The Women’s National Basketball Association was founded in 1996 by David Stern. The first season of the WNBA was held in 1997, and the 2023 season was their 27th season. Every season, 12 teams compete in the league and 11 teams have been champions in the league. While the 2023 WNBA Finals are being held between the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, let’s have a look at the teams that have won the most WNBA championships.
6. Dallas Wings – 3
Before becoming the Dallas Wings, they were known as the Detroit Shock, a name that lasted until 2009. However, the team relocated to Tulsa in 2010 and was renamed the Tulsa Shock. Ultimately, in 2016, when they moved to Dallas, they became the Wings. The team won their first ever championship in 2003 after having the worst record in 2002. They won their next two titles in 2006 and 2008. However, since the name change, the team hasn’t won the championship.
5. Phoenix Mercury – 3
Phoenix Mercury won their first WNBA championship in 2007, when they defeated the (then known as Detroit Shock) Dallas Wings in a five-game series. Cappie Pondexter was the Finals MVP in the series. They won their second title in 2009 and this time Diana Taurasi was named the Finals MVP as well as the regular season MVP. The team won her third title in 2014 and Taurasi won her second Finals MVP.
4. Los Angeles Sparks – 3
Los Angeles Sparks won two titles consecutively in 2001 and 2002. Before this glory, they lost to the Houston Comets in two back-to-back playoffs. During their first two title wins, Lisa Leslie was their MVP. However, their third title came after a long time in 2016, when they defeated the heavyweight Lynx in a five-match series with the help of Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike. Parker was named the Finals MVP in the 2016 WNBA Finals.
3. Seattle Storm – 4
The Seattle Storm acquired two No. 1 Picks back-to-back in 2001 and 2002. They got Lauren Jackson in 2001 and Sue Bird in 2002, two of the greatest WNBA players of all time. In 2004, Storm won their first NBA championship with these two dynamic players. They won the second championship in 2010 and after Jackson retired, Bird took over young players like Breanna Stewart and guided them to their third and fourth championships in 2020 and 2022. Bird spent her entire career, from 2002 to 2022, with Seattle and established herself as a legendary player.
2. Minnesota Lynx – 4
The Minnesota Lynx won four titles between 2011 and 2017, with Lindsay, Whalsen, Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore on the roster. The team made it to the finals six times, which shows how strong Minnesota was in these years. In 2015, they added Sylvia Fowles to the roster, which led to a surge in their dominance.
1. Houston Comets – 4
The Houston Comets were the first franchise to win four consecutive WNBA titles (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) since the league began organizing games in 1997. With their Big Three: Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, the Comets were the most dominant team in the league. They have an excellent record of 98–24 in the regular season and 16–2 in the postseason. However, the Comets no longer exist as a team in the WNBA as they folded in 2008 following a great recession.
Also Read:- WNBA Finals 2023: Prediction, Schedule & more
