the ABL and the WNBA 5
A GAME OF INCHES Since 1997 the WNBA has been dealing with comparisons to the NBA The free-throw line is closer the ball is a bit smaller and the 3 point line is 4 feet 1.2 meters closer At first glance the game might seem easier 3 point line free throw line center circle the paint 6
However the average WNBA player is 6 feet 1.82 meters tall and the average NBA player is 6 feet 7 inches 2 meters tall The net for both leagues is 10 feet 3 meters off the ground so it seems like the women have it tougher right 7
