In three of those seasons, she also led the league in scoring. 1); Svetlana Abrosimova, Minnesota/Connecticut/Seattle (2001-12); Merlakia Jones, Cleveland/Detroit (1997-2004). 13: Lindsay Whalen Connecticut/Minnesota (2004-18), See also: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut/Los Angeles (2014-present); Danielle Robinson, San Antonio/Phoenix/Minnesota/Las Vegas/Indiana (2011-present, also wore Nos. Dydek played 11 consecutive years in the league; Wauters played nine WNBA seasons spread out over 16 years as she spent much of her time overseas. Mitchell, second all time on the NCAA scoring list and a No. Jones is a three-time All-WNBA selection, a three-time all-star, led the league in rebounds three times, once in blocks and is a two-time all-defensive team. Wilson is just in her fourth season in the WNBA, but already has an MVP award and WNBA Finals appearance, both coming last year. Taurasi has long been in consideration as the greatest womens basketball player of all time, and she has my vote. She made the most of her three seasons with a Liberty team that captured fans' hearts with its gritty play and outgoing personalities. How many WNBA championships have the Houston Comets won? 34: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago/Minnesota (2008-present), See also: Sonja Henning, Houston/Seattle/Washington/Indiana (1999-2003; also wore No. Most WNBA championship titles. 0, 4); Monique Currie, Charlotte/Chicago/Washington/Phoenix/San Antonio (2006-18, also wore No. Baranova, a forward from Russia, came into the league at its launch, and ended up averaging 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in her seven seasons. After 13 years with the Los Angeles Sparks, she signed with her hometown Chicago Sky this past offseason. The WNBA's key number this season is 25, as the league celebrates its silver anniversary season. It was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). Heres a list of the remaining candidates. 5: Dawn Staley, Charlotte/Houston (1999-2006; also wore No. Nonetheless, not getting picked after her standout Colorado State career fueled Hammon, who caught on with the Liberty that year. Who is the best female basketball player? Over the decades, the WNBA has seen some remarkable talent across the country. She has been named to every possible all-time WNBA player list, including the All Decade, Top 15 and 20@20. By that measure, those two should also be on the list. But she beat the odds, playing 10 seasons and going to four WNBA Finals with Detroit and winning three of them. Gillom was 33 when the league launched; nicknamed "Grandmama," she helped the Mercury make the 1998 WNBA Finals. Walker was an All-Star in 2005, when Sacramento won its championship. Teams: Tulsa Shock, Seattle Storm, Houston Comets | Position: Guard | Career: 1997-2011. Braxton was the No. Who is considered the best WNBA player of all time? As expected, Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart earned the top spot, just ahead of reigning MVP Aja Wilson and Elena Delle Donne. Dixon was taken No. 6 pick in the 2014 draft by Washington. Back in the league in 2013 with Indiana, she was waived near the end of the season. But dunking is much less common in womens basketball than in mens. After playing in the ABL, she came to the WNBA at age 29 in 1999, and was named league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year that season. She was a five-time All-Star in her eight seasons and hit the most famous shot in league history: a half-court heave in Game 2 of the 1999 Finals at Houston that extended the series. Azzi played in the ABL first and didn't join the WNBA until she was 30. Sue Bird's decorated career is coming to a close after the 2022 WNBA season. And respectfully, we're over 140 days at this point, that does not work, and so I will not be quiet anymore," she said during an interview with CBS Mornings. Duke grad Williams was the league's most improved player in 2016 and was named to the all-defensive team last year. 42: Brittney Griner, Phoenix (2013-present), See also: Brionna Jones, Connecticut (2017-present); Jantel Lavender, Los Angeles/Chicago/Indiana (2011-present; also wore Nos. Imagine what her WNBA career numbers would have been if the league had been around in 1989 when she finished a stellar college career at Auburn. A multiple all-defensive team selection. She made her All-Star appearance in her last season, 1999, when New York fell to the Comets in the WNBA Finals. She averaged double figures in six of her 7 seasons with the Dream and made three All-Star appearances while with Atlanta. 7); Adia Barnes, Sacramento/Minnesota/Cleveland/Seattle (1998-2004). The two legends are set to face off on Friday, Aug. 12. Then she won WNBA titles with Phoenix in 2009 and Seattle in 2010, before making one more Finals appearance with Atlanta in her last season, 2013. Pierson wasn't wearing No. The former Arizona State star had a strong showing in the inaugural 1997 playoffs (averaging 13.5 points and 13.5 rebounds), when New York lost the championship game at Houston. 4), See also: Dearica Hamby, San Antonio/Las Vegas (2015-present); Leilani Mitchell, New York/Phoenix/Washington (2008-present; also wore 23); Jasmine Thomas, Washington/Atlanta/Connecticut (2011-present; also wore No. A four-time All-Star, she helped lead the Shock to four WNBA Finals appearances and three titles. 1 draft pick out of Minnesota by Charlotte in 2005, with her most productive seasons coming with the Liberty. 99. No WNBA player saw action in more wins than Whalen, whose She missed most of that season after having her daughter, but played four games as a rookie, and then 13 full seasons after that with a perfect ending: the 2017 WNBA title with the Lynx. Buccaneers, Eagles clinch playoff spot with emphatic 48-22 road win over Giants. Two years later, she won the league MVP award and is in the conversation again this season, leading the league with 24.8 points per game for Washington. Who is the best shooter in WNBA? I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life." 23 with her three NCAA titles at Tennessee to Moore's two at UConn; both scored over 3,000 points collegiately. Whalen was a five-time All-Star whose 2,345 assists are third-most in WNBA history. 54: Plenette Pierson, Phoenix/Detroit/Tulsa/New York/Dallas/Minnesota (2003-17; also wore Nos. She persevered through 10 knee operations, including five ACL surgeries. The three-time WNBA champion, ten-time All-Star and former league MVP is also the leagues all-time leading scorer (and counting). She was also rookie of the year in 2002 after being drafted No. Weve also listed the players who just missed out on selection into the top 25, some of whom might come as a surprise. Cooper was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. The nine-time All-Star was also named the All-Star Game MVP in 2000. In 2020, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Jackson was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. Griner bonded with crew on flight home to U.S. Griner returns to U.S., reunites with wife, Cherelle, WNBA to continue support playing overseas, Joy around women's hoops over Griner's release, Griner freed in U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange, '23 WNBA slate has record 40 games per team, Sports world reacts to Brittney Griner's release in U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange, The 12 must-see WNBA games of the 2023 regular season. 11); Jennifer Gillom, Phoenix/Los Angeles (1997-2003). Skylar is still going strong, along with her five WNBA all-star appearances makes her an easy pick at this point. The completion of the 2022 WNBA season will mark the end of two iconic players careers: Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm and Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx. Hampton was another of those players for whom the WNBA came along just in the nick of time, as she was 34 when it began. Stewart has quickly climbed the WNBA player ranks and, at 27 years old, has only scratched the surface of the prime of her career. She is in the top 10 in career Player Efficiency Rating and has career averages of 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocks. Bird became the WNBA's leader in career wins with 324 in June. An underdog as a fourth-round pick out of Michigan State in 2000, the 6-4 Rasmussen was able to stay in the league for nine seasons. 43: Le'Coe Willingham, Connecticut/Phoenix/Seattle/Chicago/Atlanta (2004-13; also wore 34), See also: Nakia Sanford, Washington/Phoenix/Seattle (2003-13); Alicia Thompson, New York/Indiana/Seattle (1998-2005). She went to the WNBA Finals with the Sky in 2014, but waited out the start of the 2015 season until she was traded to Minnesota. See also: Sonja Tate, Minnesota (1999-2000). Shes an WNBA champion, a 4x All-WNBA selection and and 5x all-star. "You say she's top priority, but I wanna see it, and I feel like to see it would be me seeing BG on U.S. soil," she said of the call. 17). The completion of the 2022 WNBA season will mark the end of two iconic players careers: Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm and Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx. 8. The 59-year-old won the first ever MVP, finals MVP, and championship in WNBA history in 1997 and holds the record for most Finals MVPs with four. She was a starting guard for Washington's 2018 WNBA Finals team and for its 2019 championship squad. Shes a strong lock for the WNBAs top 50. (Note: Players are listed by % of votes received and then alphabetically.). Brunson is a five-time WNBA champion, winning four of those titles with the Lynx. 8, but for this list we'll discuss her at No. The 33-year-old went on sabbatical in 2019 to focus, Bird, Fowles among best WNBA players of all time, NFL winners and losers: Loss to Lions fuels fraud narrative around 10-win Vikings, Russell Wilson knocked out with scary head injury just as he started to play well, USMNT's Gio Reyna was nearly sent home during World Cup, had to apologize to team, 49ers WR Deebo Samuel carted off after brutal leg injury vs. Cynthia Cooper is one of the greatest scorers in the WNBA. Aja Wlson is one of two MVPs not to make the W25 and Wilson doesnt look to be stopping anytime soon, so shes got to be somewhere in the top 50 despite her career being on the early side. See also: Alysha Clark, Seattle/Washington (2012-present); Swin Cash, Detroit/Seattle/Chicago/Atlanta/New York (2002-16; also wore Nos. Her best overall season came in 2019, when she started for Connecticut's WNBA Finals team. The Latest Innovations That Are Driving The Vehicle Industry Forward. "We need to come together and help do whatever we possibly can to bring BG home quickly and safely!!" The 51-year-old was one of the best defensive players, becoming the first player in WNBA and NBA history to win three MVP awards and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Toler played just three seasons, but scored the first points in WNBA history and went on to be the Sparks' general manager for 20 years. 1, but Charlotte opted for Kelly Miller at No. She tragically passed away in 2011 at age 37 after suffering a cardiac arrest while pregnant. She proved several teams wrong as many of those selected before her are no longer in the league (and a couple never played in the WNBA). As you may know, the WNBA celebrated their 25th anniversary in the 2022 season. 7, 14); Nikki Teasley, Los Angeles/Washington/Atlanta/Detroit (2002-09; also wore No. A Naismith Hall of Famer, three-time MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Swoopes averaged 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.0 steals in her 12-season career. in 2019 and continues to add to her total with eight this season alone. Lavender, the No. Wright was never an All-Star, but her defense and willingness to do the dirty work was appreciated by teammates. As WNBA players Seattle Storm's Sue Bird and Minnesota Lynx's Sylvia Fowles wrap up their iconic careers, here is a list of the league's greatest players of all There is no question that the WNBA has produced some of the greatest basketball players of all time. A top defender as well, Penicheiro is also second in league history in steals (764) behind Tamika Catchings. What about Shannon Johnson or Nikki Teasley or Nikki McCray? Taurasi has averaged 19.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds in her 17-season career, and is a 10-time All-Star who played in her fifth Olympics. "Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wifes safe return from Russia," she wrote via Instagram in March 2022. A No. It seems unimaginable the Sky traded their No. She gets a chance to stand alone, however, with No. With nearly every possible individual accolade on her resume, Charles is just missing a WNBA championship. Smith, an All-Star just once, is one of the more underappreciated players in league history. Eight of those were with the Mystics. Ours listed players such as Candice Dupree and Vickie Johnson (who were absent from the WNBA ballot) and gave voters the option to write in the names of players they believed deserved recognition. The five-time All-Star led the Dream to three WNBA Finals appearances but never quite had the pieces around her to win a championship. The three-time WNBA single-season assists leader finished her career as the all-time playoff assists leader with 341. The 36-year-old was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards in the same season (2008). She later had stints as a head coach with the Lynx and the Sparks. There's more leeway in the pro game, resulting in some signature jerseys such as Lisa Leslie's No. The 51-year-old was one of the best defensive players, becoming the first player in WNBA and NBA history to win three MVP awards and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Charles is an eight-time All-Star, five-time First-Team selection, two-time All-Defensive Team and four-time rebounding champion. The others are Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart. Leslie is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist. Stokes is lone among this group in her loyalty to 41; she wore it while winning three NCAA championships at UConn and during her time with the Liberty, who drafted her. 11); Epiphanny Prince, Chicago/New York/Las Vegas/Seattle (2010-present; also wore No. Team: Indiana Fever | Position: Forward | Career: 2002-2016. See also: Allisha Gray, Dallas (2017-present); Tiffany Hayes, Atlanta (2012-present); Kia Vaughn, New York/Washington/Phoenix (2000-present, also wore Nos. There aren't a lot of 45s, but all these players listed have been loyal to it, not wearing any other numbers in the WNBA. Pondexter was named to both the Top 15 Players of All Time and the 20@20 following an impressive 13-year WNBA career. 00, 91); Astou Ndiaye-Diatta, Detroit/Indiana/Houston/Seattle (1999-2007; also wore Nos. Coming off two consecutive Final Four appearances, Latta went late in the 2007 first round at eleventh and Little was taken 17th in the second round. Before the WNBA, she led the ABLs Columbus Quest to two straight championships in 1997 and 1998, the two years the league existed. Sylvia Fowles set the WNBA record for most career double-doubles in 2019 and continues to add to her total with eight this season alone. This should be fun. Vandersloot started in the WNBA at No. Just because, you know, she can't make enough money in the WNBA, like, to sustain her life. 32), See also: Ariel Atkins, Washington (2018-present); Jia Perkins, Charlotte/Chicago/San Antonio/Minnesota (2004-17; also wore Nos. The Iowa grad wasn't drafted until the 1998 second round by Sacramento. 92 (2019) got her on this list. A 2017 All-Star, Hayes has averaged in double figures in eight of her nine seasons. Lets take a look at the top ten and find out who is the best WNBA player ever. She led the Sacramento Monarchs to a WNBA championship in 2005, which makes me wonder how she didnt end up higher on this list. Sue Bird. Of all the UConn players in the WNBA, Bird certainly has the biggest storyline this season. Tina Charles. Napheesa Collier. Crystal Dangerfield. Stefanie Dolson. Bria Hartley. Tiffany Hayes. Moriah Jefferson. Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Kia Nurse. More items Then she focused on playing in Europe and didn't return to the WNBA until 2007, when at 25 she was traded to Connecticut. The two legends are set to face off on Friday, Aug. 12. The two-time WNBA champion also owns the records for most career rebounds (3,974) and single-season rebounds (404). As WNBA players Seattle Storms Sue Bird and Minnesota Lynxs Slyvia Fowles wrap up their iconic careers, here is a list of the greatest players of all time in The San Antonio Stars retired her No. Diana Taurasi is the best offensive player in WNBA history (and No. Charles didn't play in the 2020 WNBA bubble. Robinson, who stayed close to home in Oklahoma and went to an NAIA school, first played professionally in the ABL and then became part of the Liberty core that made three trips to the Finals. As WNBA players Seattle Storm's Sue Bird and Minnesota Lynx's Sylvia Fowles wrap up their iconic careers, here is a list of the greatest players of all time in Catchings unanimous inclusion was a no-brainer. Augustus was the 2006 top draft pick and Rookie of the Year out of LSU, and set the foundation in leaner years at Minnesota for what would become the Lynx's four-championship dynasty. Dolson won two NCAA titles at UConn and was the No. She also has the highest career field goal percentage at 60%. The No. If you picked one number for an all-time team, 24 would be a good choice. Smith finished her playing career as the eighth all-time leading scorer in the WNBA with 6,452 points. Italy's Bonfiglio played just one season with the Mercury. she wrote via Instagram. De Souza wore No. Griner, a 6-9 center, was the No. But in 2014 with Chicago, she became an All-Star and has played every season since except last year, when she got a medical exemption from playing in the WNBA bubble. Lennox, the 2000 rookie of the year, played for seven teams, but her career highlight was being WNBA Finals MVP for the 2004 champion Storm. Sometimes, being tall can get you the proverbial cup of coffee in the WNBA. 91: Tamika Whitmore, New York/Los Angeles/Connecticut/Indiana (1999-2009; also wore Nos. One of the best centers in women's hoops history, Leslie was among a trio of stars -- with Sheryl Swoopes and Rebecca Lobo -- who were the first to sign with the WNBA. 1 draft pick in 2013 out of Baylor, where she won the 2012 national championship, and she played in her second Olympics for Team USA this summer. 25: Becky Hammon, New York/San Antonio (1999-2014), See also: Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut (2014-present); Glory Johnson, Tulsa/Dallas/Atlanta (2012-20; also wore No. But all were with the Comets' dynasty teams. She also became the only player in the WNBA or NBA to win five Defensive Player of the Year awards. I don't want to do any more', Here's your guide to the best holiday movies of the 2000s, from 'Love Actually' to 'Harold & Kumar'. A three-time season MVP and eight-time All-Star, Leslie was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. 9 in six of her nine WNBA seasons. Get a rundown of the top highlights, stories, and events in womens sports, including cant-miss games and exclusive features. 21); Margo Dydek, Utah/San Antonio/Connecticut/Los Angeles (1998-2008). The eight-time All-Star also just got back from her third Olympics with Team USA. She was an All-Star for the Lynx in 2019. 3 pick in 2018 out of Tennessee, really showed her stuff in her All-Star season of 2019, and is looking to get to that level again. In the "see also" category for each jersey number, active players are indicated in bold. That year, she won a championship with the Comets. The 6-2 forward played 15 seasons and was still effective late in her career, making her only All-Star appearance at age 33 in 2015. She started just two games and averaged 4.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in the 2012 regular season. 2 pick of the 1998 draft out of Old Dominion. The 47-year-old was the WNBA's all-time leading scorer until 2017, and as of 2019, she ranks second in WNBA history behind Taurasi. Wolters, a 6-7 center, had a shorter career than she hoped, but has a lot to show from it. 8, 88), See also: Vanessa Nygaard, Cleveland/Portland/Miami/Los Angeles (1999-2003; also wore No. Seeing that Dawn Staley was apart of the leagues 10th Anniversary Team and the 15th Anniversary Team shes an easy pick. the Arkansas native wrote via Instagram in March. 30: Breanna Stewart, Seattle (2016-present), See also: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles (2012-present); Katie Smith, Minnesota/Detroit/Washington/Seattle/New York (1999-2013; also wore No. A 6-6 forward out of George Washington, she was born and grew up in the Bahamas. Ahead of the matchup, lets take a look at the greatest WNBA players of all time: Sue Bird That was her top season, averaging 20.9 points and 7.3 rebounds at age 34. 37: Teana Miller, Charlotte/Phoenix (2003-07; also wore Nos. 11, 15); Kamila Vodichkova, Seattle/Phoenix (2000-06; also wore No. She was a second-round pick by San Antonio in 2014 when she was just 19. 32: Rebekkah Brunson, Sacramento/Minnesota (2004-18). 0. We mentioned earlier that Castro Marques spent most of her career wearing No. She and Lauren Jackson are tied at 10th in career scoring at 6,005 points. The other was with Sacramento, which drafted her 10th out of Georgetown in 2004. Now head coach of the University of Minnesota womens basketball team, Whalen had her No. 25); Katie Douglas, Orlando/Connecticut/Indiana (2001-14; also wore No. Maya Moore has had an illustrious career thus far. But she ended up being one of four players selected that year in the now-defunct fourth round who not only made the WNBA but played at least five seasons. She is the career points and rebounds leader for the Sparks franchise, who in 2010 retired her No. She's now an Aces assistant coach. Toliver has averaged 12.3 points and 3.5 assists in her WNBA career and is seventh all-time in 3-pointers (620). Teresa Weatherspoon never won a championship, but T-Spoons affect was more on the defensive end; leading the league in steals twice, was the unquestioned leader of the early New York Liberty teams and most-importantly for this list; was named to the leagues 15th Anniversary Team and WNBA 20th Anniversary Team. 13 jersey retired in Minnesota following her playing career. Team: Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, Seatle Storm | Position: Forward | Career: 1997-2013. WebThe completion of the 2022 WNBA season will mark the end of two iconic players careers: Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm and Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx. 1 in awards championships added and No. The forward/center has three of the top five seasons in player efficiency rating, led by her 34.04 PER in 2007. Thomas is out this season with an Achilles injury, but is one of the league's best defensive players and led the Sun to the 2019 WNBA Finals. 6); Elaine Powell, Orlando/Detroit/Chicago (1999-2008; also wore No. See also: Cintia Dos Santos, Orlando (2000-02); Haixia Zheng, Los Angeles (1997-98). The WNBA's 25 all-time greatest players, according to the sta Its hard to keep up with the pace of Stewarts accomplishments since she joined the league in 2016. 1 draft pick and Rookie of the year who is a two-time WNBA champion. Mercury coach Sandy Brondello and college coaches Adia Barnes (Arizona) and Tricia Bader Binford (Montana State) are the others. Sue Bird. Team: Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, Seatle Storm | Position: Forward | Career: 1997-2013. The 43-year-old became a WNBA champion in 2012 and won Finals MVP that year. A five-time All-Star, Nolan was listed among the Top 20 Players of All-Time in 2016 despite playing in the league for just nine seasons. Thompson, the No. 00, 44). Selected first overall in 2012, the Los Angeles Sparks forward went on to win Rookie of the Year. The great Cindy Brown wore No. 8); Sheri Sam, Orlando/Miami/Minnesota/Seattle/Charlotte/Indiana/Detroit (1999-08; also wore No. WNBA star Brittney Griner was released from Russian custody Thursday in a prisoner swap with arms dealer Viktor Bout. 18: Iziane Castro Marques, Miami/Phoenix/Seattle/Atlanta/Washington/Connecticut (2002-13; also wore Nos. You're our person! Since then, the pair have repeatedly gushed over each other on social media, sharing snaps from vacations and commemorating their relationship milestones. Phillips played in two WNBA Finals with New York; she and Williams were both four-time All-Stars. Including two youngsters from the same draft class, as Collier was 2019 Rookie of the Year and Ogunbowale led the WNBA in scoring in 2020. 32, 34), See also: Kelly Santos, Detroit/Seattle (2001-02, '08; also wore No. 22, 23, 33), See also: Barbara Ferris, Detroit/New York/Phoenix (2000-09). Candace Parker is a two-time WNBA champion (2016, 2021) and was voted Finals MVP in 2016. She averaged 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds for her career and also won four gold medals with Team USA in the Olympics. What about active players like Alyssa Thomas, Liz Cambage or Arike Ogunbowale or Jewell Loyd? A six-time All-Star, she shot a career-best 66.5% from the field in 2016, and her career shooting percentage of 55.3 is fifth-best all-time. China's Zheng, 30 when the league launched, played just two seasons but was memorable for her 6-8 stature and constant smile. Officials were initially worried that an aggressive response could hurt her chances of a safe return amid Russia's conflict with Ukraine, but in May 2022, the U.S. State Department said that Russia had "wrongfully detained" the Texas native. 8, but her one season at No. Smith went on to play in the WNBA for 14 seasons and lead the Detroit Shock to two WNBA championships in 2006 and 2008. Bill Russell won 11 championships with the Boston Celtics, an NBA record. She is the only player in the WNBA to finish a season in the top 10 in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, which she did twice. 2 in this year's draft by Dallas -- will go to the top of 28s. 12: Chelsea Gray, Connecticut/Los Angeles/Las Vegas (2015-present), See also: Ivory Latta, Detroit/Atlanta/Tulsa/Washington (2007-17); Ann Wauters, Cleveland/New York/San Antonio/Seattle/Los Angeles (2000-16; also wore No. But she wore No. 7), See also: Sylvia Crawley, Portland/San Antonio (2000-03); La'Keshia Frett, Los Angeles/Sacramento/Charlotte/New York (1999-2005, also wore No. The Houston Comets selected Thompson in 1997 as the first draft pick in WNBA history. She averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds, including two seasons -- 2002 and '03 -- when she averaged a double-double. Taj McWilliams-Franklin was one of my favorite players and was mentioned in ESPNs snubs article. 11 pick, the same year Australian countrywoman Lauren Jackson was taken No. Park was a 2018 second-round draft selection by the Lynx, then was picked up by the Aces when Minnesota released her. The Vote for the GOAT platform was part of the WNBAs celebration of its landmark 25th season. The forward sat out a season battling cancer in college at North Carolina. She was still part of the Comets' first title team in 1997, and the next three championships that followed. Current team: Minnesota Lynx | Position: Center | Career: 2008-2022. Rebekkah Brunson 9/30 (30%). Current Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 WNBA The WNBAs list of the greatest players in the history of the womens professional basketball league includes GOATs like Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson, Maya Moore, Sheryl Swoopes and Candace Parker. Teasley was drafted No. Her one season wearing No. With the addition of Wilson, Dupree, DeLisha, Bonner, Taj, Vandersloot and Deanna Nolan to our list of 27 players makes a total of 34 players for our ultimate goal of a top fifty. 35: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta/Las Vegas (2009-present), See also: Jonquel Jones, Connecticut (2016-present); Cheryl Ford, Detroit (2003-09). 2 pick overall in the 2017 draft (she was injured and didn't play that season), Coates played her first WNBA season in 2018 staying with No. No. Former NC State center Mapp was 27 when the league launched, and her career highlight was playing for the Sparks' 2001 title team. She played for eight different teams and wore No. The 50-year-old was inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. 14). Chasity Melvin wore it for two seasons, Nicole Powell for one and Tammy Jackson for two games. Her best overall season statistically was the next year, when she was an All-Star, but that 2002 title was her peak achievement in the league. She was in the top six in the league in assists each of her eight seasons and averaged 5.1 per game for her WNBA career. Hooper's primary number was 35 in college at Nebraska and in the WNBA, but she switched to 53 her one season in Atlanta because Angel McCroughry was 35. She is in the WNBA's top 10 all-time in points (No. Dupree has career averages of 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds and is a seven-time All-Star out of Temple who won a championship with Phoenix in 2014. Quinn, the No. 7 at 1,578). "It's GAME DAY!" Cash, a four-time All-Star, also won WNBA titles with Detroit in 2006 and Seattle in 2010. During her 12-year WNBA career, Swoopes was a four-time champion with the Houston Comets, a three-time MVP, a six-time All Star and a five-time First Team selection. She ranks fourth in the league in career points (6,822) and is the all-time leader in 2-point field goals made (2,779). She has averaged double-digit scoring seven of her nine seasons with Chicago and was the league's Sixth Woman of the Year in 2014 and '15. She is a four-time WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and was named Finals MVP in 2013. The former UConn star played in the WNBA only until age 31, but was the picture of consistency that whole time, averaging 14.2 points and 4.2 rebounds. You may recall Matter for her Ohio State career, where she is second all time in 3-pointers made (270), but not her 10 games with the defunct Sting. 33: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota/Los Angeles (2006-20), See also: Emma Meesseman, Washington (2013-present); Sophia Young-Malcolm, San Antonio (2006-15); Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento/Seattle/Indiana (1999-2009; also wore 13). 00 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 37 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 47 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 57 | 81 | 88 |91 | 92 |99, 00: Ruth Riley, Miami/Detroit/San Antonio/Chicago/Atlanta (2001-13; also wore No. Ogwumike, the No. See also: Jordan Hooper, Tulsa/Dallas/Connecticut/Atlanta/Chicago (2014-17, also wore Nos. Five years later, the Fever retired her No. A three-time season MVP and eight-time All-Star, Leslie was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. 2 draft pick out of Delaware, she was 2013 Rookie of the Year, helped Chicago make the 2014 Finals, and won her first MVP in 2015. Lobo wasn't the same player after being out two years, but played three more seasons in the league. The Tennessee grad won her championship with Los Angeles in 2016, when she was Finals MVP. Brittney marked the pair's one-year wedding anniversary with a gushing Instagram tribute to her wife. A two-time WNBA champion, seven-time All-Star, three-time MVP and one-time Finals MVP, Jackson left one of the most definitive legacies with a single franchise. 20: Kristi Toliver, Chicago/Los Angeles/Washington (2009-present; also wore No. But she switched to No. Timms was among the initial group of Australians who helped launch the WNBA and she is still one of the most popular. The 40-year-old is a three-time WNBA champion (2007, 2009, 2014) and holds the record for the highest single-season scoring average at 25.3 points per game in the 2006 season. But her three years at 99 got her on this list. Diana Taurasi Her first All-WNBA honor was in 2004, her rookie season. "This is a day we've worked towards for a long time. We decided to approach the WNBA Top 25 from a different angle, asking those who have played, coached and been directly involved in the WNBA to select the 25 greatest players of all time. The Liberty fell in Game 3 and didn't win the championship, but her shot lives on. 2); Sancho Lyttle, Houston/Atlanta/Phoenix (2005-19; also wore Nos. She just made her 12th All-Star appearance and fifth trip to the Olympics for Team USA. 5). Rutgers' Sutton-Brown was an All-Star at No. But her WNBA championship came with Seattle in 2004. 9 overall pick out of USC in 2004, wore No. 22. She wasnt an offensive powerhouse or at any point the first or even the second best player on her team, but you still cant argue Brunsons placement too loudly. 2 pick that year by Detroit and won a championship with the Shock the next year. 23, which she wore when winning the 1994 NCAA title at North Carolina. The retired players were Seimone Augustus, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Yolanda Griffith, Becky Hammon, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore, Ticha Penicheiro, Cappie Pondexter, Katie Smith, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson and Lindsay Whalen. Smith is best known for No. The same players who were the tops at No. She was a second-round pick, No. Lara, a guard from Poland, was a reserve for one season with the Starzz. The four-time WNBA champion was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. Tennessee grad McCray started her pro career in the ABL, then was one of the bright spots in the early years for the WNBA's Mystics, making three All-Star appearances for Washington. 1, 32). I miss your voice. Phillips, a guard from Australia, was a second-round draft pick in 2005 who started her WNBA career in 2006. 2 overall draft pick in 2007. Texas Tech's Pierson was the best player at No. Nolan was the sixth pick out of Georgia in 2001 and spent her entire career in Detroit, near her hometown of Flint, Michigan. In the college game, players are limited to 37 allowable jersey numbers that are some combination of the digits 0 through 5. The 6-foot-6 center is a former MVP and two-time WNBA champion. The lone difference in our Top 25 versus the WNBAs, Nolan was a driving force behind the success of the Detroit Shock in the early 2000s. Willingham averaged 16.3 PPG and 9.1 RPG while shooting 60.8% from the field as an Auburn senior, yet WNBA scouts weren't sure the 6-foot forward's game would translate to the pro level. Willingham was also a 2004 rookie who played in the league for 10 seasons -- except she wasn't drafted. The former USC standout spent her WNBA career in her hometown of Los Angeles, leading the Sparks to the 2001 and '02 league championships and winning WNBA Finals MVP both times. In 2020, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Is it illegal to dunk in the WNBA? 8). Lauren Jackson is one of the top WNBA players when it comes to playing games, minutes played, field goals, three-point shots, and turnover percentage. 41, then switched to 81. This feat was achieved consecutively by the Houston Comets (USA) from 19972000. From superstars like Lisa 3); Amanda Zahui B, Tulsa/New York/Los Angeles (2015-present; also wore Nos. "You over the years have also showed me what it takes to Really have a Relationship that takes sacrifices, compassion, understanding, and communication! "Everyday with you is spectacular but when I get to celebrate your life and all that you are is just breathtaking !" Ndour-Fall was born in Senegal but moved to the Canary Islands as a teenager and has played for the Spanish national team in the past two Olympics, winning a silver medal in 2016. She won another WNBA title at Minnesota in 2011, while wearing No. Like Weatherspoon, Stanford grad Wiggins was a Wade Trophy winner. Another former Rutgers guard, Wheeler was not taken in the WNBA draft when she finished college in 2013, but made her WNBA debut 2015, playing briefly for Atlanta and New York. 25 jersey in 2016. She finished a 15-season career averaging 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. Thompson averaged 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds; she is second to Taurasi in scoring (7,488) and fifth in career 3-point field goals made (748). Teams: Tulsa Shock, Seattle Storm, Houston Comets | Position: Guard | Career: 1997-2011. 9 pick in the 1998 draft out of Texas Tech, had her most productive seasons statistically with the Fever, but won the 2004 championship with the Storm. Taurasi topped our rankings and is the favorite to win the WNBA's GOAT vote as the league's all-time leading scorer and a 10-time All-WNBA First Team pick. In 2019, Delle Donne became the first and only WNBA player to join the 50-40-90 club, which means she shot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from the 3-point line and 90 percent from the free-throw line during the season. 18, 88); Jennifer Azzi, Detroit/Utah/San Antonio (1999-2003); Janice Braxton, Cleveland (1997-99). 9, 14); Charlotte Smith, Charlotte/Washington/Indiana (1999-2006; also wore Nos. Taj just did work; earned six WNBA all-star nods. WebFrom 2012 to 2016, Catchings was the President of the WNBA Players Association. The Russian arms dealer has been released from U.S. prison in a one-for-one swap to free WNBA star Brittney Griner, a U.S. official confirmed. And so my wife is struggling, and we have to help her." You really are my backbone and my spirit that keeps me going. 7 pick in the 2020 draft. Her best overall season came in 2013 when she averaged 12.9 PPG and 9.9 RPG. In 2009, she became the first Then she excelled coming off the bench the next two seasons, helping Los Angeles make back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances in 2016 (won title) and '17. Hawkins, the No. Current team: Pheonix Mercury | Position: Guard | Career: 2004-present. Playing overseas in Europe, Asia, or Australia can often pay substantially more than playing in the United States. On average, WNBA players make $75,000 a year in the league, with only a few players earning as much as $113,000. The 51-year-old was one of the best defensive players, becoming the first player in WNBA and NBA history to win three MVP awards and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. She added 57 more treys in the playoffs. Lisa Leslie is a two-time WNBA champion (2001, 2002) and won Finals MVP both of those years. Alana Beard makes this list not because of her WNBA title, her four all-star appearances or one all-WNBA selections, but her being a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, the 9x All-Defensive Team selections, and her being third all-time in steals. 24. Theres a lot of work that was done to come up with these snubs. At the age of 34, Cooper led the Comets franchise to four consecutive WNBA championships from 1997-2000. Other players listed here might not be at quite that level, but made the list because there are fewer players who wore that number. Several of the more popular numbers have multiple stars, and some potentially deserving players got left out. 18. 9 jersey. Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to be signed in the WNBA. "Initially, you know, I was told we're going to try and handle this behind [the] scenes and, you know, let's not raise her value and, you know, stay quiet and, you know, I did that. The 33-year-old went on sabbatical in 2019 to focus, Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Smith averaged double-digit scoring in nine of those seasons, and between 9.2 and 9.9 PPG in three more. Copper, the No. The two-time league MVP led the Chicago Sky to the WNBA Finals in 2014 and the Washington Mystics to their first-ever WNBA championship in 2019. Dawn Staley 13/30 (43%) "The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney's release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world," the White House explained in a statement. We list our top player at each number, with subsequent players listed by when they entered the WNBA, starting with the most recent. 1 Maya Moore She was the 2011 Rookie of the Year, 2013 Finals MVP, and named to the All-Defensive team twice. See also: Natasha Cloud, Washington (2015-present; also wore No. Douglas helped her teams to the playoffs in 10 of her 14 seasons, where she racked up enough points to be the 10th leading scorer in WNBA postseason history.Her average of 1.5 steals per game is one of the best in she wrote. The 2016 No. Cherelle, for her part, shared old videos of her wife on the court. 23. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award winner at the 2021 ESPYs, Moore was sensational in her eight seasons with the Lynx, reaching the WNBA Finals six of those years and winning four championships. The Los Angeles native spent seven seasons in Indiana, reaching the 2009 WNBA Finals as a starter with the Fever. He then handed the podium over to Cherelle, who thanked the entire Biden administration. Sue Bird retired in Brittney was in the country playing with the EuroLeague team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason. Brittney wrote via Instagram after proposing to Cherelle. Dos Santos, a center from Brazil, had a brief WNBA career and averaged just 4.9 points -- but we don't have a lot of 28s from which to choose. McCoughtry, the 2009 first overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year with the Atlanta Dream, is one of the most dominant scorers in league history. 5), See also: Rebecca Lobo, New York/Houston/Connecticut (1997-2003); Jessica Davenport, New York/Indiana (2007-12). She won her third championship in her last season, 2017, with Minnesota, this time wearing No. 50); Rhonda Mapp, Charlotte/Los Angeles (1997-2003). She is also the all-time assists leader with 3,161 and sits in third place for assists per game with 5.6. Chelsea Gray entered the chat when she wrapped up the 2022 WNBA Finals MVP after an amazing (and efficient) playoff run. As mentioned earlier, Douglas' career was evenly split between two numbers, with her success at No. From 2008-11, she played in just 34 games for four different franchises. 23 and 0). The 2002 No. Staley wore No. The 36-year-old announced the 2022 season will mark the end of her career. 9 for the Los Angeles Sparks and some more quirky choices like 99. All-star guard Jewell Lloyd became the highest-paid player in the WNBA when she re-signed with the Seattle Storm on a two-year $463,030 contract earlier this year, according to the Associated Press, earning an average of $231,515 a season. She seemed to find her place in the league with Indiana in 2016. She played in her first All-Star Game last month. Stars debate who is the best WNBA Player of All Time. WNBA mock draft: Fever win lottery, all eyes on South Carolina's Boston as No. Though Staley wasnt included in the 20th anniversary team or the W25, her five all-star appearances and those inclusions early on makes her an easy pick for the top 50 WNBA players of all-time. Drafted first overall by the Lynx in 2011, she was named Rookie of the Year and was the driving force behind the franchises four championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Who is the highest paid WNBA Player 2020?DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun) $215,000. Emma Meesseman (Washington Mystics) $215,000. Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury) $215,000. Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury) $215,000. Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) $215,000. Based on the data, impact and accomplishments, the first forty plus WNBA players were pretty straightforward, but the remaining five spots will be a bloody fight. 24: Tamika Catchings, Indiana (2002-2016), See also: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota (2019-present); Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas (2019-present); Jewell Loyd, Seattle (2015-present); DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix/Connecticut (2009-present); Tari Phillips, Orlando/New York/Houston (1999-2007); Natalie Williams, Utah/Indiana (1999-2005; also wore No. You had no idea but I knew you were the one for me baby. 14); Sophia Witherspoon, New York/Portland/Los Angeles (1997-2003). The late Margo Dydek didnt make an overwhelming amount of all-star games (2) nor was she named to an All-WNBA Team in her career, but the 7-2 Polish centers impact in terms of defensive intimidation cant be denied; having led the WNBA in blocks eight times and is the WNBAs all-time leader in that category. Her career has been hampered by injuries, but she still has career averages of 12.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. 16: Ebony Hoffman, Indiana/Los Angeles/Connecticut (2004-14; also wore Nos. Sheryl Swoopes. Cash was a starter on what many think is the best women's college team ever, UConn's 2002 undefeated champions. Herrington played on Atlanta's three WNBA Finals teams. She's now an assistant coach for the Sparks, for whom she played in her last season, 2020. Harris is in just her second WNBA season, so her best is yet to come. The forward Santos is one of several Brazilian players who've spent time in the WNBA, but one of the few from anywhere to don No. 12). Brondello (Australia) and Nemcova (Czech Republic) played in the WNBA's inaugural season. Tina Thompson, a four-time WNBA champion, was one of the most difficult players to defend as she was very strong and physical. Again another easy call. Since the league was founded in 1996, the womens game has significantly evolved and expanded. Langhorne ranked in the top four in field goal percentage in nine of her 13 seasons, and her .560 career percentage is second in league history only to Sylvia Fowles. But thus far, she has played just eight games. ", President of the United States since 2021, Jay Leno reflects on being burned in car fire: '8 days later, I had a brand new face', Emily Blunt says Tom Cruise told her to 'stop being such a p****' during filming: 'He just stared at me for a long time', Patti LaBelle whisked offstage after bomb threat at her Milwaukee concert, Daniel Craig explains why he left James Bond role: 'This is it. The former UConn star also holds the record for most 3-point field goals (1,179) and attempts (3,221). The list included ten current and 15 former players. 4 pick in 2007 out of UCLA, started in Minnesota but was traded to Los Angeles in 2009, and had her best statistical season with the Sparks in 2010. Tina Thompson, a four-time WNBA champion, was one of the most difficult players to defend as she was very strong and physical. Miller played 12 seasons, but had 15.6 win shares to Catchings' 93.7. Brazilian guard Arcain was a vital part of the Comets' four-championship dynasty in the league's opening years, and then was an All-Star in 2001. 19. She also has the highest career field goal percentage at 60%. Under her maiden name, Lawrence, she earned most outstanding player honors in Louisiana Tech in the first NCAA tournament in 1982. She won a league championship in 2018 with Seattle as a player, another as an assistant coach (2020) and is now the Storm's head coach seeking this season's championship. Using our knowledge of the W, access to advanced stats from Across the Timeline, cross referencing Basketball Reference, leveraging www.customwritings.com, as well as WNBA.com, we came up with the following factors to help us figure out the remaining spots. "People all across the country have learned about Brittney's story and advocated for her release and stood with her throughout this terrible ordeal, and I know that support meant a lot to her family. WebIn the 25 years of the WNBA, only five players have won multiple Finals MVP awards. Frett, of Georgia, and Crawley, part of North Carolina's 1994 NCAA title team, both played in the ABL before coming to the WNBA. 2); Teresa Weatherspoon, New York/Los Angeles (1997-2004); Penny Toler, Los Angeles (1997-99). Dealing with a torn ACL that kept her out of the NCAA tournament as a senior, she was taken next-to-last in the 1998 WNBA draft. Brittney wrote via Instagram in June 2020. Lyttle made two WNBA Finals appearances for Atlanta. One of the smaller players in league history, the 5-foot-3 Johnson never backed down from anyone. Prince, a 12-year veteran out of Rutgers, is no longer the scoring threat she was earlier in her career, when she was a two-time All-Star for the Sky. The guard/forward left the Dream after 10 seasons to sign as a free agent in Las Vegas last year, helping the Aces make the 2020 WNBA Finals. Four players listed are still active. With the Seattle Storm, Jackson was a seven-time All-Star, three-time WNBA MVP, and two-time league champion in 2004 and 2010. The Naismith Hall of Famer was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. In June 2008, she also became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game. G Games Played. But things ended on a high note with the Fever's 2012 championship. A five-time All-Star, Brunson is now an assistant with the Lynx, who will retire her jersey next season. 2). Cloud was a 2015 second-round pick, No. Stewart followed up a Rookie of the Year award that season with two WNBA championships, a league MVP and two Finals MVPs. Brittney Griner is one of the best athletes in the WNBA and she always has her sweetheart, Cherelle Griner, cheering her on from the sidelines. She helped lead the Sun to the 2019 WNBA Finals. The 59-year-old won the first ever MVP, finals MVP, and championship in WNBA history in 1997 and holds the record for most Finals MVPs with four. ESPN jumped in on the fun (as they do) and wrote up their own list but ranking each of their 25 chosen players leaving Cash and Penichiero off their list to include Penny Taylor and Rebekkah Brunson. 52); Shavonte Zellous, Detroit/Tulsa/Indiana/New York/Seattle/Washington (2009-present; also wore 11); Tamera Young, Atlanta/Chicago/Las Vegas (2008-19; also wore Nos. As far as WNBA All-Star Appearances are concerned, of all the players that have already earned their place on our prospective list, the only players that have six or more WNBA all-star appearances not on the list are Nykesha Sales (7) and Chamique Holdsclaw (6). I love you baby.". Cut by New York and picked up by Connecticut, she appeared in just 13 total games as a rookie and didn't play in the WNBA the next season. The WNBAs list of the greatest players in the history of the womens professional basketball league includes GOATs like Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, There is a reason Kobe had her mentor his daughter Gianna. 14 in that latter draft, and was a steal for the Sparks. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a major professional basketball league in North America. But an ACL tear in the first game of her rookie season set an ominous tone, and she was out of the league at age 25 after four seasons. Page, the No. 22 in her second season and has become of the league's premier point guards. She was Sixth Woman of the Year in 2016. 1); Erlana Larkins, New York/Indiana/Minnesota (2008-18; also wore No. The Brazilian forward started her career at No. Seattle went with Lauren Jackson at No. She was the No. It's topped by Catchings, a Naismith Hall of Famer who was a 10-time All-Star, a season MVP (2011) and Finals MVP (2012) and won the Defensive Player of the Year honor five times, plus won four Olympic gold medals. Tate, an Arkansas State grad, played one season and part of another with the Lynx in the little-used No. She was also USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 2021. Outside of Aja Wilson, the 28-year old Jonquel Jones is the other WNBA MVP not to make the W25. Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? After being out of the WNBA for two years, she returned as a starter for Tulsa in 2011 at age 40, averaging 8.2 points and 4.1 assists. First things first: Nope! "We love you babe!" Jackson is being inducted into both the Naismith and Women's Basketball Halls of Fame this year and is not just the top Australian in WNBA history, but one of the best players, period. Thomas, who led Maryland to the 2014 Final Four, was our top No. She won a championship with the Lynx in 2013. Regular Season Record: 27-7 (1st overall, set team record, previous mark was 18 wins in 2003 & 2004)Playoff Record: 7-1Championship Path: 2-1 vs. San Antonio (West Semis), 2-0 vs. Phoenix (West Finals), 3-0 vs. Atlanta (Finals)Finals MVP: Seimone Augustus The former North Carolina forward also had a strong playoff run when the Fever made the 2015 WNBA Finals. North Carolina's Reid was the first WNBA rookie of the year (the honor wasn't given in the league's inaugural season) in 1998. The No. T-Spoon was a perfect fit for New York, the heart and soul of the teams that played in the '97 title game and in three WNBA Finals. 24); Michelle Snow, Houston/Atlanta/San Antonio/Chicago/Washington/Los Angeles (2002-15; also wore No. Jackson was a three-time MVP and seven-time All-Star who averaged 18.9 points and 7.7 rebounds for her career. Get Your WNBA Tickets Here! 1 badass). 33 is because a future Hall of Famer is in that spot. Lets put an end to that. Without a lot of 18s, it's worth mentioning Stanford grad Nygaard. Lol I love you babe. McBride, the No. How did a guard get a number traditionally worn by post players? 16 for just four of her 11 seasons. Parker came onto the national basketball scene at a young age and rose to prominence quickly in the pros. Griffith was one of the best post players in women's basketball history. Ahead of the matchup, lets take a look at the greatest WNBA players of all time: Current team: Seattle Storm | Position: Forward | Career: 2002-2016. Florida grad Witherspoon was a good player in her own right, averaging double-digit scoring four of her seven WNBA seasons. [Brittney] and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home. Whos the best WNBA player of all time? The current WNBA all-time assists leader is considered one of the greatest facilitators and floor generals in the history of the sport. 31, 33). Cynthia Cooper. 13 overall, in 2011 by the Lynx, but traded on draft day to the Liberty. And the rest was Fever history. Shes also a favorite to win the MVP award again this season. 31: Tina Charles, Connecticut/New York/Washington (2010-present), See also: Stefanie Dolson, Washington/Chicago (2014-present); Erin Phillips, Connecticut/Indiana/Phoenix/Los Angeles/Dallas (2006-16; also wore No. She first dunked the basketball in a game against the Indiana Fever on June 22, 2008. Griner single-handedly took the WNBA to the next level with her imposing size, dominance in the paint and ability to throw it down. During her 12 seasons with the Seattle Storm, Lauren Jackson was virtually impossible to defend. Young, the best player out of James Madison, spent the bulk of her career with the Sky, going to the 2014 WNBA Finals with Chicago. After her first four seasons with Connecticut, which included winning the 2012 MVP, she spent six with her hometown Liberty. The Phoenix Mercury center proposed to Cherelle in August 2018, and the duo tied the knot nearly one year later. She averaged 8.0 points and 4.2 assists in her career, with the highlight coming as a starter for the Mercury's 2009 championship team. The 2004 draft was strong, with nine picks playing at least 10 WNBA seasons, including Diana Taurasi, who is now in her 17th season. Harvard's Feaster was the rare Ivy League grad to be picked in the WNBA's first round, and she played 10 seasons. 9, 24); Crystal Robinson, New York/Washington (1999-2007; also wore No. 2 pick in the 2006 draft out of Rutgers and a seven-time All-Star. 18 gives us a chance to spotlight her here. She spent nine of her 13 seasons in Los Angeles, winning two titles. 3 in 2001, when she couldn't play because she was a rehabbing a knee injury that cut short her senior season at Tennessee. In other words, Jonquel is a lock. The two-time WNBA champion also owns the records for most career rebounds (3,974) and single-season rebounds (404). What obstacles do Stephanie White and the WNBA's five new head coaches face? Perrot died of cancer at age 32 during the Comets' run in 1999 to a third title, and the league's annual sportsmanship award is named after her. Plus that came in Phoenix's 2007 championship season, which she got to be a part of. The completion of the 2022 WNBA season will mark the end of two iconic players careers: Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm and Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx. In 15 seasons, Augustus gave us one of the nastiest crossovers and mid-range pull-ups the game has ever seen. I love you. She also ranks 11th on the all-time scoring list with 6,005 career points. She was taken in the 2000 expansion draft by Indiana and had her best of four WNBA seasons, plus was on the 2000 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team. Just so you know, Taylor was an efficient offensive player whose contributions to the teams she played on helped her to three WNBA titles. Perhaps one day, Awak Kuier -- the 19-year-old from Finland who was picked No. is coming to a close after the 2022 WNBA season. Former Stanford standout Powell won a championship with Sacramento in 2005. So it was with the 6-6 center Diarra from Senegal who played 10 games with the Sparks, and the 6-4 center Pascalau from Romania (three games with the Storm). Bonner is a do-everything type player at 6-foot-4 who won two league titles with the Mercury and is now with the Sun. Stewart has a legitimate shot to finish her career as the greatest WNBA player of all time. It all worked out: Wauters transposed her jersey number to 21, and she and Gray won a title with the Sparks that year. 1 Who is considered the best WNBA player of all time? Williams, an All-Star in 2015, once scored 51 points in a 2013 game and also is known for her defense. Heres the WNBAs list sorted by the players first name alphabetically. She played 36 total games (one was in the playoffs) over two WNBA seasons, 2015 and '20. Her most recent came 16 years later in 2020. In 1997, Swoopes became the first womens basketball player to have a Nike signature shoe, the Air Swoopes. (Fun fact: I still have mine.). Goodson is another former ABL player; she was 32 when she entered the WNBA in 1999. Notre Dame grad Diggins-Smith is a five-time All-Star who just got done competing in her first Olympics for Team USA. 2 days ago As WNBA players Seattle Storm's Sue Bird and Minnesota Lynx's Sylvia Fowles wrap up their iconic careers, here is a list of the league's greatest players of all time. 14); Tanisha Wright, Seattle/New York/Minnesota (2005-19). That shortlist included seven snubs. ", After Brittney's arrest, Cherelle offered a handful of social media updates to fans. Langhorne's two championships (2018, '20) came near the end of her career in Seattle. From 2017-19, she played for Washington, winning the 2019 WNBA championship. It is impossible to discuss the WNBAs greatest players of all time without Fowles, who is still one of the most dominant players in the league in her 14th season. The 33-year-old went on sabbatical in 2019 to focus on reform in the American justice system. Latta was third in those categories from the class of 2007 (11 seasons, 346 total games). Also, with some WNBA players, it's difficult to pick their "main" number, if they had success wearing more than one. Whitmore wore this number for the bulk of her career, and it's the one she is best remembered for. Considering their resumes, lets use the W25 list and ESPNs additions as a start of our Top 50 List. 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