Back كرة السلة للسيدات Arabic Baloncestu femenín AST Frauenbasketball German Καλαθοσφαίριση γυναικών Greek Baloncesto femenino Spanish Emakumezkoen saskibaloi Basque بسکتبال زنان Persian Basket-ball féminin French כדורסל נשים HE 女子バスケットボール Japanese
 WNBL Canberra Capitals player Nicole Hunt attempts to steal the ball from Logan Thunder's Renae Camino | |
| Highest governing body | International Basketball Federation |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Limited |
| Team members | Five on-court players per team |
| Type | Team sport, ball sport |
| Equipment | Basketball |
| Venue | Basketball court |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | Yes |
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Women's basketball is the team sport of basketball played by women. It was first played in 1892, one year after men's basketball, at Smith College in Massachusetts. It spread across the United States, in large parts via women's college competitions, and has since spread globally.[1] As of 2020, basketball is one of the most popular and fastest growing sports in the world.[2]
There are multiple professional leagues and tournaments for professional women basketball players. The main North American league is the WNBA.[2] The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament feature top national teams from continental championships.[3] In the US, the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is also popular.[4] The strongest European women's basketball clubs participate in the EuroLeague Women.[2]
- ^ Grundy, Pamela; Shackelford, Susan (2017-11-01). Shattering the Glass: The Remarkable History of Women's Basketball. UNC Press Books. ISBN 9781469626017.
- ^ a b c Abrams, Jonathan; Weiner, Natalie (2020-10-16). "How the Most Socially Progressive Pro League Got That Way". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- ^ "Field completed for Olympic women's basketball tournament - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- ^ Brassil, Gillian R. (2020-12-14). "N.C.A.A. Will Hold 2021 Women's Basketball Tournament in One Region". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-08.