Before the launch of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 1997, women's basketball failed to capture a substantial, profitable audience in the United States. However, its popularity increased exponentially with the rise of women's college basketball in the 1990s. The success of exceptional college programs and the undeniable skill level of their players became the springboard for the WNBA.

Women's College Basketball

In 1995, the sports world was buzzing when the University of Connecticut women's basketball team defeated the University of Tennessee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association's national championship and recorded an undefeated season of 35-0. After this historical match, Connecticut's and Tennessee's women's basketball programs became household names. The extraordinary players on both teams changed the face of women's basketball and challenged the perception ...

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