Does Geography Shape Victory? Home-Court Advantage and Home Win Percentage in Women’s Basketball

This study investigates the home-court advantage (HA) and home win percentage (HW) in women’s professional basketball across 14 leagues spanning four continents over three seasons (2021–2024). This study is an observational descriptive analysis based on open access match results. Using data from 12,178 games, we analyzed HA and HW, accounting for team ability and geographical variations. The findings indicate significant differences in HA across continents, with Europe and South America showing higher HA compared to Oceania and Asia. However, HW did not vary significantly between continents. When examining team ability, no significant interaction effects were identified, although trends suggested that low-ability teams rely more heavily on HA, consistent with previous research. A more detailed league-level analysis revealed notable variability, with leagues in the United States of America (USA), Australia, and several Asian leagues showing lower HA compared to those in Mexico and Europe. Factors like travel demands, geographical region, and fan attendance were identified as key determinants. For instance, leagues with extensive travel requirements, particularly in Asia and Oceania, demonstrated lower HA, consistent with studies showing that travel negatively impacts performance. Additionally, reduced fan attendance in women’s basketball may further diminish HA.