The WNBA league has only been around for a few decades at this point, but it’s already seen an astounding number of inspiring athletes take to the court. Listed here in no particular order are the ten finest players to ever compete in the WNBA, from Lisa Leslie to Tamika Catchings.
Candace Parker
Candace Parker hit the league like a ton of bricks when she debuted in 2008. She won the Rookie of the Year award and MVP accolades in the same season, becoming the first player in the league to ever pull off that accomplishment. She also became the first woman to ever appear on the cover of an NBA 2K title and is an undisputed face of the modern game.
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles in the all-time leader in double-doubles in the WNBA, making her a formidable player by any measurement. Many rank her among the best players in the sport due to her absurd longevity, as she was dominant on the court from 2008 to 2022, taking home two championships (one in 2015 and one in 2017) and an MVP accolade in 2017.
Sheryl Swoopes
Arguably no one else has ever had a better basketball name than Sheryl Swoopes. I mean, come on! That’s the coolest name for a basketball player ever! She also just so happens to have led the Houston Comets to four championships and earned herself the MVP award three times in her lengthy career. She was instrumental on offense and defense for every team she played for.
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson had an absurd amount of success from 2003 to 2010, during which she secured the Seattle Storm two championships, won herself three MVP awards, and even became a Finals MVP in 2010. She was an absurdly efficient, undeniably powerful player who fundamentally rewrote the way that people played basketball in the WNBA.
Sue Bird
When it comes to just raw numbers of games played in the league, no one has Sue Bird beaten. She played with the Seattle Storm for her entire career after the team first-picked her in the 2002 draft. She’s also the only player in the league to ever win a title in three different decades.
Cynthia Cooper
Cooper’s run with the Houston Comets is the stuff of legends. She could reliably create openings for herself and had no issue passing to her teammates when it was time to get out of a jam. She remains the all-time leader in scoring average, too. Many credit her with even changing the way women’s basketball is played.
Maya Moore
Maya Moore was picked first in the draft in 2011 and came in with sky-high expectations. She didn’t just meet her lofty ambitions, she blew past them during her seven seasons with the Minnesota Lynx. In seven years, the Lynx went to six WNBA Finals and won four of them. That’s dynasty stuff, and that was thanks in no small part to Moore.
Tamika Catchings
Some call Catchings the best offensive player in the history of the WNBA. The numbers seem to say this is true, as she’s the only player in the league to ever end a season ranked top ten in assists, rebounds, points, and steals. That makes her one of the most well-rounded basketball players of all time, period.
Lisa Leslie
During her long career with the Los Angeles Sparks, Lisa Leslie put up some unbelievable numbers. She notably was on the Dream Team that won the gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics basketball event and became the Sparks’ rock-solid center that helped mark a dominant period of success in the league.
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Diana Taurasi
A lot of fans argue that Taurasi is the greatest player to ever take the court in the WNBA. Her stats certainly scream “GOAT,” from her all-time leading scoring to her two Finals MVP awards. Her longevity in the league and her unparalleled consistency in all parts of the game make her arguably the best to ever do it.
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