On April 24, 1996, women’s basketball announced “We Got Next” as the NBA Board of Governors approved the concept of a Women’s National Basketball Association and play began the next June. Take a look at the how the WNBA has evolved from those beginnings through the league’s seven years of existence.

Eight teams were announced for the league’s inaugural season. The Eastern Conference consisted of the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets and New York Liberty while the Western Conference was comprised of the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs and Utah Starzz.

The 2007 WNBA season officially ended on September 16 when the Phoenix Mercury won the season WNBA Championship. The Mercury defeated the Detroit Shock 3 games to 2. Mercury guard Cappie Pondexter was named Finals MVP.

The 2009 WNBA Finals was the championship series of the 2009 WNBA season, and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Indiana Fever, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, faced the Phoenix Mercury, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 3 games to 2 to win their second WNBA Finals title.

The Fever made their first ever appearance in the Finals. The Mercury made their third appearance in the Finals.

The Mercury’s 23–11 record gave them home court advantage over Indiana (22–12).

The 2014 WNBA Finals was the playoff series for the 2014 season of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs.[1]The Phoenix Mercury, champions of the Western Conference, faced the Chicago Sky, champions of the Eastern Conference.

The WNBA Finals were under a 2–2–1 rotation. The Mercury held home-court advantage as they had a better regular season record (29–5) than the Sky (15–19). The Mercury swept the Sky in three games to win their third title in franchise history.