Parker led the Sparks to a championship in 2016, where she was also named WNBA Finals MVP. Swoopes was the first player to have a Nike signature shoe and is one of the most iconic players in the league. More than half of WNBA players are competing abroad this winter to supplement their incomes. She helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to the WNBA Championship in 2016. The two-time Hall of Famer helped the Houston Comets win the first four league championships in WNBA history and was named MVP of the league three times in her 12 seasons. Thats right, her average season was better than the peak of other top 10 WNBA players. 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. These are the women who have dominated the court and made a lasting impression on the sport. Cynthia Cooper is easily the most fascinating person on this list. Breanna Stewart is only 27 years old and has already led the league twice in win shares. 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. During her 17-year WNBA career, Taurasi has won three WNBA championships and two WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards. She racked up over 7000 points during her 17-year career with the Houston Comets and Los Angeles Sparks. She helped lead the Seattle Storm to the WNBA Championship in 2010. 2016/06/21 10:19 am by Stuart Leung Views: 1945. The four-time WNBA champion is No. 4 min read. She nearly averaged a double double for her career, with 10.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and is one of only 13 players in WNBA history to have a 20-point, 20-rebound game. Off the court, Sheryl Swoopes will go down in history as the first-ever womens player to have a signature shoe, the iconic Air Swoopes. Bird is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist. At 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), he played the center position and occasionally played power forward. Parker followed in the dunking footsteps of Leslie and became the second player to throw down in the regular season. Douglas helped her teams to the playoffs in 10 of Players with fewer than 4 (MVPS+championships) had their stats adjusted down by 10%. 8. The five-time Defensive Player of the Year ranks high in all-time stats for points, assists, rebounds, and steals. In her 16-year career, she won many awards and titles, including ten WNBA All In the WNBA, there were three players making the maximum salary of $228,094 in 2022, and one of those players is all-time great Diana Taurasi. Im not the first person to try to come up with metrics to settle the greatest player in X sport debate. The result is a list of women who have elevated their sport to a new level. Players who were voted to start in all-star games but were unable to play due to injury are nevertheless considered to have been starters; players voted as reserves who started in place of other injured players are nevertheless considered to have been reserves. Smith ranks in the top five for career points and minutes played in WNBA history, proving her to be one of the leagues most consistent stars. No player in league history has played in more games or spent more minutes on the court than she did in her 16-season career. At the time of writing this article, she only has 1 MVP and 1 championship. Over her long career, she has amassed the 6th most all time win shares, though her peak performance is not nearly as high as the others on this list. Leslie is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist. I know I speak for an entire generation when I say that I best remember Lisa Leslie (and Kevin Garnett!) She spent all her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks. FGM-A Field Goals Made-Attempted. Diana Taurasi is one of the most accomplished players in the history of womens basketball. In 2019, Maya Moore announced that she was retiring at age 29 to fight for social justice a move mirrored by one of The Data Jocks favorite personalities, Renee Montgomery just a year later. 1. WebThe 25 best WNBA players of all time JWS. Since the league was founded in 1996, the womens game has significantly evolved and expanded. In Mens sports, her best comparisons for longevity would be Lebron James, Jerry Rice, and Wayne Gretzky. Below are lists of players that were either added to or omitted from the Top 15 Team nominations, in respect to the All-Decade Team nominations. Cynthia Cooper is one of the greatest scorers in the WNBA. Sue Bird. Her averages of 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and an all-time best 3.0 blocks per game make her one of the great centers in history. The 13-time All-WNBA selection has an offensive style that simply cant be stopped, giving her by far the best scoring average of any player thats played anywhere near her number of games, which stands above 430 at this point. The 20 best WNBA players of All-Time. The seven-time All-WNBA and All-Defensive selection has already set the leagues record for career double-doubles and shes probably still got plenty left. Team: Chicago Sky | Position: Forward | Career: 2008-present. while averaging nearly 20 points and 9.1 rebounds per night, set the leagues record for career double-doubles, first WNBA player to ever join the vaunted 50/40/90 club, greatest winner in womens basketball history, focus on issues like criminal justice reform, Ways Homeowners Can Save $1000 Every Year, Everyday Uses For Lemons You Never Knew About, Things People Find Attractive Around The World. All ten members of the WNBA's All-Decade Team were included in the Top 15 Team. Bird, Fowles among best WNBA players of all time, 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 her first year in the league, she became the first player to earn MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. See also :- Top 10 Hottest Female Athletes in the World 2022. Five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi has spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury. In that time, Cooper led the Comets to four consecutive championships and was named WNBA Finals MVP all four times. She also has the highest career field goal percentage at 60%. Over her long career, she only secured two championships and 1 MVP award. Diana Taurasi. Its hard to believe that its been two decades, but the 2015-16 season marked the 20th WNBA Season. Where did your favorite player land? The 33-year-old went on sabbatical in 2019 to focus. Current team: Minnesota Lynx | Position: Center | Career: 2008-2022. She had 18.7 win shares in her two best years this is the second best two year peak of any player of all time. The two-time WNBA champion also owns the records for most. tinder convo starter; all star fur; cubic centimeter converter; nba all star game 2019 score; converse fastbreak sizing; Sylvia Fowles, C, Chicago Sky/Minnesota Lynx. 0:00. To receive email updates when new articles are posted, use the subscription form below! She had 3,234 assists at the end of the regular season, a record that will stand for some time as she also leaves the WNBA as the oldest player in the league. With the nicknames Ace and CP3, Candace Parker was a household name before she entered the WNBA as the first overall pick in 2008. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Lauren Jackson is one of the most dominant players in the WNBA during her prime. A coach now in the league she helped build, Katie Smith is passing her immense knowledge of the game down to a new generation. The nine-time All-Star and eight-time All-WNBA selection is the second leading scorer in league history and is one of only three players to have scored at least 7,000 points. Copyright The Delite, All Rights Reserved. A three-time WNBA MVP, two-time champion and 12-time All-WNBA selection, Leslie was a phenomenon and an incredible player all around. In terms of longevity, nobody can touch Tina Thompson. Team: Houston Comets | Position: Guard | Career: 1997-2003. The 6-foot-6 forward was a three-time WNBA MVP and led the Seattle Storm to two championships. Sheryl Swoopes is a three-time MVP and four-time champion. Player Per Game. Most other lists you may look at will have Diana Taurasi as the best player in WNBA history. She helped lead the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs to their only title in 2005, when she was also named WNBA Finals MVP. The WNBA has been around for over two decades and has seen some amazing players come through its ranks. Teresa Weatherspoon. She top the list of greatest WNBA players of all time. Current team: Pheonix Mercury | Position: Guard | Career: 2004-present. Lisa Leslie was a monster and she ranks number 9 all time in our list of best WNBA players ever. Another current star who could easily climb this list even more in the future is Elena Delle Donne. An Achilles injury forced her to miss the 2019 season but if she comes back in full force, she has the ability to top this list some day. 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. Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. Final Words. Grimes legally changed her name from Claire to c in 2018. 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. Renowned as a great scorer and defender, Katie Douglas earned spots on three All-WNBA and five All-Defensive squads in her long career. Q. Cynthia Coopers peak was so unbelievably high that her spot in this list is crystalized. A six-time WNBA All-Star and ninth all time in scoring, Lisa Leslie was the first player in WNBA history to dunk in a game. Who are the top 10 greatest WNBA players of all time? Swoopes was a three-time MVP and was named one of the WNBAs Top 15 Players of All Time. 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). Catchings was also a prolific scorer, averaging over 15 points per game for her career. One of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Maya Moore is a one-time scoring champion, and Rookie of the Year (2011). Seimone Augustus: Minnesota Lynx (2006-19), Los Angeles Sparks (2020) A four-time champion with the Lynx, Augustus was an eight-time All-Star selection, five-time All-WNBA pick, Finals MVP and WNBA Rookie of the Year. Taurasi is also a four-time Olympic gold medallist. The 33-year-old went on sabbatical in 2019 to focus on reform in the American justice system. It doesnt include Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, Aja Wilson, and Elena Delle Donne. Bird, Fowles among best WNBA players of all time originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. Players with more than 5 (MVPS+championships) had their stats adjusted up by 10%. Thats right, excluding her age 40 season where she only played 4 games, Cynthia Cooper won the championship in every season she played. A Commissioners Cup champion (2021), Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in league history. Shes a powerful force in the paint, but she can also step out and hit the three-pointer. Tina Thompson is one of the most prolific scorers in league history. She only won one title and one MVP in her otherwise impressive career. And, with 2 championships and 1 MVP under her belt, she is well on her way to racking up enough accolades to be a top WNBA player of all time. But she did that over the course of four years. The 2022 WNBA season included the retirement tours of two of the greatest athletes ever to play womens basketball: Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles. Considered one of the greatest players in history, the 41-year-old is the only WNBA player to win titles in three separate decades. No player in WNBA history has won as many games as Lindsay Whalen. Even so, Maya Moore goes down in our list as the sixth best WNBA player ever. Do you know the top ten best WNBA players? 3P% Three Though still with time to accrue more, the only thing potentially holding Nneka back from cracking the all time lists is her glory stats. Teams: Tulsa Shock, Seattle Storm, Houston Comets | Position: Guard | Career: 1997-2011. A five-time scoring champ, and four-time All-Star, she is one of the best scorers the league has ever seen. See also :- Top 10 Hottest Women Cricketers in the World. The 36-year-old announced the 2022 season will mark the end of her career. A two-time MVP and champion, she has the ability to take over a game on both ends of the floor. (3,974) and single-season rebounds (404). Tina Thompson is the WNBAs all-time leading scorer. Taurasi is a true superstar and one of the most popular players in the world. In addition to this, well look at some current WNBA players to see if any current young players stand a chance at cracking the top 10. In fact, nearly every other list weve looked at has Diana Taurasi as the greatest WNBA player ever. Shes the second leading rebounder in WNBA history, the best in terms of rebounds per game (9.8) and has the best shooting percentage in league history, making an insane 59.3% of all her shots so far. McWilliams-Franklin was always smart with the ball, racking up a 49% career shooting mark, which is the fourth best in history. Dupree also ranks eighth in career rebounding, showing how essential shes been to her teams on both sides of the ball. Shannon Bobbitt is the shortest WNBA player of all time who was born on December 6, 1985, in Bronx, New York, Shes also one of only two players to record three 20-point, 20-rebound games, showing why shes been essential to two championships for the Minnesota Lynx. Hide. Bird, Fowles among best WNBA players of all time originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. One of the best point guards in league history, she is a true leader on the court. NEW YORK (AP) The WNBA honored its past and present when it announced the league's top 25 players Sunday. A four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP, O'Neal averaged a double-double during a career that spanned almost two decades. Because she couldnt get it done when it mattered most, she only ranks as the sixth best WNBA player of all time in our list. No player in the league has scored more points than her and its not even close, with Taurasi outpacing second place by more than 1,000 points. While with the Minnesota Lynx, Whalen won an incredible four WNBA championships and was a five-time All-WNBA selection at the point guard position. Shes averaged 2.1 steals per game for her career, ranking her in the top 10 for total steals already, but its her scoring prowess that makes her even more dangerous. Three-time MVP and four-time Olympian, Lisa Leslie was a legend even in high school in Southern California when she scored 101 points in a single game. The Best Womens Basketball Players In WNBA HistoryRanked 1. Like any sport, deciding the best WNBA player of all time is a fluid process. The only player with better stats than our WNBA GOAT is Tamika Catchings. Bird is a true superstar and one of the most popular and greatest WNBA players in the world. There is no telling where Maya Moore would have ended on this list had she continued to play, but fighting for causes you believe in is more important than climbing arbitrary all-time greatest WNBA players lists. One of the best power forwards of the current generation of WNBA players, Nneka Ogwumike has proven she can basically do it all. Maya Moore is one of the brightest young stars in the WNBA. Sports Illustrated has called Maya Moore the greatest winner in womens basketball history and its very hard to argue against that claim. In terms of pure numbers, its mighty hard to argue with Diana Taurasi. Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in basketball history regardless of gender and one of the WNBAs greatest icons. Sylvia Fowles story is one of longevity, even more so than Diana Taurasi. Swoopes was a three-time MVP and was named one of the WNBAs Top 15 Players of All Time. She was a leading force on those legendary Houston Comets teams that won the first four consecutive WNBA titles after the league started in 1997 and would be a powerhouse for 17 seasons before retiring with a ton of records to her name. Her average of 1.5 steals per game is one of the best in history and led her to rank inside the top 10 for career steals. Tamika Catchings is a one-time champion and 10-time All-Star. Over the decades, the WNBA has seen some remarkable talent across the country. WebDavid William Cowens ( COW-nz; born October 25, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player and NBA head coach. As a result, she only accrued 36.6 win shares. She also ranks seventh in career rebounds. 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. By our metric, and pretty much any way you can swing it if your argument is based on data and not on emotions, Lauren Jackson is the best WNBA player of all time. November 11, 2022, 1:34 am, by This differs from the WNBA's practice, which does not count Team USA players in 2004 and 2010 as All-Stars, even though all members of Team USA except for. Lauren Jackson has made plenty of basketball history in her native Australia as well as in America, including being a three-time WNBA MVP and a two-time champion with the Seattle Storm, where she spent her entire career. In that time, there have been many great players who have graced the court and thrilled fans with their play. The third member of the Comets Big Three, Tina Thompson, who played at the same high school as Leslie, is the leagues second all-time leading scorer. from the countless hours I spent playing backyard basketball. Maya Moore is another fascinating case, not unlike Cynthia Cooper. When you talk about women that could dominate a basketball game on their own, Chamique Holdsclaw has to come up. Lauren Jackson had 73 career win shares, 3rd best all time. Shes a four-time champion with the Seattle Storm and has been named MVP of the league twice. Renowned as a great scorer and defender, Katie Douglas earned spots on three All-WNBA and five All-Defensive squads in her long career. Her scoring average of 21.0 points per game is still the best in history and no player has ever matched her average of 35.2 minutes per game. The two-time WNBA champion also owns the records for most career rebounds (3,974) and single-season rebounds (404). From a viewpoint that relies heavily on statistics, here is a list of the ten best players the league has seen so far. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and four-time Olympic gold medalist, Sheryl Swoopes was one of the greatest WNBA players of all time. Sylvia Fowles set the WNBA record for most career. She is also the all-time assists leader with 3,161 and sits in third place for assists per game with 5.6. Cynthia Cooper is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. Lisa Leslie. When the league first started, many questioned whether the resurrection of womens professional basketball in America would pan out. Maya Moore is one of the brightest stars in the league today. A five-time scoring champ, and four-time All-Star, she is one of the best scorers the league has ever seen. 30. Tamika Catchings is a one-time champion and 10-time All-Star. Sheryl Swoopes is one of the original stars of the WNBA. Shes been able to live up to the hype so far, making her way onto four All-Star teams and three All-WNBA teams in her six seasons as a pro. A true pioneer, she was one of the first women to dunk in a game and helped lead the way for the WNBA to become the successful league it is today. The incredible 39-year-old American has been an asset to the Phoenix Mercury since she was drafted into the WNBA in 2004. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and four-time Olympic gold medalist, Sheryl Swoopes was one of the greatest WNBA players of all time. Drafted by the Seattle Storm when she was just 19 after playing as a pro in Australia, Jackson made an immediate impact. In her 11 seasons in the league, Holdsclaw averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game but she unfortunately never won a title. Or is her top spot more due to emotional arguments and gut feelings? Shooter of the most 2. 1 Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. See also; Top 10 female American athletes of all time. Thompson is a true pioneer, as she was one of the first players to come out of college and have an immediate impact in the league. Second only to Lauren Jackson among the best Australian players in WNBA history, Taylor was a draft-day steal at No. The LSU grad and rebounding machine began her career in Chicago, but demanded a trade to the Minnesota Lynx in 2015, a move that served her well. But is her WNBA GOAT ranking warranted? She has just been so consistent for so long. WNBA fans are no doubt hoping theyll get to see this brilliant player take the court again and continue to carve her on-court legacy. Moore has the ability to take over a game on both ends of the floor and is one of the most exciting players to watch. Cynthia Coopers first season in the WNBA was her AGE 34 SEASON. But our stats only have her ranked as the fifth best WNBA player of all time. Towering over most opponents at 6 feet 6 inches, Sylvia Fowles has also proven to be head and shoulders above them in terms of raw skill. Those figures rank her in the top 20 in WNBA history for per-game scoring and assist averages. In eight seasons so far, shes racked up more accolades than many players do in entire careers, being a six-time All-Star, four-time All-WNBA pick and five-time All-Defensive pick. Catchings is a true superstar and one of the best and greatest WNBA players in the world. Her fiery point guard play for 13 seasons made Cappie Pondexter one of the most recognizable players in the WNBA. Tamika Catchings was a tenacious defender during her time in the WNBA. Taurasi has played her entire career for the Phoenix Mercury since her first season in 2004. She helped lead the Seattle Storm to the WNBA Championship in 2010. WebRenowned as a great scorer and defender, Katie Douglas earned spots on three All-WNBA and five All-Defensive squads in her long career. Cowens spent most of his playing career with the Boston Celtics. Nnekas peak was also insanely impressive: In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, she tallied 18.0 win shares. The heir apparent to Lisa Leslies style of dominant WNBA ball, Candace Parker was drafted first overall by the L.A. Sparks in 2008 and theyve never let her go. 4. More than half of WNBA players are competing abroad this winter to supplement their incomes. She helped lead the Houston Comets to four WNBA Championships during her time with the team. Sue Bird. Diana Taurasi is the all-time top scorer in WNBA history and has been One of the best point guards in league history, she is a true leader on the court. After all, the former league MVP was named to an incredible 12 All-WNBA and All-Defensive squads in her 15-season career. 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. 11 in 2001, where Jackson was No. A champion with the Detroit Shock and Minnesota Lynx, Taj McWilliams-Franklin was one of the leagues great glass cleaners. GOING PRO: Should the WNBA Allow Early Draft Entry? The 2016 league MVP also led the Los Angeles Sparks to a championship that year, while averaging nearly 20 points and 9.1 rebounds per night. For the purposes of this article, appearances in the 2004 and 2010 games for both participating teams are considered All-Star appearances. Both appear on numerous lists of the top all-time players. Current team: Minnesota Lynx | Position: Forward | Career: 2011-present. Tamika Catchings was a tenacious defender during her time in the WNBA. A first-ballot Womens Basketball Hall of Famer, Yolanda Griffith was as gifted a center as the league has ever had. See also; Top 10 hottest female athletes in the world. So, while many lists have her as the best WNBA player of all time, she only ranks fifth in our list. The Top 10 Greatest WNBA Players of All Time! The group was to comprise the 15 best and most influential players of the first fifteen years of the WNBA, with consideration also accorded to sportsmanship, community service, 1111leadership, and contribution to the growth of women's basketball; only players to have competed in the WNBA were eligible, but extra-league achievements were considered. She helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to three WNBA Championships during her time with the team. She top the list of greatest WNBA players of all time. Our candidates for making the top 10 WNBA players ever are: Nearly every list has these ten players in their lists of top 10 all-time WNBA players. There may have never been a more fearsome physical presence in womens basketball than the star center, who stands at 6 feet 8 inches and will not hesitate to posterize you. She was 34 years old when the league launched in 1997 but she dominated it and players a decade younger than her for the five years she played before retirement. Pre-NCAA legends include those who later became involved in the WNBA as coaches, executives, and even players, including Nancy Lieberman, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Lynette Woodard, Carol Blazejowski, and the late Anne Donovan. The Hall of Famer and nine-time All-Star was nothing but brilliant throughout her 17-year career. In particular, she deserves a lot of credit for being one of the players responsible for the skyrocketing popularity of the WNBA. And in honor of twenty consecutive years of professional womens basketball, the league announced their top 20 players in WNBA history. Fifth in all time career win shares, the same peak performance as Diana Taurasi, and 2 (so far!) She also has the highest career field goal percentage at 60%. As we pointed out above, Taurasis best two seasons were of lower quality than Cynthia Coopers average season. 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. However, Sylvia Fowles was lacking in the glory department. She helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to three WNBA Championships during her time with the team. The best 25 WNBA players of all timeSeimone Augustus. A knee injury currently has Augustus out indefinitely, but it appears she will suit up for the Minnesota Lynx at some point in 2019.Sue Bird. Tamika Catchings. Swin Cash. Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. Yolanda Griffith. Sylvia Fowles. Becky Hammon. Lauren Jackson. Lisa Leslie. More items Inaugural WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. 1:35. Her career free throw shooting percentage of 93.8% is the best in league history and its not even close. She was named Defensive Player of the Year a record five times and helped lead the Indiana Fever to the 2012 WNBA title. tinder convo FG% Field Goal Percentage. Those years included 11 All-Star selections, eight All-WNBA selections and three championships, all with the Seattle Storm. 3PM-A Three Point Field Goals Made-Attempted. 4 min read. Bird has won four WNBA championships (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) and was named an All-Star 13 times. Sue Bird is a seventh all time in scoring and four-time All-Star. Team: Seattle Storm | Position: Forward | Career: 2001-2012. Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles played her last season in 2022. Good company. Leslie was the first player to dunk in the league and ranks high in several all-time categories. Elena Delle Donne Spiraling shooting star. With Sue Bird as the floor general and her savvy moves inside and outside the paint, the Australian Opal quickly become a star. WebThe following is a list of the top 10 greatest WNBA players ever. Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. The players coming out of college and the international game have only gotten better, as each new seasons stars threaten to burn up the record books. She was named the WNBA Finals MVP in 2013 after leading the Minnesota Lynx to the WNBA Championship. Lauren Jackson is one of the most dominant players in the WNBA during her prime. By compiling a few different lists for the best WNBA player of all time, we have settled on 10 candidates who continuously show up near the top of everyones lists. It is, in fact, supposed to be lower case. Parker is a true superstar and one of the best players in the world. The 6-feet-4-inch center joins Leslie as the only two players in WNBA history to record a triple-double, a slam dunk and a 20-point, 20-rebound night in a career. Known for her prowess in every aspect of the game, her lockdown defensive skills are what opponents were most afraid of during her time with the Indiana Fever. Candace Parker is one of the most dominant players in the league today. Our candidates for making the top 10 WNBA players ever are: Maya Moore Diana Taurasi Tamika Catchings Lisa Leslie Sue Bird Cynthia Cooper Sheryl Swoopes Candace Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to be signed in the WNBA. Lauren Jackson is a four-time champion and six-time All-Star. WebTop ten WNBA players of all time. Diana Taurasi, the Phoenix Mercury guard, is the most paid WNBA player with a WNBA salary of 181,736 for 2022. For the top female basketball players, there is only one place to go: The WNBA. So, her stats certainly support her elite ranking. However, what holds her back is that she has not had as high of a peak as some of the others on this list. She helped lead the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA Championship in 2014. Shes already won four championships with the Minnesota Lynx and was named MVP of the league in 2014. Diana Taurasi. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Its been more than two decades since the WNBA was founded, and it has produced some of the greatest female athletes of all time. From 2011-2017, she led the Minnesota Lynx to four championships and was named league MVP in 2014. Jackson is a true superstar and one of the most popular, greatest WNBA players in the world. In the 2008 olympics, she led the team in steals with 14 total. Bird became the WNBA's leader in career wins with 324 in June. Lauren Jackson is a four-time champion and six-time All-Star. Maya Moore A defensive threat. She wanted to win championships and she did with the Lynx in 2015 and 2017. The Top 10 Greatest WNBA Players of All Time! At The Data Jocks, we love to put numbers on intangibles. Before Tamika Catchings retired in 2016, she had a very strong all-around game. She has also twice been named league MVP. Ive said this for both Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi, but Sue Bird is the definitive model for longevity in professional womens sports. Becky Hammon Teammate and mentor. In its long history, the league has been blessed with some A three-time WNBA MVP and four-time champion, Lisa Leslie is widely considered the greatest player in league history. Jackson is a true superstar and one of the most popular, greatest WNBA players in the world. The legendary point guard won 323 contests in 15 seasons before retiring in 2018 and focusing full-time on coaching college basketball in her home state of Minnesota. Indiana Fever icon Tamika Catchings is joining the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and it was an easy call for the voting committee. Sheryl Swoopes was one of the few players on our list to suffer from the WNBA not existing for the first few years of her career. On the other hand, those who argue for LeBron often cite his peak dominance and unparalleled (and ongoing at the time of writing this article) longevity. Shes a three-time WNBA champion (2007, 2009, 2014) and also two time MVP of the league in (2009, 2014). If Cynthia Cooper had been lucky enough for the WNBA to exist for the entirety of her career, she would undoubtedly, indisputably go down as the best WNBA player of all time. From superstars like Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker to legends like Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, the league has seen some truly amazing talent over the years. Thats insane, that means her career production was 15-20% better than the second best WNBA player. Catchings was also a prolific scorer, averaging over 15 points per game for her career. She was a four-time champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) with the Houston Comets and was named MVP of the league twice (1997, 1998). The Top 10 Greatest WNBA Players of All Time! Allen Iverson. But due to the 10-month saga that All-Star Brittney Griner endured in Russia, Over her career, she was won 4 championships to bolster her already impressive resume. 0:03. The 2022 WNBA season included the retirement tours of two of the greatest athletes ever to play womens basketball: Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles. However, Sheryl Swoopes high ranking in our list comes from her dominant glory stats. Q. She was named Defensive Player of the Year a record five times and helped lead the Indiana Fever to the 2012 WNBA title. A six-time WNBA All-Star and ninth all time in scoring, Lisa Leslie was the first player in WNBA history to dunk in a game. Swoopes was the first player to have a Nike signature shoe and is one of the most iconic players in the league. Leslie was 8th all time in career win shares. The all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, Tina Thompson was a four-time WNBA All-Star and helped lead the Houston Comets to four WNBA Championships during her time with the team. Second, Nneka Ogwumike. See also; Top 10 NBA players of all time. Taurasi is also a four-time Olympic gold medallist. Bird has started every olympic tournament since the 2008 games. On her current trajectory, I wouldnt be surprised if she ended up in the top 3 all time in win shares. 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. One of the most versatile players in league history, she is a true difference-maker on both ends of the floor. To celebrate the greats of the WNBA, weve put together a list of the top 10 players in the leagues history. One of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Maya Moore is a one-time scoring champion, and Rookie of the Year (2011). In seven seasons so far, Delle Donne has been a six-time All-Star and two-time league MVP, and she led the Washington Mystics to their first championship in 2019. Cooper was also named Finals MVP in all four of her championship seasons. The following is a list of the top 10 greatest WNBA players ever. Here are the top 10 best and greatest WNBA players of all time. The title she won with her hometown Indiana Fever in 2012 is just the cherry on top. Diana Taurasi is one of the most consistent offensive players in the game. On the court, as a member of the Houston Comets big three, she was the first in the league to earn a triple-double, the first in NBA and WNBA history to win three MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards. 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