List of all-time WNBA win–loss records

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was founded in 1996 and began play in 1997.[1] The WNBA has kept a record of its win–loss statistics since its inception. There are currently 12 teams that play in the WNBA, and there are also six defunct WNBA teams accounted for in the league's win–loss records.

Of the WNBA's eight inaugural teams, four remain active: the Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, and the Phoenix Mercury.[n 1] All four teams are tied for the most games played in WNBA history, with 934.[4] The Atlanta Dream, being the WNBA's most recently established team,[5] have the least games played with 578.[4]

As of the end of the 2024 WNBA regular season, the Connecticut Sun hold the highest winning percentage among active teams, at 499–377 (.570). Meanwhile, the Dallas Wings hold the lowest winning percentage, with a 392–514 (.433) record.[4] When considering defunct franchises, the Houston Comets have the highest winning percentage at 241–149 (.618) and the Portland Fire have the lowest with a 37–59 (.385) record.[4] The Sparks hold the record for most wins (530), while the Wings have the most losses (514).[4]

In regards to playoff win–loss records, the Minnesota Lynx have the highest winning percentage, with a 43–27 (.614) record.[6] The Mystics hold the lowest winning percentage among active franchises, with an 18–34 (.346) record.[6] Meanwhile, the Sparks hold the record for most playoff games played (90) and wins (47), sharing the latter record with the Phoenix Mercury.[6] The Sparks also have the most losses (43) in WNBA playoff history.[6] The defunct Portland Fire are the only WNBA franchise to have never qualified for the playoffs, meaning they rank as the team with the fewest playoff games played, wins, and losses (all at 0).[7] Meanwhile, the Charlotte Sting have the lowest all-time playoff win–loss record, at 6–13 (.316), when considering both active and defunct franchises.[6]

Active franchises

Regular season

DeWanna Bonner of the Connecticut Sun, the team with the highest winning percentage among active WNBA franchises.
Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. First season Notes
1 Connecticut Sun 876 499 377 .570 1999 [n 2]
2 Los Angeles Sparks 934 530 404 .567 1997
3 Minnesota Lynx 876 482 394 .550 1999
4 Seattle Storm 844 444 400 .526 2000
5 New York Liberty 934 482 452 .516 1997
6 Phoenix Mercury 934 468 466 .501 1997
7 Las Vegas Aces 934 455 479 .487 1997 [n 3]
8 Chicago Sky 646 297 349 .460 2006
9 Indiana Fever 844 379 465 .449 2000
10 Atlanta Dream 578 254 324 .439 2008
11 Washington Mystics 906 397 509 .438 1998
12 Dallas Wings 906 392 514 .433 1998 [n 4]
Records gathered from Basketball-Reference.com.[4]

Playoffs

Note: Records are accurate as of the end of the 2023 WNBA Finals

Lindsay Whalen and Maya Moore won four championships together with the Minnesota Lynx, the winningest team in WNBA playoff history
Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. Last playoff
appearance
1 Minnesota Lynx 70 43 27 .614 2024
2 Seattle Storm 60 34 26 .567 2024
3 Dallas Wings 61 33 28 .541 2023
4 Phoenix Mercury 88 47 41 .534 2024
5 Los Angeles Sparks 90 47 43 .522 2020
6 Indiana Fever 68 35 33 .515 2024
7 Connecticut Sun 81 40 41 .494 2024
8 Chicago Sky 42 20 22 .476 2023
9 New York Liberty 77 34 43 .442 2024
10 Las Vegas Aces 68 30 38 .441 2024
11 Atlanta Dream 40 17 23 .425 2024
12 Washington Mystics 52 18 34 .346 2023
Records gathered from Basketball-Reference.com.[6]

Defunct franchises

Regular season

Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. Seasons played
1 Houston Comets 390 241 149 .618 19972008
2 Sacramento Monarchs 424 224 200 .528 19972009
3 Miami Sol 96 48 48 .500 20002002
4 Cleveland Rockers 220 108 112 .491 19972003
5 Charlotte Sting 322 143 179 .444 19972006
6 Portland Fire 96 37 59 .385 20002002
Records gathered from Basketball-Reference.com.[4]

Playoffs

Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. Total
appearances
1 Houston Comets 34 20 14 .588 9 (19972003, 2005, 2006)
2 Sacramento Monarchs 43 24 19 .558 9 (19992001, 20032009)
3 Cleveland Rockers 15 6 9 .400 4 (1998, 2000, 2001, 2003)
4 Miami Sol 3 1 2 .333 1 (2001)
5 Charlotte Sting 19 6 13 .316 6 (19971999, 20012003)
6 Portland Fire 0 0 0 0 (never qualified)
Records gathered from Basketball-Reference.com.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, and Phoenix Mercury all began play in 1997.[1] As the Aces were founded in 1997 as the Utah Starzz (and later relocated to San Antonio, and then again to Las Vegas), they are also considered one of the WNBA's inaugural franchises.[2][3]
  2. ^ The Connecticut Sun played as the Orlando Miracle (1999–2002), prior to their relocation to Connecticut and rebranding as the Sun.[7]
  3. ^ The Las Vegas Aces began play in 1997 as the Utah Starzz. After their 2002 season, they relocated to San Antonio, where they played as the San Antonio Silver Stars from 20032013. They then rebranded as simply the San Antonio Stars, which they played as from 20142017, before relocating to Las Vegas. Since 2018, they have played as the Las Vegas Aces.[7]
  4. ^ The Dallas Wings began play in 1998 as the Detroit Shock. Ahead of their 2010 season, the relocated to Tulsa but retained the Shock moniker and played as the Tulsa Shock through 2015. They then relocated to Dallas, and rebranded as the Dallas Wings, which they have played as since 2016.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Maloney, Jack (July 2, 2022). "Los Angeles Sparks become first team in WNBA history to win 500 games". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Voepel, M.A. (September 18, 2022). "Las Vegas Aces win their first WNBA title, beating Connecticut Sun in Game 4 of Finals; Chelsea Gray named MVP". ESPN. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via ABC.
  3. ^ "Utah Starzz Season Statistics". WNBA. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "List of all the WNBA Teams". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Atlanta Dream Build Inaugural Roster With 13 Picks In 2008 Expansion Draft". WNBA. February 6, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "WNBA Playoffs Series History". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Voepel, M.A. (September 1, 2021). "Ranking the best WNBA franchises in history: Seattle Storm or Minnesota Lynx at No. 1 overall?". ESPN. Retrieved April 6, 2023.