Okay, so I’ve always been a huge basketball fan, both NBA and WNBA. And I’ve always wondered about something that kept popping up – are the basketballs used in the WNBA actually smaller than the ones used in the NBA? Sounds simple, right? But I wanted to get to the bottom of it myself, instead of just reading it somewhere.
Getting Started
First, I needed to get my hands on both balls. Luckily, I’ve got a bunch of friends that are also into sports.
- I borrowed an official NBA ball from my buddy, Mark. He plays in a local league, so I figured his would be pretty legit.
- Then, I asked my cousin, Sarah, she plays some college basketball. She lent me her WNBA ball.
The Feel Test
With both balls in hand, I started with a simple feel test. Honestly, just holding them side-by-side, the WNBA ball definitely felt smaller. It just seemed to fit better in my hand, I could grip it a bit easier. The NBA ball, no surprise, felt bigger, more substantial. This wasn’t very scientific, of course, but it was a good starting point.
Actual Measurements
Next up, I needed some real data.
- I grabbed a measuring tape, the flexible kind, like you’d use for sewing.
- First, I measured the circumference of each ball. I wrapped the tape around the widest part, making sure it was snug but not too tight. The NBA ball came in around 29.5 inches. The WNBA ball measured about 28.5 inches. There it was – a visible difference!
- I did it a few times for each ball, just to be sure I wasn’t messing up. Each time, I got pretty much the same results.
Weight Check
I also thought about weight. Would there be a difference there? I don’t have a super precise scale, just a regular kitchen scale. It’s not perfect, but I figured it would give me a general idea.
- I zeroed out the scale.
- I placed the NBA ball on it. It was about 22 ounces. Just what you’d expect.
- Then, I put the WNBA ball on. It registered around 20 ounces. Okay, so a slight difference there, too.
Conclusion from My Little Experiment
So, after all this handling, measuring, and weighing, I feel pretty confident saying, yeah, WNBA basketballs are smaller and a bit lighter than NBA basketballs. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s definitely there. It makes sense when you think about the average hand size of female players compared to male players. This was a fun way to use my basic tools to get some real answers. Pretty cool to see how different parts of basketball are adapted for different leagues!
