WNBA Celebrates 25 Seasons in 2021. Count It.

The Women’s National Basketball Association is heading into their 25th season this summer, a cool quarter century after their inaugural season in 1997 the league has grown from eight teams to twelve with franchises presently located in every corner of the United States,

To celebrate this milestone season, the WNBA has announced a series of new initiatives as well as the introduction of a commemorative logo. This logo shows the silhouette from the WNBA league logo in orange next to the roman numerals for 20 with tally marks counting the final 5 seasons.

LINK: WNBA team logos and history

“The WNBA’s 25th Season logo signifies that the league isn’t done ‘Counting’ achievements because there are countless more to come,” said Phil Cook, the league’s chief marketing officer. “The WNBA is on the rise and we’re excited to bring fans along the journey through a monumental season for the league and for the seasons ahead.”

In addition to the new logo, there will also be a new Wilson WNBA game ball as well as new Nike uniforms which will “celebrate the league’s dynamic athletes” with “deeper storytelling and details”.

There was also the introduction of a new in-season championship known as the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup which designates ten regular season games per team and then pits the two conference leaders against one another. This game takes place following the Olympic break as “an exciting jumpstart to the resumption” of the season.

This will be the fourth time the league has noted an anniversary season with a commemorative logo, the history of those shown below:

The WNBA began with eight teams — the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz. Of those eight only the Liberty, Sparks, and Mercury still continue to play in their original market (the “original three!”) while the Starzz franchise has relocated twice and currently play as the Las Vegas Aces.