The WNBA is a league that is gradually on the rise and it only seems as though they have a bright future ahead. It wasn’t until recently that the NBA‘s counterpart started getting a lot more attention from basketball enthusiasts. A massive amount of credit goes to its players as they work relentlessly to be great. Female athletes have been taking over the sports world in recent times as well.
The WNBA was introduced back in 1996 to give female basketball stars a chance to rise to fame. So far they haven’t disappointed either. They have proven themselves on the court and at times they surpass their male counterparts on the court. The support that they have shared with each other is consistent as well. NBA players have often come forth against the unequal regime that women in sports are forced to follow.
SABRINA IONESCU COULD NOT MISS‼️#WNBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/lEbXwvoTIp
— ESPN (@espn) July 14, 2023
Lately, players of the WNBA have been reaching new heights as well. A played by the name of Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty set the record for most points scored in a three-point contest ever.
The record stands at 37 points which is six more than Stephen Curry‘s 31-point milestone. This is just one of many records that the WNBA holds against its counterparts as well. Despite the numerous similarities, the WNBA has a few differences based on how they go about their business.
The WNBA uses a size 6 basketball which is smaller than the NBA
There are a few major differences between the NBA and WNBA. Keep in mind that these differences have some sort of common ground when both divisions play at the world level. College athletes who freshly enter the NBA often claim that there is a huge difference in physicality when both levels are compared. They’ve also claimed that the game is even more fast-paced and there is more space on the court than what is given in the NCAA.
Similarly, the NBA court is significantly larger than courts that are used during the Olympics or FIBA. The NBA court’s size is 28.65 x 15.24 meters while the international courts are an even 28 x 15. But the space between the rim and the foul line is the same. The height of the rim also stands 10 meters which is the same for any tournament. Surprisingly, the WNBA’s courts are larger than the ones used in the Olympics and FIBA.The only constant difference is that the WNBA uses a size 6 ball which is smaller than the ones used by the NBA. This is mainly because women are physically smaller than men. A size 6 ball is sufficient for a woman to palm the ball and handle it better. But it wouldn’t be the same with a size 7 basketball as it is a few centimeters wider than a size 6.