The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was officially founded on April 24, 1996, with the first season starting in the 1997 season. The WNBA was created because of a boost in audience to the 1996 women’s basketball team that won gold at the Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. The WNBA has changed over the years, but one thing has stayed constant. Black female athletes have changed the game of basketball.
The WNBA’s ethnicity rate has changed over the years. However, ever since the league started in 1996, the league has been predominantly made up of Black women. In 2025, 64% of the league consists of Black females. Having majority Black females in the league has helped inspire young Black girls from all over.
During the 2020 season, the WNBA dedicated the season to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. After the killing and protests of Breonna Taylor, the commissioner Cathy Englemert, fully supported the players and the platform they were holding.
“The WNBA is based on the principle of equal and fair treatment of all people and we, along with the teams and players, will continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice,” Englemert released in a statement.
Englemert became the commissioner of the WNBA in 2019, and has always supported the teams and players, even after co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, Kelly Loeffler went against the BLM movement. During the 2020 season, teams wore special jerseys to honor Breonna Taylor and BLM when appearing on every court. The WNBA gave a platform to many of these young women to help make others aware of the social injustice going on in the world at the time. It also gave a place for many of these Black female athletes to be united in a time where everyone was apart.
The WNBA has paved the way for many young Black females. The league as a whole has gained popularity over the years, but most of the improved views came from some notable players, these players are known for what they do on and off the court.
Aja Wilson drafted first overall to the Las Vegas Aces. She has helped the Las Vegas Aces to three WNBA championships in 2022, 2023 and, most recently, 2025. She also has been named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) four times, WNBA Finals MVP twice and she is a seven-time all-star.
Wilson’s stats and accomplishments is how she is known on the court. However, off the court she is just as big of a role model for young girls. In 2024, Wilson released a letter called “Dear Black Girls”. This letter was for the young Black girls who look up to her, but it also impacted many other girls.
In the letter, Wilson states, “Keep on fighting, Black girls. I see you. I got you”. She gives young Black females hope and understanding that she too has been overlooked.
Candance Parker a retired player, has also had a very notable career. Drafted in 2008 to the Los Angeles Sparks, Parker started a successful career before playing with the Chicago Sky from 2021 to 2022 and the Las Vegas Aces in 2023. Parker later retired in 2024.
Parker is a three-time WNBA Champion, two-time MVP, two-time gold medalist and the second person in the WNBA to dunk in a game. After a long, successful career, Parker is now a Sports Broadcaster for TNT and Prime Video. Parker is also the president of Adidas Women’s Basketball and a co-chair of the Pro Athlete Community (PAC).
Candance Parker had a lot of success on the court and is still a vital part of the WNBA today. She is a member of the Executive Council of the Social Change Fund United, a non-profit organization created in 2020 after the BLM movement. It was created by former and current NBA players, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. Parker became a part of their board in March 2021, where she too has helped advocate to help social injustices and underrepresented communities. Parker has not just changed the game of basketball, but she fought for so much more off the court.
Angel Reese, also known as “Bayou Barbie” is one of the most well-known players to the younger generation. Reese sky-rocketed to fame from playing with Louisiana State University on their championship team, in 2023, while also being named the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Reese got drafted to the Chicago Sky as the 7th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. In her first two years in the WNBA, she made the WNBA all-star team. Reese has also been on the cover of Vogue, featured on Forbes 30 under 30 and in 2025 was the highest-paid Black female in basketball. Reese has had many endorsements with companies, such as Reebok, McDonalds and Amazon.
Off the courts Reese has given back to her community, through the Angel C. Reese Foundation. This foundation’s goal is to “ensure equal opportunities for all girls in sports, education, financial literacy, and other areas where girls have been historically overlooked.” Through her foundation ,she has held many events, in Baltimore, Chicago and New Orleans, that have helped empower young girls. Reese has also donated money to the National Alliance for Black Youth. Reese does not only perform well on the court but continues to inspire off the court.
Despite many difficulties these players have faced, they have continued to give back to the community and have reassured younger Black athletes that they are not alone. The WNBA has paved the way for these women and will continue to do the same for younger Black female athletes.
