Best WNBA Players of All Time - Top 10 Greatest Ever
by Maivizhi A
Updated Apr 10, 2023
Best WNBA Players of All Time
Established in 1996 and commencing in 1997 as a complement to the NBA, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has established itself as an essential component of the American sports scene and a hub for the world's top female basketball players. The league has witnessed its own dominating teams and witnessed renowned Naismith Hall of Fame players emerging from its ranks. With so many remarkable athletes, including MVPs and All-Stars, it begs the question: who are the most exceptional WNBA players of all time? Here are the elite WNBA players in history.
In 2011, on the occasion of the WNBA's 15th season, the league compiled a list of 30 nominees for the Top 15 Players of All Time. The selection was based on fan, media, coach, and player voting, with the aim of highlighting the most exceptional and influential players of the first 15 years of the league. The nominees' sportsmanship, community service, leadership, and contributions to the growth of women's basketball were also taken into account, and only players who had competed in the WNBA were eligible, though their achievements outside the league were considered. The Top 15 players were eventually revealed during halftime of the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.
Top 10 WNBA Players of All Time
Check the Top 10 WNBA players of All Time here.
S.No
WNBA Players
Teams / Clubs
1
Diana Taurasi
Phoenix Mercury
2
Tamika Catchings
Indiana Fever
3
Cynthia Cooper
Houseton Comets
4
Lauren Jackson
Southside Flyers
5
Lisa Leslie
Los Angeles Sparks
6
Maya Moore
Phoenix Mercury
7
Candace Parker
Las Vegas Aces
8
Sheryl Swoopes
Houseton Comets
9
Sylvia Fowles
Minnesota Lynx
10
Sue Bird
Seattle Storm
Here are the details of the above listed WNBA players.
1. Diana Taurasi - Phoenix Mercury
Diana Taurasi is widely considered the best WNBA player of all time. Although she doesn't have the most league MVPs or titles, her offensive prowess, longevity, and durability have propelled her to the top of the list. Since earning All-WNBA honors as a rookie in 2004, Taurasi has consistently been among the league's top performers. She holds the all-time leading scorer record with 9,693 points over her 18-year career, spent entirely with the Phoenix Mercury. Taurasi has also won three titles, league MVP in 2009, and two-time Finals MVP. With career averages of 19.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, she is undoubtedly the greatest WNBA player of all time.
2. Tamika Catchings - Indiana Fever
While not being the top offensive or defensive player in WNBA history, Catchings was undoubtedly the most well-rounded player and arguably the greatest all-around player the league has ever had. Her achievements and statistics place her as the second-best WNBA player of all time. In 2011, she was awarded the league MVP, and in 2012, she was named Finals MVP. Catchings is the only WNBA player to be ranked among the top 10 in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. She holds the all-time record for steals, ranks third in points, and fourth in rebounds. Moreover, Catchings' illustrious career includes five Defensive Player of the Year awards and seven All-WNBA First Team selections. After playing for 15 seasons with the Indiana Fever, she retired with impressive averages of 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.
3. Cynthia Cooper - Houseton Comets
If Cynthia Cooper had the opportunity to play in the WNBA earlier in her career, she would have likely been regarded as the greatest WNBA player of all time. In her four full seasons in the league, she averaged over 22 points per game three times and won four consecutive championships. Cooper's outstanding performances earned her two league MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, and she holds the record for the highest career scoring average in the league. She revolutionized the WNBA with her pick-and-roll plays, fundamentally changing the way the women's game was played. Cooper began playing in the WNBA after several years overseas and quickly became an unstoppable force in the league. She retired with impressive career averages of 21 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game after spending five seasons with the Houston Comets.
4. Lauren Jackson - Southside Flyers
From 2003 to 2010, Lauren Jackson could arguably be considered the best player in the WNBA, as she won two titles, three MVPs, seven first-team All-WNBA honors, and a Defensive Player of the Year Award during this period. Jackson's career efficiency rating places her third all-time. She ranks tenth in all-time scoring, fifth in blocked shots, and has won the scoring title three times. She spent her entire 12-season WNBA career with the Seattle Storm and retired with averages of 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and a 46 percent shooting percentage from the floor.
5. Lisa Leslie - Los Angeles Sparks
Lisa Leslie had an illustrious basketball career that spanned four Olympic Games, earning her four gold medals, and led to her induction into the Hall of Fame. She played for the Los Angeles Sparks and was a standout defensive player, a reliable scorer, and one of the best centers in the history of the WNBA. Leslie won two championships, three league MVP awards, and ranks ninth in scoring, fifth in rebounds, and second in blocks all-time. Additionally, Leslie made history as the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. Her eight All-WNBA Team selections further establish her as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time. After 12 seasons with the Sparks, Leslie retired with career averages of 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
6. Maya Moore - Phoenix Mercury
Maya Moore, the WNBA's top draft pick in 2011, immediately established herself as the face of the league and held that position throughout her eight-year tenure. Regarded as one of the most well-rounded players in WNBA history, Moore is considered one of the greatest players to ever grace the court. Throughout her career, Moore earned several notable accomplishments, including Rookie of the Year, four championships, the 2014 league MVP award, the 2013 Finals MVP award, and five All-WNBA First Team selections. She departed the league at the peak of her career in 2019 to focus on criminal justice reform. If Moore had remained in the WNBA for a few more seasons, she may have ascended even higher on the all-time list, perhaps even claiming the title of the best WNBA player ever. Nevertheless, she retired with impressive averages of 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, all achieved while playing for the Minnesota Lynx throughout her WNBA career.
7. Candace Parker - Houseton Comets
Candace Parker made an immediate impact in the WNBA, securing the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season, which cemented her position among the greatest players in the league's history. With the versatility to play any position on the court, she continues to be one of the most recognizable figures in the league. Parker has earned two league MVP awards, won two titles, and ranks seventh all-time in rebounds and field goal percentage, having claimed the rebounding title three times.
8. Sheryl Swoopes - Houseton Comets
Sheryl Swoopes, a celebrated WNBA player, made history by becoming the first player in the league to achieve a triple-double and the first to win an NCAA title, a WNBA title, and an Olympic gold medal. She also accomplished an incredible feat of winning four consecutive titles at the beginning of her WNBA career. Her impressive resume includes three MVP awards, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, two scoring titles, and five First Team All-WNBA honors, securing her place among the greatest WNBA players of all time. Swoopes played for the Houston Comets, Seattle Storm, and Tulsa Shock before retiring with career averages of 15 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2 steals per game.
9. Sylvia Fowles - Minnesota Lynx
Sylvia Fowles, a prominent WNBA player, has established herself as the league's leading performer in double-doubles and has maintained a double-double average in seven seasons. She has won two championships, one league MVP, and two Finals MVPs, in addition to being the all-time leader in rebounds and field goal percentage. Throughout her career, she played for the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx, concluding her career with impressive averages of 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 59.9 percent shooting from the floor.
10. Sue Bird - Seattle Storm
At the age of 41, Sue Bird, one of the greatest WNBA players ever, retired in 2022 after playing 19 seasons exclusively for the Seattle Storm. Her proficiency as a point guard is exceptional, earning her a place among the elite in the game. She amassed four WNBA titles, with her first coming in 2004 and her last in 2020, and was selected 13 times for the WNBA All-Star team. Bird's achievements also include being the WNBA's all-time leader in assists, seventh in points, fourth in steals, and second in 3-point field goals made. Her career averages include 11.7 points, 5.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 39 percent from the 3-point range.
Who is the Best Basketball Player of All Time?
Born on June 11, 1982, Diana Lorena Taurasi is an American professional basketball player for the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) Phoenix Mercury, widely regarded as one of the best women's basketball players in history. She was selected as the first overall pick by the Phoenix team in the 2004 WNBA draft. Taurasi has amassed an impressive array of accolades, including the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2004, three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, and 2014), and an unprecedented five Olympic gold medals (in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020), as well as one WNBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2009, two WNBA Finals MVP Awards in 2009 and 2014, five scoring titles in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, and three FIBA World Cups in 2010, 2014, and 2018. Additionally, she has been selected for ten WNBA All-Star teams and fourteen All-WNBA teams (including ten first-team selections). In 2011, she was among the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time, voted by fans, and was named to its 20th and 25th anniversary teams, the WNBA Top 20@20 in 2016 and The W25 in 2021, respectively. Moreover, in 2021, she was chosen by fans as the greatest player of all time in the league. On June 18, 2017, Taurasi became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, and on June 27, 2021, she became the first player to surpass 9,000 points. Her remarkable ability to score in critical situations has earned her the nickname "White Mamba," a term coined by Kobe Bryant. Taurasi is one of only eleven women to have achieved an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup gold, and a WNBA Championship.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the WNBA has produced some of the most exceptional basketball players in history, and it's hard to compile a definitive list of the best WNBA players of all time. However, based on their career accomplishments and individual statistics, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore, Candace Parker, Sheryl Swoopes, Sylvia Fowles, and Sue Bird are among the elite players who have left an indelible mark on the league. These players have been trailblazers and role models for aspiring female basketball players, paving the way for the growth and success of women's basketball. With the WNBA continuing to expand and gain popularity, it will be exciting to see who the next generation of outstanding players will be.
Best WNBA Players of All Time - FAQs
Diana Taurasi is widely considered the greatest WNBA player of all time due to her offensive prowess, longevity, and durability, having consistently been among the league's top performers. She holds the all-time leading scorer record with 9,693 points over her 18-year career, spent entirely with the Phoenix Mercury.
Tamika Catchings is considered the most well-rounded player and arguably the greatest all-around player the league has ever had, although not the top offensive or defensive player in WNBA history.
Cynthia Cooper is a former WNBA player who played five seasons with the Houston Comets. Cooper revolutionized the WNBA with her pick-and-roll plays, fundamentally changing the way the women's game was played. In her four full seasons in the league, she averaged over 22 points per game three times and won four consecutive championships.
Lauren Jackson spent her entire 12-season WNBA career with the Seattle Storm and retired with averages of 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and a 46 percent shooting percentage from the floor.
Lisa Leslie played for the Los Angeles Sparks and was a standout defensive player, a reliable scorer, and one of the best centers in the history of the WNBA. She won two championships.