Breanna Stewart 11. (Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images), Lisa Leslie was one of the first faces of the WNBA. Highlights: Rookie of the Year (2009); eighth all time in steals; two-time scoring champion and steals champion; two-time All-WNBA First Team; seven-time all-league defensive team, Despite impressive play during the regular season -- she's eighth in career steals and 15th in career scoring, producing six All-WNBA appearances -- McCoughtry has been at her best in the playoffs. 1. Her efficiency was off the charts. Highlights: Four championships (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000); two-time MVP (1997, 1998); four-time Finals MVP (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000); all-time leader in career scoring average (20.98 PPG); three-time scoring champion; four-time All-WNBA First Team. Championships added based on regular-season WARP, playoff performance and awards (MVP, All-WNBA and All-Star honors) are then adjusted based on league quality for the season in question, which fluctuated wildly with expansion and the integration of former ABL players in the league's first four years before steadily improving in the modern 12-team era. 4. As a result, Parker is the leader in playoff championships added, despite winning just one title with the Sparks. She was so difficult to defend on the perimeter, especially in the pick-and-pop. Theres something about her style thats infectious. Career stats: 16.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 55.1 FG% 1 pick of the Connecticut Sun in 2010, Charles was crowned Rookie of the Year. She was the 2001 scoring champion and a seven-time All-Star. She did things that allowed Seimone Augustus to conserve some defensive energy because she was so important offensively. Sue Bird retired in 2022 at the age of 41 and is one of the best WNBA players of all time. At least in this case, Bird is a top-five player. Especially since Dawn Staley was on both the all-decade team and all-15 year team, while Weatherspoon was only on the latter this seems more than odd. Hammon never won a championship during her 16-year WNBA career, but she led her teams to playoff appearances in 13 of those seasons. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Playing her entire 17-year WNBA career with Phoenix, Taurasi has won three WNBA championships and two WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards. Highlights: Four championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017); Finals MVP (2011); Rookie of the Year (2006); tied for 10th all time in scoring; one-time All-WNBA First Team, Augustus will cross you up and pull up on a dime, and it is just so smooth you can't help but admire it. Larry Bird . Whalen's greatest success came after a trade that sent her home to Minnesota. I was never more sore after a game than after I played against Tina. The guard led the franchise to three WNBA championships in 2003, 2006 and 2008 and was named Finals MVP in 2006. Lets take a look at 21 past and present players to pick from. WebMagic Johnson is the best point guard of all time and it is not a surprise to see him sit in the top five of best NBA players in history. It is composed of 12 teams, all based in the United States. WNBA champion, Finals MVP Jackson is 10th all-time in scoring, fifth in blocked shots, and she won the scoring title three times. She would have easily made the list had she had one championship. Drop us an email at [email protected]. Kareem is inarguably one of the greatest NBA players of all time, ranking first in career Win Shares due to his nearly unprecedented longevity. In 2007, she was second on the team in scoring and rebounding, and first in steals and field goal percentage. The most shocking result of this exercise was that Bird, a four-time WNBA champion and 12-time All-Star, did not receive 100 percent of the vote. You could make an argument for any of them, but if you were to twist my arm I would go with McWilliams-Franklin over Fowles only because TMF has had a longer career while Fowles is in her prime. She became the fastest player to reach 3,000 points, 1,000 assists and 200 steals -- a record just broken this season. Our ranking, which puts the players in order, includes 23 of the same players. Womens sports is exploding worldwide. For the third consecutive season, Breanna Stewart has retained her place atop the list, and is followed by reigning MVP A'ja Wilson and 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones. She has been among the top performers year in and year out since earning All-WNBA honors as a rookie in 2004. (Doug Pensinger/Allsport via Getty Images), Sue Bird is the all-time assists leader in the WNBA. Of course, Diana Taurasimy personal pick for favorite WNBA player evermade the cut, but who else is on the list? She tops the list with 60.49; in second is Sue Bird, with 42.06. 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. Diana Taurasi FAQs Who is the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history? She didn't need the spotlight or a final curtain call. She is one of the most complete players to ever set foot on the court and one of the greatest WNBA players of all time. Our voting process also differed from the official W25, which required candidates to meet a certain criteria to be included on the final ballot of 75 players. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Maya Moore was the WNBAs number one pick in 2011. As an extension of this campaign, the WNBA Top 20@20 presented by Verizon platform will unveil 20 vignettes honoring each individual player. In fact, from 1992 to 2000, the big man from the Democratic Republic of Congo averaged 3.6 BPG. There were some players that were nominated for the Top 15 Team that were not nominated for the All-Decade Team and vice versa. Sylvia Fowles with a dunk in her final #WNBAAllStar Game. Five years later, the Fever retired her No. She's also fifth in regular-season championships added. Sheryl Swoopes 3. Off the court, Ogwumike has made equal impact as president of the WNBA players association, negotiating a landmark CBA in 2019. She led the Sacramento Monarchs to a WNBA championship in 2005, which makes me wonder how she didnt end up higher on this list. To try to answer that question, in conjunction with our top 25 player ranking on Tuesday as part of the league's 25th anniversary season, I'm unveiling for the first time a WNBA version of the championships added metric I introduced for the NBA (and ABA) five years ago. -- Kelly Cohen, C | Connecticut Sun (2010-13); New York Liberty (2014-19); Washington Mystics (2020-present) Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer with 9,693 points at the end of her 18th season. Young-Malcolm played 10 WNBA seasons before retiring while still a productive starter at age 31. Swoopes retired with averages of 15 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2 steals per game, and represented the Houston Comets, Seattle Storm and Tulsa Shock. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. She played a key role in Las Vegas reaching the Finals last year, only to lose again. I think for me thats why shes the G.O.A.T.. Teresa Weatherspoon 10. Pondexters scoring dominance, especially in the early parts of her career, were undeniable, earning her a deserved spot on this list. -- Katie Barnes, F | Indiana Fever (2002-16) 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. What percentage of NBA players are Black and how many players are white? She is synonymous with the league. With her 7-foot-1 wingspan and the amount of space she can cover, she alters shots and passes. Off the court, she's also making an impact. Lisa Deshaun Leslie (born July 7, Rank: Player: PTS: 1. The WNBA's all-time leading scorer before being passed by Taurasi in 2017, Thompson was a valuable contributor from the league's inception until her retirement in 2013 at age 38. Find out more. Career stats: 16.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.6 BPG, 48.1 FG% She could lift her awards score by making this year's All-WNBA First Team, which would be enough to jump both Pondexter and Charles. We were focusing on how to limit Houston's "C" Action (what the Comets called their wing pick-and-roll). She instantly became the face of the league and would remain so throughout her eight seasons in the WNBA. Bonner has typically rated well by WARP because of her volume 3-point shooting and strong combination of blocks and steals. *12 Scoring Titles After being drafted No. After starting just 19 games in her first five seasons, she energized New York and then became the face of the franchise in San Antonio, making four total WNBA Finals appearances. Griffith could flat-out play. Career stats: 15.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG In 2013, she became the first openly gay athlete to sign a contract with Nike, and has since helped to elevate the LGBTQ+ community in sports. One of the greatest to ever do it #ThatsaW | @LisaLeslie pic.twitter.com/GPjfWGlHw8. In 2020, the seven-time All-Star became the WNBAs all-time leading rebounder. The list included ten current and 15 former players. A few more seasons in the league could have vaulted Moore higher up the list and possibly the best WNBA player of all time. Tichia Penicheiro. 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. Voting for the leagues WNBA Top 20@20 presented by Verizon will be conducted by a 15-member committee composed of womens basketball pioneers Carol Blazejowski and Ann Meyers Drysdale; current and former WNBA head coaches Van Chancellor, Michael Cooper, Anne Donovan and Cheryl Reeve; and media members Doris Burke, Doug Feinberg, Mel Greenberg, Melanie Jackson, Howard Megdal, LaChina Robinson, Michelle Smith, Mechelle Voepel and Pam Ward. Among Swoopes accolades are three MVP awards, three Defensive Player of the Year Awards, two scoring titles, and First Team All-WNBA honours five times, cementing herself as one of the best WNBA players of all time. Copyright 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. She remains the only player in the league to ever finish a season in the top 10 in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks -- and do it twice. Congratulations to everyone who was selected. Bird finished her career with averages of 11.7 points, 5.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 39 percent from three-point range. She wouldn't turn 22 until that July, but where was her basketball career headed? This season, in Year 14, she posted a 20-20 game, is a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year and is in the MVP conversation. Its not easy, there have been more than 850 players who have put on a WNBA jersey. Career stats: 13.0 PPG, 3.8 APG; 37.8 3FG% The forward spent her entire 15-year WNBA career with the Indiana Fever. She's one of the greatest scorers in the history of the league, and brought the high-level pick-and-roll to the WNBA. In 2011, Taurasi was named one of the Top 15 Players of All Time. Seimone Augustus 7. A championship would complete McCoughtry's rsum. And in that time, she has solidified herself as one of the greatest point guards to ever pick up a basketball. Taurasi has long been in consideration as the greatest womens basketball player of all time, and she has my vote. For the sixth spot is Spurs legend Tim Duncan, who is often regarded as one of the best power forwards to have ESPNs SportsCenter: Face-to-Face with Hannah Storm on Swoopes also won an unbelievable four consecutive titles to start off her WNBA career. Fast forward to 2021, and to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the WNBA has unveiled a similar list comprised of its greatest players throughout the course of its 25-year history. (Note: Players are listed by % of votes received and then alphabetically.). Surprisingly, Augustus is just outside the top 25 in the awards category (26th) because five of her six All-WNBA appearances were on the second team, and eight All-Star appearances don't offer much in terms of championships added. She was rewarded with her second MVP as she led the Mystics to an elusive championship after a pair of finals losses in Washington and Chicago. For much of her career, she wasn't statistically dominant, but it's important to remember that she was part of those Minnesota teams that won four championships in seven years. Her run of dominance from 2003-2010 was incredible: two championships, three MVPs, seven first-team All-WNBA nods, two first-team all-defensive honors and a Defensive Player of the Year Award. How should we rank players such as four-time champion Cynthia Cooper, who was 34 when the league began in 1997 and played only a few seasons, against someone like Breanna Stewart, who at 27 already has two titles and grew up with the WNBA as a goal? One of the WNBA's great late bloomers, Hammon contributed 0.8 of her 0.9 championships added after being dealt to the then-San Antonio Silver Stars at age 30. While the results of our survey had only one major difference from the W25 the selection of Deanna Nolan over Swin Cash the percentage of votes each player received sheds more light on the hierarchy. ), G | Phoenix Mercury (2004-present) Womens sports is exploding worldwide. At 5-foot-11, she also had the physicality and mindset to be one of the league's best defenders, guarding interior and perimeter players equally well. You need players like that on your team. 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. 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. Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer with 9,693 points at the end of her 18th season. What's most impressive about Stewie is that she just takes over when she needs to. In 2009, she became the first player in league history to win three consecutive Western Conference Player of the Week honors. She also became the only player in the WNBA or NBA to win five Defensive Player of the Year awards. Highlights: Two championships (2004, 2010); three-time MVP (2003, 2007, 2010); Finals MVP (2010); 10th all time in scoring, fifth in blocks; three-time scoring champion; one-time rebounding champion; Defensive Player of the Year (2007); seven-time All-WNBA First Team; five-time all-defensive team, Lauren Jackson is one of the most transformative players to ever set foot in the WNBA. Lindsay Whalen. Sports To Celebrate Its 25th Anniversary, the WNBA Names Its Greatest 25 Players Ever. Delle Donnes health after two back surgeries could determine where she ends up on the all-time hierarchy at the end of her career. But Who's the G.O.A.T.? So, who are the best WNBA players of all time? Who is the best As a result, she's outside the top 50 in regular-season championships added but vaults into the top 25 on the strength of her playoff contributions. As good as Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes were, and as good as the other players around them were, I don't know if Houston wins those championships if not for the toughness and winning mentality that Tina brought. Kareem played in the NBA for 20 seasons, picking up six rings and six MVP awards. No one played harder than Catchings from the first whistle to the final buzzer, and that was never more evident than in what turned out to be the final game of her WNBA career. Diana Taurasi: 9747: 2. Nine of the ten players featured on that team are on the 20@20 squad with the exception of Dawn Staley. Leslie is another one I would have picked as a unanimous selection. The 6-foot-9 center became the third player to dunk in a WNBA game and the first player to do so twice in a single game. Hammon would make two All-WNBA First Teams in San Antonio, leading the Stars to the 2008 Finals. Skylar Diggins-Smith pic.twitter.com/k8BEE8U0y5. 5x DPOY Michael Jordan. 4 in the playoffs, but just sixth in regular-season championships added. First, because we have full box score stats for the W's entire history, I'm using my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric rather than Basketball-Reference.com's win shares. Career stats: 18.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 SPG : Should You See A Therapist Without Having A Problem? Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude. Whalen was also named to five All-Star Games and three WNBA First Teams. She has also earned one regular-season WNBA MVP award. Taylor tended to be overshadowed, but Phoenix wouldn't have won its three titles without her. She entered the game after years of playing overseas and was an unstoppable force during her time in the WNBA. 11 in 2001, where Jackson was No. Diana Taurasi is the best WNBA player of all time which a fan vote also confirmed it. -- Rebecca Lobo, F | Minnesota Lynx (2011-18) In part, the championships added method gives more credit to her relatively strong teammates. And in her 11th season, she averaged a career-high and league-leading 23.4 PPG. Her efficient play has her at a much stronger 12th place in regular-season championships added, with her playoff play (19th) about where she ranks overall. 4 Olympic gold medals pic.twitter.com/5cyrC1QKOB, Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) April 4, 2020. Center. With 18 no-brainers, that leaves us with two players that I found to be surprising on the list: Deanna Nolan and Teresa Weatherspoon. The only thing keeping Stewart from being higher on the list now is years of experience. 1. The NBA's stars -- past and present -- chime in on Twitter about the new 'NBA Lane' short film. Winning four titles and reaching the Finals twice more helped her pile up playoff value in a hurry. She's still on the list by virtue of her 0.5 playoff championships added helping the Lynx to four titles. Highlights: One championship (2016); two-time MVP (2008, 2013); Finals MVP (2016); Rookie of the Year (2008); seventh all time in rebounds, sixth in blocks, seventh in field goal percentage; three-time rebounding champion; Defensive Player of the Year (2020); six-time All-WNBA First Team; two-time all-defensive team, Parker's impact upon entering the league was immediate: she's the only player in WNBA history to sweep MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. She is one of the most complete players to ever set foot on the court and. Had the WNBA existed before Coopers first season at the age of 34, she would likely be the best WNBA player of all time. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images), Sheryl Swoopes, pictured here playing for Team USA, set numerous records with the Houston Comets. Leslie earned All-WNBA Team honors eight times. For the purposes of this article, appearances in the 2004 and 2010 games for both participating teams are considered All-Star appearances. 3. 11 in 2001, where Jackson was No. -- Pam Ward, G | Houston Comets (1997-2000, 2003) The three-time WNBA champion, ten-time All-Star and former league MVP is also the leagues all-time leading scorer (and counting). 2 by Sacramento, Griffith took the league by storm in her first season, winning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. These teams struggled to find any, Who are the most overrated Premier League players of all time? Im glad you asked: And heres why each of these players was selected: The nominees were required to have played at least two seasons and met four of the following seven criteriawon a major individual award; selected to either the All-WNBA First Team or All-WNBA Second Team; selected to either the WNBA All-Defensive First Team or WNBA All-Defensive Second Team; selected to the WNBA All-Star Game; a member of a WNBA Championship team; currently ranked among the top 40 career leaders in at least one major statistical category; and/or a recipient of the WNBAs season-long Community Assist Award. Three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi has been voted by fans as the leagues greatest player of all time. Now an assistant coach in the NBA, Hammon was recognized on the WNBAs Top 15 and 20@20 teams. Lisa Leslie. The WNBA Top 20@20 presented by Verizon will be unveiled on ESPNs SportsCenter: Face-to-Face with Hannah Storm during the 10 a.m. For all Cooper did for the game of basketball, I was surprised that this vote was not unanimous. Whalen was the floor general for the Lynx during their dynasty years. October 10, 2021 12:34 PM. The Houston Comets selected Thompson in 1997 as the first draft pick in WNBA history. By her eighth season, she had exceeded all of them. 3. Crowned by Giannis Antetokounmpo as the best player in the world during a playoff run filled with memorable scoring explosions, Durant sealed his case for But the other two things are her style and the swag with which she did it and the last thingwhich to me is the most importantis the fact that shes been able to make her teammates better. That means one MVP-level season is worth far more than several All-Star campaigns. Parker ranks second largely on the strength of her playoff performance. The three-time WNBA single-season assists leader finished her career as the all-time playoff assists leader with 341. She played her butt off until the final buzzer. Shes proven to be among the best point guards to ever play the game and played 19 seasons, all with the Seattle Storm. 1. Before the WNBA, she led the ABLs Columbus Quest to two straight championships in 1997 and 1998, the two years the league existed. Leslie played a key role in the leagues inaugural game in 1997 and was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game in 2002. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray combine for 53 points and become the 3rd pair of teammates to each tally double-digit assists in an NBA Finals game. The 9 best outdoor basketballs on the market for 2023, Printable 12-Team bracket (single-elimination tournament), The lowest paid NBA player is making less than $75K this season (and youve probably never heard of him). Highlights: MVP (2012); Rookie of the Year (2010); second all time in rebounds, sixth all time in scoring; two-time scoring champion; four-time rebounding champion; five-time All-WNBA First Team; four-time all-defensive team, A WNBA title is the only accolade missing on Charles' rsum. -- Kelly Cohen, G | Connecticut Sun (2004-09); Minnesota Lynx (2010-18) Her most recent came 16 years later in 2020. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Stewart has quickly climbed the WNBA player ranks and, at 27 years old, has only scratched the surface of the prime of her career. Fan voting to determine the GOAT was conducted on WNBA.com, the WNBA App and Twitter from Sept. 5-19. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA), and league play started in 1997. 1 by a wide margin in regular-season championships added, with nearly a full one more than any other player. Delle-Donne and Charles are the only WNBA MVPs to not make the team, but theyre both relatively early in their careers so lets revisit for the 25-year team. As one of the greatest rebounders, defensive players and efficient scorers in the history of the WNBA, she won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1999 and went on to set the single-season offensive rebounding record in 2001 with 162. We may earn a commission from links on this page. 1. Highlights: One championship (2019); two-time MVP (2015, 2019); Rookie of the Year (2013); only 50-40-90 season in WNBA history (2019); career leader in free throw percentage; one-time scoring champion; four-time All-WNBA First Team, There's nobody in WNBA history quite like Delle Donne, who combines the size of a post player (6-foot-5) with as accurate shooting as we've ever seen. Heres why Nikola Jokic is the best passing big man in NBA history, Printable 16 team double elimination bracket. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "Dreams realized in 'Top 15' celebration", Women's National Basketball Association's, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WNBA%27s_Top_15_Players_of_All_Time&oldid=1145623864, Lists of Women's National Basketball Association players, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Denotes player who was still active in the WNBA at this time, 20022007, 20092011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, The inaugural WNBA All-Star Game took place during the 1999 season, and the game has been contested yearly since, although the 2004 edition was supplanted by a game between WNBA players from both conferences and the 2004 United States Olympic team and the 2010 edition was a game between WNBA players from both conferences and the USA National Team. Nothing against her, but shes one of those players that the WNBA propped up as an ambassador, but never really proved out on the court in my opinion. She also ranks 11th on the all-time scoring list with 6,005 career points. During her 12 seasons with the Seattle Storm, Lauren Jackson was virtually impossible to defend. Taurasi and her warehouse of accolades left no room for debate as a unanimous Top 25 pick. The nine-time All-Star was also named the All-Star Game MVP in 2000. The good news with this list, theres very little room for error as more than half of the players are no-brainer legends; theres just no arguing the accomplishments of these 18 ladies: Maya Moore, Yo Griffith, Leslie, Taurasi, LJ, Tina Thompson, Swoopes, Cooper, Whalen, Catchings, Cappie, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Ausgutus, Katie Smith, Ticha, Becky Hammon and Parker. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images). 2. NEW YORK, June 16, 2016 In celebration of its landmark 20th season, the WNBA will honor the 20 greatest and most influential players in its history and announced today the 60 official nominees for the WNBA Top 20@20 presented by Verizon. One can only imagine what she would have accomplished had she been drafted in the WNBA right out of college. Weve also listed the players who just missed out on selection into the top 25, some of whom might come as a surprise. San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan. Tina Charles: 7115: 5. Cooper was named a four-time Finals MVP, two-time MVP and three-time All-Star during her five-year WNBA career. WebTop 25 Players. She is the career points and rebounds leader for the Sparks franchise, who in 2010 retired her No. -- Mechelle Voepel, Also receiving votes: Swin Cash, Candice Dupree, Chamique Holdsclaw, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Deanna Nolan, Ticha Penicheiro, Dawn Staley, Courtney Vandersloot, Teresa Weatherspoon, A'ja Wilson, Ranking the 25 greatest players in WNBA history, Fantasy women's basketball: Updated top 75 rankings, WNBA Power Rankings: Sky up, Lynx down and Aces still the 1, Winless Lynx lose top pick Miller to ankle sprain, Dream's Robinson has surgery, eyes July return, Sky's Gardner out indefinitely after foot surgery, Stewart battles emotions, shines in Seattle return, Fever win, end WNBA's longest losing streak at 20, Hamby joins Aces' ring night as Hammon returns, Former Clips GM Winger leaves to run Wizards, WNBA waiver wire: Bench players making most of time, They've got next? Career stats: 12.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 5.6 APG The look back at the top players in league history has offered another reminder of how much less help Catchings had with the Indiana Fever than other WNBA superstars did. In addition to everything else, she's an eight-time All-Star. The Heat's lethal 3-point shooting did not carry over from the Eastern Conference Finals. All-Rookie Team. Young-Malcom improved her scoring average every season the San Antonio Stars made the playoffs while also upping her scoring efficiency. She was one of the first who could do that in a lock-down way. Traded during the 2005 season to Detroit, Smith embraced what Shock coach Bill Laimbeer asked of her: Take over at point guard and get in the best shape of your life. Game, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, June 2, 4:58AM. What is Caleb Martins race and background? Offensively, she can beat everybody down the floor, catch a tough pass in stride and finish, or hit a 3-pointer. Highlights (three first-place votes): One championship (2012); MVP (2011); Finals MVP (2012); only player in WNBA history to rank in career top 10 in steals (first), points (third), rebounds (fourth) and assists (eighth); five-time Defensive Player of the Year; seven-time All-WNBA First Team. Tamika Catchings 6. Taurasi was announced as the greatest player in WNBA history today prior to Game 1 of the WNBA Finals 2021 presented by YouTube TV at Footprint Center in Phoenix. $5M bond for 2 charged in suburban volleyball coach's shooting death, Authorities in Mexico find 45 bags containing human remains, Texas cheerleader talks life after being shot by total stranger. The list is nearly split in half with 11 retired players and 9 current ones: The asterisk next to a players name signifies that they were also chosen for the WNBA All-Decade Team that was celebrated at the leagues 10th anniversary mark. Tags: ABL, Angel McCoughtry, Becky Hammon, best wnba player, best wnba players, Brittney Griner, Candace Parker, Cynthia Cooper, Deanna Nolan, Diana 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. Weve picked our 20 best players, maybe yours look a little different. Lisa Leslie 8. -- Katie Barnes, G | Seattle Storm (2002-present) Only Cynthia Cooper averaged more WARP per postseason game, and Parker did it in more than twice as many games (48 to Cooper's 19). -- Mechelle Voepel, G/F | Minnesota Lynx (2006-19); Los Angeles Sparks (2020) Before stepping away from basketball to focus on criminal justice reform and free Jonathan Irons from a wrongful prison conviction, Moore was a six-time All-Star, a WNBA MVP and a Finals MVP. Swin Cash 10/30 (33%) The Top 20 players were announced on June 21, 2016 at ESPN's SportsCenter. For a very long time, when people thought about the WNBA, they thought about Sheryl Swoopes. June 21 during the 10 a.m. Do you have a sports website? Lauren Jackson Robert Beck/SI In her 11th season, all with the Seattle Storm, Jackson has won three WNBA MVP Awards and also been named Defensive Player of the Year. 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. Career stats: 17.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.8 BPG; 56.0 FG% -- Kevin Pelton, F/G | Atlanta Dream (2009-19); Las Vegas Aces (2020-present) With a collective resum that consists of over a hundred NBA championship rings and nearly a million points scored, this prestigious list includes the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Shes also a favorite to win the MVP award again this season. She has been named to every possible all-time WNBA player list, including the All Decade, Top 15 and 20@20. For the purposes of this article, appearances in the 2004 and 2010 games for both participating teams are considered All-Star appearances. The W25, which was unveiled on Sept. 5, includes 10 current players: Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Sylvia Fowles, Brittney Griner, Angel McCoughtry, Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi. It also naturally balances the tradeoff between peak contributions and longevity when it comes to ranking careers. WebA 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. 3. Taurasi hasn't won the most championships, and she hasn't won the most MVPs. At the age of 34, Cooper led the Comets franchise to four consecutive WNBA championships from 1997-2000. Top 20 Players. 24. She was great in the locker room. Unfortunately, Delle Donne hasn't been able to add to her total since leading the Washington Mystics to the 2019 title, as she opted out of last season due to COVID-19 concerns and was limited to three games in 2021 following back surgery. She can dominate the game at both ends, particularly on defense, where she's a disruptive shot blocker and one of the best rim protectors in league history. Augustus, now an assistant coach with the Sparks, deserves to be in the top half of this list for all she accomplished in the league. These athletes have played the game at the highest level on the courtthey are scorers and rebounders, assist makers and defensive stoppers, leaders, and mentors, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. During four full seasons, she averaged over 22 points per game three times, and she won four straight championships. 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. To honor this leagues best of the best is certainly fitting on June 21, a truly historic day for the WNBA and the game.. LeBron James . She's the best ever, and for me, it's not particularly close. [1] Dawn Staley was the only member of both the WNBA's All-Decade Team (2006) and the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time (2011) absent from the Top 20 list.[2]. Ive always said its really what separates her, I think. Diana Taurasi. She led the Fever to the playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons; even without a lottery pick, the Fever were in the hunt every year. Swoopes set the mark for everyone else, in every aspect of the game: from defense to offense, to marketing (she was the first to have a signature shoe), to building the league as one of its foundational pieces. 25 jersey in 2016. 1 by the Mercury in the regular draft. 6Top 15 nominee. So the real head-scratcher is Teresea Weatherspoon. The 2022 All-@WNBA First Team! On the strength of just five WNBA seasons, Stewart has already cracked the top 10 at age 27, with the chance to keep moving up the list. So while she's outside the top 25 in the awards category (32nd, about where she's probably perceived by fans), she cracks the top 20 in regular-season championships added. In just eight seasons, Moore cemented herself as one of the most dominant players in the sport with the trophy case to prove it. Smith helped lead Detroit to three consecutive trips to the WNBA Finals and two WNBA titles. Its not that Nolan wasnt a great player, but she wasnt a superstar even in her time. ET. This well-deserved recognition reflects her sustained excellence on the court and her leading role in advancing the WNBA and womens basketball and being a role model for young athletes everywhere. She made four of her five All-Star appearances after the deal as the Lynx won four titles and reached the Finals two other times. Smith went on to play in the WNBA for 14 seasons and lead the Detroit Shock to two WNBA championships in 2006 and 2008. Second to Catchings in regular-season championships added, Jackson drops a bit because of her relatively weaker playoff performance (14th all time). 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 25. What's the best franchise in WNBA history? Career stats: 13.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 46.6 FG% With the game on the line (and honestly, maybe even my life), I would pick Taurasi to take the shot 10 out of 10 times. Career stats: 18.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.2 APG Who are the twins parents? Azzi, Staley and Natalie Williams had most of their damage in the ABL. If, The biggest NBA rivalries were ferocious during its peak in the 80s and 90s. Stay on current site or go to US version. See more: Ranking the WNBA's 25 greatest players | Experts pick snubs, more. Below are the 60 official nominees for the leagues WNBA Top 20@20 presented by Verizon: Earlier this year, the league tipped off its new campaign, Watch Me Work, that highlights the legacy of the WNBA and its inspiring current and former players. The WNBA continues its celebration of its landmark 25th season by announcing the "W25.". 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. Fowles played with the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx, finishing off her career averaging 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 59.9 percent from the floor. Career stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.8 APG She got her shots off offensive rebounds. Swoopes checks all the boxes. Back in 1996, to commemorate its 50th season, the NBA announced the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history to much fanfare. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "Best of the Best: WNBA to Honor 20 Greatest Players of All-Time", "Left Off The List: A Look At Those Who Could Have Made WNBA Top 20@20", Women's National Basketball Association's, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WNBA_Top_20@20&oldid=1110071052, Lists of Women's National Basketball Association players, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Denotes player who was still active in the WNBA at this time, 20022003, 20052007, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2017, 2018, The inaugural WNBA All-Star Game took place during the 1999 season, and the game has been contested in most years since. In 2019, Delle Donne submitted the first 50-40-90 campaign in league history, making 43% of her 3s and missing just three of 117 free throws. During an era where Bird and Taurasi were still in their prime, Whalen was an All-WNBA First Team pick three times from 2008 through 2014, with two additional second team appearances powering her to 15th in awards championships added. There are a couple of differences in the WNBA version. Fantasy women's basketball: Which stars are rising, falling on the Aces and Liberty? The fact that community involvement factored into the selection process is super interesting, and also reflective of the times we live in now in which players are judged for their actions off the court just as much as they are for their performance on it. Highlights: Four championships (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000); second all time in scoring, fifth in 3-pointers made; three-time All-WNBA First Team. Seimone Augustus (0.7 championships added) ESPN panel ranking: 14. Cynthia Cooper 12. Wilt Chamberlain. After 13 years with the Los Angeles Sparks, she signed with her hometown Chicago Sky this past offseason. And that's not to say she underachieved. Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks (2008-20), Chicago Sky (Current) Parker began her career by winning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 2008. Penicheiro, considered one of the best point guards in the WNBA, dazzled fans with her no-look, behind-the-back passes for 15 seasons. 4Nominated for both All-Decade and Top 15 teams. Take the FA Womens Super League for example, which kicked off in 2011. So, its a tough call to make and will be debated until the end of time, but these are our Top 20 NBA players of all time. She could create off the dribble, score inside over bigger players and was a willing passer. Breanna Stewart. Career stats: 19.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.3 APG Kareem Abdul-Jabbar . All three have multiple all-star appearances under their belt and have won WNBA Championships. NCAA champion -- Sean Hurd, F/G | Chicago Sky (2013-16); Washington Mystics (2017-present) In 15 seasons, Augustus gave us one of the nastiest crossovers and mid-range pull-ups the game has ever seen. As Kite pointed out, its a fun conversation to have. October 10, 2021 12:34 PM. When you're talking about the GOAT, there are some areas that can't be ignored: the defensive end of the floor, championships and a player's impact when it comes to on-court history. We often talk about what a luxury it is to have a big player at the 4, who is versatile enough to switch defensively onto perimeter players. How much do NBA Assistant Coaches really earn? Its hard to believe that its been two decades, but the 2015-16 season marked the 20th WNBA Season. 6) Tim Duncan. , Lauren Jackson becomes the first Australian player inducted into the HOF. There is no shortage of subtle respect in the NBA Lane video. Lets get to what you really want to talk about the snubs. Griner single-handedly took the WNBA to the next level with her imposing size, dominance in the paint and ability to throw it down. She is a two-time MVP, the 2016 Finals MVP with the champion Sparks, a nine-time All-WNBA pick, six-time All-Star and three-time league rebounding leader. *4 DPOY Awards Plus none of the above won WNBA Titles. Taurasi has etched her name across the WNBAs record books. -- Kevin Pelton, F | Seattle Storm (2016-present) When Pondexter was at her best, she was one of the most electric players, fiercest competitors and dominant scorers in the league who delivered some incredible postseason runs. Stewart shines in return to Pacific Northwest, Liberty beats Storm 86-78, The real top 25 players in WNBA history -- according to the stats, 'Disrespectful,' 'ridiculous' and 'ready to fight': Experts sound off on WNBA top 25 player ranking snubs. LeBron James . She instantly became the face of the league and would remain so throughout her eight seasons in the WNBA. She wasn't coming out of the game. Career stats: 15.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.0 SPG After being a member of the Dream Team that won the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Leslie began a career that includes four Olympic gold medals and a Hall of Fame WNBA career. Parker has won league MVP twice, has two titles to her name, and is seventh all-time in rebounds and field goal percentage, winning the rebounding title three times. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Same goes for our panel of voters: ESPN/ABC analysts Rebecca Lobo and LaChina Robinson and play-by-play broadcaster Pam Ward; ESPN writers Katie Barnes, Kelly Cohen, Kevin Pelton and Mechelle Voepel; The Undefeated's Sean Hurd; and ESPN senior editor Melanie Jackson. 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 The 27 players with the longest wingspans in NBA history, ESPNs List of The NBAs 100 Best Players for the 2022-23 season #NBArank, The Full List: ESPNs ranking of the NBAs Top 75 Players (#1-76). Yes, she has been the league's scoring champ multiple times, but she has also been in the top five nine times. As the No. Seven of those 10 active players are on teams that advanced to the 2021 WNBA playoffs. She has been sidelined this season by an ACL tear. She changed the way the women's game was played and what it meant to play her position. 1 pick in 2011, Moore entered the league with unthinkable expectations. She is the second best WNBA player of all time. Candace Parker 4. @DianaTaurasi is your #WNBA GOAT pic.twitter.com/BgJNoJtcro, Congratulations to Diana Taurasi on being voted as the Greatest WNBA player of all time by the fans who have followed her illustrious career and saw her rise above the rest, said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Because her 2016 MVP campaign was Ogwumike's only All-WNBA First Team appearance, she lags a bit in the awards category (28th). pic.twitter.com/qo7Pcy1LYz, ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) September 12, 2021. @MooreMaya pic.twitter.com/Hl2KqnhicS, Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) September 16, 2022. They still beat us. She reminds me of Teresa Weatherspoon -- another player who belongs on this list -- in that Brunson probably could have been a more prolific scorer, but that's not what her teams needed from her. That said, its more name-recognition than anything, but a quick scan of Tweetys accomplishments: 3 WNBA champion, WNBA Finals MVP in 2006 and 5 WNBA All-Star puts that argument to rest. In fact, from 1992 to 2000, the big man from the Democratic Republic of Congo averaged 3.6 Together, they have transformed the way the game is played, changed the way athletes are viewed, become incredible role models, and inspired generations of young, diverse athletes.. These 12 iconic NBA players are known for their goggles, facemasks, and protective eyewear. But it is her consistent offensive greatness and her longevity that set her apart from her peers. Instant observations and the best of NBA Twitter from Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals as it happened in Denver on Thursday. Augustus finished her career as a four-time WNBA champion with the Lynx, an eight-time All-Star and a 2011 Finals MVP. Parker, a six-time WNBA All-Star, led the league in rebounds three times and won the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year award. A large part of Fowles' greatness stems from her longevity: She has demonstrated a level of consistent dominance throughout her career. The 60 nominees were selected based on factors like on-court performance and ability, leadership and sportsmanship, as well as contributions to team success. That date was chosen to honor the date of the leagues inaugural regular-season game in 1997. She has the ability to play in any position on the floor and remains one of the faces of the league. 13. The group was to comprise the 20 best and most influential players of the first twenty years of the WNBA, with consideration also accorded to sportsmanship, community service, leadership, and contribution to the growth of women's basketball; only players to have competed in the WNBA for at least two seasons, and fit at least three of seven criteria (WNBA championship, major individual award, a selection to either the All-WNBA Team, WNBA All-Defensive Team, or WNBA All-Star Game; a current ranking among the top 30 statistical career leaders; and a selection to either the WNBA's All-Decade Team or the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time) were considered. 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. She played with tenacity and relentlessness on both ends of the floor and is the first player in WNBA and NBA history to win three MVP awards and three DPOY awards, which speaks to her versatility on all 94 feet of the court. 1 Still active at time of Top 20 Team announcement. In just eight WNBA seasons, Moore was second in playoff WARP and ranks third in postseason championships added. 2. Bird is the only player to have won a championship in three different decades during her 18-year WNBA career, which isnt over yet. Brunson did all of those things so that her team could be successful. Make Your Picks. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. No player has been more consistent across the board than Griner, who ranks 15th (regular season), 16th (playoffs) and 16th (awards) in the three championships added components. She was a bruising, strong force who rebounded and finished inside, and also was physical defensively. -- Katie Barnes, F/C | Los Angeles Sparks (2008-20); Chicago Sky (2021-present) You Okay, Fam? Additionally, she doesn't score quite as well in WARP as players who were elite at both ends of the court. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Sue With nearly every possible individual accolade on her resume, Charles is just missing a WNBA championship. Undrafted in 1999 (that draft included an influx of veterans after the ABL folded), she had to work hard to diversify her game. We take a look, Basketball is one of the most popular sports in America, and the NBA is one, Over the last few decades, the NBA has given us some of their generations most, The NBA is known not only for the skill of its players, but also for, Whether you collect or resell sports cards, read on for the ultimate razz guide. Heres how I see the top five NBA players of all time: 5. Aja Wilson 13/30 (43%) The Nuggets are no joke, Aaron Gordon displays two-way toughness and more from Denver's Game 1 victory over the Heat at Ball Arena. Michael Jordan. She is an unstoppable force offensively, and defensively she impacts the game in a bigger way than ever appears in a stat sheet. Fowles has put together one of the most balanced WNBA careers, ranking in the top 12 in all three measures of championships added as a regular-season MVP and two-time Finals MVP. I think it's fair to say that if she hadn't been on the same team as Maya Moore during her prime, Augustus' stats would have looked different. 20. Highlights: Two championships (2006, 2008); Finals MVP (2008); third all time in 3-pointers made, eighth all time in scoring; one-time scoring champion; two-time All-WNBA First Team; one-time all-defensive team, After winning two ABL titles in Columbus, where she previously had starred at Ohio State, Smith was allocated to the new Minnesota WNBA franchise in 1999. She retired with averages of 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 46 percent shooting from the floor and played with the Seattle Storm for her entire 12-season WNBA career. As her skill set and body matured, she proved everybody wrong. George is an Australian citizen who was born in Toronto, Canada. In that span, she was selected to six All-Star teams. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Complete dominance. Theres no question in my mind who it is, Bird said on Tuesday before her Seattle Storm faced off against the Washington Mystics. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Taurasi has led the WNBA in scoring five times and in assists once. 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. Jackson was arguably the best player in the WNBA from 2003-2010 during which she won two titles, three MVPs, seven first-team All-WNBA honors, and a Defensive Player of the Year Award. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. ET hour. -- Sean Hurd, F | Los Angeles Sparks (2012-present) Career stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 45.3 FG% The conclusion here is the same as the one I reached last year, when Catchings was selected for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Nobody has had a better WNBA career. She is the leagues career leader in points, field goals made and three-point field goals made in both the regular season and the playoffs. Career stats: 13.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 50.1 FG% Her win share total is second all time. She hasnt won the most league MVPs, nor the most titles, but she ranks number one because of her offensive greatness, durability, and longevity. 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Nba.Com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any position on the list included ten current and former... After the deal as the Lynx, an eight-time All-Star and a seven-time All-Star became the record. Became the only player in league history to win the MVP award, from to... And played 19 seasons, picking up six rings and six MVP.. Which kicked top 20 wnba players of all time in 2011 decades during her 16-year WNBA career, undeniable... Champion with the Sparks franchise, who are the twins parents across the WNBAs top 15 20... She had exceeded all of them their owners and not sports Reference LLC 2021-present You. Active at time of top 20 players in NBA history to much fanfare current Site or go US... All-Wnba first teams in San Antonio, leading the Stars to the WNBA in scoring and rebounding and! Time in the pick-and-pop come as a surprise in Denver on Thursday an! The Washington Mystics which kicked off in 2011, taurasi was named Finals MVP, Ogwumike has made impact... 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Out on selection into the HOF have a sports website 34, Cooper the. Offensive greatness and her longevity that set her apart from her peers said on Tuesday before Seattle! Longevity when it comes to ranking careers wide margin in regular-season championships added, 4.0 RPG, 4.3 kareem. Not sports Reference LLC 19 seasons, all based in the WNBA Names greatest. Parker ranks second largely on the list now is years of experience assists leader her. Professional womens basketball, the league 's scoring champ multiple times, but else! But Phoenix would n't turn 22 until that July, but where was her career. 2008 and was an unstoppable force offensively, and first in steals and field goal percentage MVP three-time! My vote Lynx won four straight championships games and three WNBA championships in 2006 came after a game than I... Typically rated well by WARP because of her playoff performance their belt and have its. 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