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General Quiz On The WNBA

This quiz will seriously test your knowledge of the Women's National Basketball Association, particularly its early years.

A multiple-choice quiz by lowtechmaster. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
lowtechmaster

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
385,638

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
350

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the first President of the WNBA league? [Think February 14th.] Hint

Donna Orender

Val Ackerman

Laurel Richie

Lisa Border

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many teams played in the WNBA in its first season, 1997? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which team won the 1997 championship? Hint

New York Liberty

Utah Starzz

Phoenix Mercury

Houston Comets

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Question 4 of 10

4. The Houston Comets were dissolved in the same year that the Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA title. Which year was it? Hint

2007

2008

2006

2005

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Question 5 of 10

5. Four of the original eight WNBA teams folded between 2002 and 2009, and one relocated. Which of these teams relocated rather than folded? Hint

Sacramento Monarchs

Cleveland Rockers

Utah Starzz

Charlotte Sting

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Question 6 of 10

6. The initial WNBA draft had three different stages on three different dates. Which of these was NOT one of the stages? Hint

Initial Player Allocation

Super Star Draft

Elite Draft

College Draft

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Question 7 of 10

7. In the WNBA first draft of college players, who was the first player selected? Hint

Tina Thompson

Jamilia Wideman

Pamela McGee

Toni Foster

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which WNBA team became the second team to win the title, after the first four all went to one of their rivals? Hint

Phoenix Mercury

Minnesota Lynx

Los Angeles Sparks

Seattle Storm

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was awarded the first WNBA Most Valuable Player trophy? Hint

Yolanda Griffith

Sheryl Swoopes

Cynthia Cooper

Lisa Leslie

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Los Angeles Sparks were an original WNBA team. From 1997-2000 they played at the LA Forum in Inglewood, California. In 2001 they moved to which arena in Los Angeles? Hint

Staples Center

Toyota Center

Compaq Center

Reliant Arena

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the first President of the WNBA league? [Think February 14th.]

Answer: Val Ackerman

Val Ackerman served as President from 1996-2005. She was followed by Donna Orender from 2005-2010. Laurel Richie was President from 2011-2015. Lisa Border was named President in 2015.

2. How many teams played in the WNBA in its first season, 1997?

Answer: 8

The WNBA began with two conferences. In the Eastern Conference were the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and New York Liberty. The Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz played in the Western Conference.

3. Which team won the 1997 championship?

Answer: Houston Comets

The Houston Comets defeated the New York Liberty in a one-game playoff. Houston would go on to win the next three championships, each a best-of-three: 1998 over the Phoenix Mercury and 1999 over the New York Liberty, both 2-1, and 2000 when they beat the Liberty 2-0.

4. The Houston Comets were dissolved in the same year that the Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA title. Which year was it?

Answer: 2008

In May 2000 the Houston Comets were invited to the White House Rose Garden. In December 2008 the team ceased operating and its players were dispersed among the other teams.

5. Four of the original eight WNBA teams folded between 2002 and 2009, and one relocated. Which of these teams relocated rather than folded?

Answer: Utah Starzz

In 2002, the Utah Starzz became the San Antonio Stars. The Cleveland Rockers folded in 2003, the Charlotte Sting in 2006, and the Sacramento Monarchs in 2009. The Houston Comets ceased to exist in 2008.

6. The initial WNBA draft had three different stages on three different dates. Which of these was NOT one of the stages?

Answer: Super Star Draft

In the Initial Player Allocation on January 22, 1997, sixteen players were assigned, two to each team, in random order. On February 27, 1997, the Elite Draft of women who had played professional basketball added two more players to each team. On April 28, 1997, the College Draft had four rounds for each team.

7. In the WNBA first draft of college players, who was the first player selected?

Answer: Tina Thompson

With the first pick, the Houston Comets selected Tina Thompson of USC. Pamela McGee, also from USC, went second to the Sacramento Monarchs. The third one drafted was Jamilia Wideman by the Los Angeles Sparks. Toni Foster was the eighth and last pick in the first round, going to the Phoenix Mercury.

8. Which WNBA team became the second team to win the title, after the first four all went to one of their rivals?

Answer: Los Angeles Sparks

After the Comets won four titles in a row, the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Charlotte Sting 2-0 in a best-of-three series in 2001. The Sparks won again in 2002. The Lynx won their first title in 2011, the Storm in 2004, and the Mercury in 2007.

9. Who was awarded the first WNBA Most Valuable Player trophy?

Answer: Cynthia Cooper

Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets also won the award in 1998. Another Houston Comets player, Sheryl Swoopes, was honored in 2000, 2002, and 2005. In 2001, Lisa Leslie was MVP. All three are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame. Yolanda Griffith was MVP in 1999; she is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame.

10. The Los Angeles Sparks were an original WNBA team. From 1997-2000 they played at the LA Forum in Inglewood, California. In 2001 they moved to which arena in Los Angeles?

Answer: Staples Center

The Sparks had home court advantage in the Staples center beginning in 2001. The other facilities listed were all homes to the Houston Comets: Compaq Center from 1997-2003, Toyota Center from 2004-2007, and Reliant Arena for 2008, the last season the Comets played.

Source: Author lowtechmaster

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Fifiona81 before going online.
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