The WNBA started in 1997 and has featured some of the most accomplished women’s basketball players in the quarter-century since its founding. Just like the men’s players in the NBA, the best women’s basketball players are taking their WNBA to new heights, increasing their popularity and helping all female athletes gain respect around the world. Her 22 greatest WNBA players of all time shoot, rebound, and defend with the greatest talent.
1. Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi’s signature pull-up jumper and consistent offensive skills have made her one of the most recognizable stars in women’s basketball history. After her historic career at UConn, Taurasi has spent her 20 years leading the Phoenix and Mercury to three WNBA championships. Not only does Taurasi shoot better than his rivals, he also handles the ball and passes like a point guard. Her offensive weapons are better than others.
2. Maya Moore
Maya Moore’s short career (just eight seasons) keeps her from the top spot on the list, but her heyday never goes unnoticed among basketball legends. Moore led the Minnesota Lynx to four titles by always playing the right way, scoring, passing and boxing to outscore the competition. Mr. Moore retired to focus on eradicating social injustice in the United States.
3. Lisa Leslie
Lisa Leslie pioneered the importance of centers in women’s basketball. Leslie, who is 6 feet 5 inches tall, led the Los Angeles Sparks to two WNBA titles in the early 2000s. Her variety of post moves helped her stand out above other players at the position and popularized women’s professional basketball in Los Angeles.
4. Capturing Tamika
Tamika Catchings won the Defensive Player of the Year award five times, rising above the competition for her talent on the less popular side of the court. Catching made up for his lack of scoring ability compared to others by focusing on passing, rebounding, and penetrating passing lanes.
5. Sheryl Swoop
Sheryl Swoopes helped build the WNBA from her first year with her unparalleled talent on offense and defense. Swoopes played for the Houston Comets, her original team in women’s basketball, where she, along with Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson, won four straight championships.
6. Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper came to the WNBA late in her career, but that didn’t stop her from obliterating her peers. Coopers won four WNBA Finals MVPs while leading the Houston Comets to the top of the league. Cooper averaged over 21 points per game during her first three years of her WNBA career.
7. Candice Parker
Candace Parker’s longevity and broadcast work in the NBA has made her one of the most recognizable players in the WNBA. She is the only woman to win three WNBA titles with as many franchises. Even in the twilight of her career, Parker will do whatever it takes to ensure her team wins.
8. Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson completely dominated the WNBA and propelled the Seattle Storm into a dynasty. The Australian created a buzz with his game and formed a legendary duo with Sue Bird. Jackson’s physicality and touch created the perfect juxtaposition of skills.
9. Sue Bird
Sue Bird brought solace to the Seattle Storm court for 20 years. Fans knew that whenever the genius point guard had the ball, good things would happen. Byrd was intelligent enough to get past defenses, knowing when to pass and when to take over, and won four titles during his time in the Pacific Northwest.
10. Brianna Stewart
Brianna Stewart is still firmly in her prime at 29 years old. After she won multiple Finals MVPs and titles with Seattle, the huge scorer relocated to New York and won MVP with the Liberty in 2023. Stewart will likely finish in the top five of most rankings by the end of his career.
11. Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne is like the Kevin Durant or Dirk Nowitzki of the men’s game. Her height and shooting skills make it nearly impossible for defenders to get their hands on her face, and her shooting percentage proves her accuracy. Delle Donne finally won a championship with the Washington Mystics in 2019, and her game has steadily matured since then.
12. Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles was never the best scorer on the floor, but she made up for her offensive shortcomings with shot blocking and intimidating rim protection. Fowles blocked nearly two shots per game during his career with the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky. Her inner presence ushered in a new era of Minnesota basketball.
13. Katie Smith
Katie Smith was never the flashiest or most popular player in the WNBA, but her consistent scoring ability turned her into an icon. Smith worked hard in Minnesota during the league’s formative years before powering Detroit’s title teams in 2006 and 2008.
14. Yolanda Griffith
Yolanda Griffith was the WNBA’s original defensive genius. Picking when to block a shot and when to steal the ball, Griffith led the Sacramento Monarchs in the franchise’s early years. Unfortunately, the Monarchs disbanded shortly after Griffith left for Seattle.
15. Tina Thompson
Tina Thompson played next to Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes and made the Houston Comets an unbeatable team in the late 1990s. Her signature red lipstick in Thompson gave her one of the most recognizable aesthetics in the league and turned her into a marketable star.
16. Angel McCoughtry
Angel McCoughtry was a tough bucket getter for the Atlanta Dream in the late 2000s and early 2010s. She said McCoughtry seemed to take pride in hitting shots that were harder than necessary, but her fans praised her creativity and her amazing playmaking.
17. Seimone Augustus
Seimone Augustus started her career as a prolific scorer at Minnesota and then stood behind Maya Moore during the championship era. Augustus was a clutch player in his 2011 WNBA Finals where he won MVP and was often promoted to one of the franchise’s clutch options in the playoffs.
18. Tina Charles
Tina Charles spent most of the 2010s leading the WNBA in several major statistical categories. From leading scorer to rebounding champion, Charles’ work showed her strong desire to win. Unfortunately for her, Charles never won a title with the Connecticut Sun or the New York Liberty.
19. Brittney Greiner
Brittney Greiner was the best WNBA draft prospect to come out of Baylor. After being drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, Greiner gradually developed into a strong offensive player, blocking shots at a rate never achieved by a female player in the WNBA.her injustice arrested in russia Her prime years were cut short, but she returned to Phoenix and is playing at a high level again.
20. Becky Hammon
Becky Hammon is now so engrained in the coaching world that people forget how great she is on the court. Her Hamon’s small but strong point guard play brought her relevance to the San Antonio Silver Stars. She imitated some of the NBA’s best floor generals like John Stockton and Steve Nash, yet fearlessly overcame scouts who doubted her.
21. Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter spent much of her heyday starring alongside Diana Taurasi in Phoenix, and she deserves a lot of credit for helping Mercury win titles in 2007 and 2009. Pondexter also played for the Turkish team during the offseason.
22. Lindsay Whalen
Lindsey Whalen worked behind Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustus in Minnesota. Whalen’s humility and her willingness to serve as a second and third option blended Minnesota’s talented group into a cohesive whole.
