The Women's American Basketball Association is a newly launched sister league to the American Basketball Association which kicked off in 2017 with 6 teams. The WABA has done exceptionally well with expansion as the league now has over 20 teams across the country. In lieu of COVID-19, the decision was made to cancel Season 4 in 2020, but team owners are looking forward to returning in 2021.
WABA (1984)
The first Women's American Basketball Association was founded by Bill Byrne, founder of the WBL, in hopes of cashing in on the USA Olympic team's success in Los Angeles in 1984. While some talented players played in the league most of the league's teams folded before the league championship, which was won by Dallas over Chicago.
WWBA/WBA (1992–95)
The Women's Basketball Association was the first women's professional basketball summer league. The league was called the WWBA and WBA for the first All-Star tour in 1992, before settling on WBA. The pioneer league was formed in 1992 by Lightning N Mitchell and played three full seasons from 1993–95. The WBA played a 15-game schedule and games were broadcast on Liberty Sports of Dallas. The All-Star games were also televised on Fox Sports. Kansas Jayhawks All-American Geri "Kay-Kay" Hart and Robelyn "Robbie" Garcia announced the game on Fox Radio and Nancy Lieberman was the TV announcer for the 1995 All-Star game. The WBA played three full seasons with plans to play as a 12-team league in 1997, but disbanded before the season began. When Fox Sports purchased Liberty Sports and the WBA, they dissolved the league shortly after and sold off the franchising rights. The league was is first American professional women's basketball league to be successful as a summer league, like their counterpart WNBA. Guard Laurie Byrd played for the WWBA, WBA, American Basketball League and the WNBA.
MVP: Evette Ott, Sarah Campbell WBA 1st Round Playoffs Memphis 2–0 over St. Louis Memphis 126, St. Louis 111 Memphis 122, St. Louis 110 Indiana 2–0 over Oklahoma Indiana 107, Oklahoma 91 Indiana 103, Oklahoma 91 WBA 2nd Round Playoffs Memphis won series in Points Kansas City 98, Memphis 94 Memphis 101, Kansas City 87 Nebraska won series by winning 2–0 over Indiana Nebraska 99, Indiana 89 Nebraska 91, Indiana 87 1994 WBA Championship Nebraska 3–2 over Memphis Memphis 102, Nebraska 101 Nebraska 123, Memphis 108 Memphis 138, Nebraska 128 Nebraska 111, Memphis 101 Nebraska 103, Memphis 101 MVP: Maurtice Ivy'''
1995 WBA Regular Season
;National Conference
Team
y-St. Louis River Queens
8
7
–
Kansas City Mustangs
7
8
1
Kentucky Marauders
7
8
1
Memphis Blues
7
8
1
;American Conference
Team
y-Chicago Twisters
14
1
–
Nebraska Express
6
9
8
Minnesota Stars
5
10
9
Oklahoma Flames
5
10
9
MVP: Evette Ott, Sarah Campbell 1995 Last WBA Championship Game Chicago 107, St. Louis 96 Co-MVP: Diana Vines & Petra Jackson
WABA (2001–02)
The Women's American Basketball Association formed in 2001 and played one season in 2002. Six teams played in the league: Allentown Crunch, Reading Rage, Schuylkill Syrens, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Scream, Wilmington Jaguars and York City Noise. The 2002 championship game was played June 2, 2002 and won by the York City Noise. Meggan Yedsena led the Schuylkill Syrens in the league's inaugural season. Some of the teams made the transition to the WEBA and continue to play semi-professional Basketball. Yedsena was the only player to play in both the 1990s WABA and the 2002 WABA.
WABA (2013–present)
Management of the modern-day American Basketball Association are attempting to create a "new" . Several seasons and teams have been announced, but only one abbreviated season has been played.
