With the foundation of the Women’s National Basketball Association in 1996 and the initiation of the league’s game in 1997, it has made its own mark in the charismatic and animated presence of women in the sport.
Best Female Basketball Players (Source: CT Insider)
Despite being underappreciated in the basketball world, the league is home to some of the greatest female basketball players in the world who are top scorers, defenders, dunkers, and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers.
So, let’s take a quick look at such 15 best female basketball players of all-time in the WNBA.
Quick Overview
S.N.
Best Female Basketball Players
Country
1.
Diana Taurasi
US
2.
Sheryl Swoopes
US
3.
Tamika Catchings
US
4.
Lisa Leslie
US
5.
Maya Moore
US
6.
Lauren Jackson
Australia
7.
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke
US
8.
Sylvia Fowles
US
9.
Sue Bird
US
10.
Candace Parker
US
11.
Breanna Stewart
US
12.
Lindsay Whalen
US
13.
Elena Delle Donne
US
14.
Yolanda Griffith
US
15.
Tina Thompson
US
Best Female Basketball Players of All Time
The information and details has been compiled from trusted sites on the web, including ESPN and Wikipedia.
15. Tina Thompson
Born: 10th February 1975 (47 years)
Position: Small forward/ Power forward
Team: Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, and Seattle Storm.
Career Stats: 15.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG
Roster Status: Retired
Tina Thompson is a former basketball player and coach from Los Angeles.
In 1997, the Houston Comets picked her in the first round in the WNBA draft.
From 1997 to 2000, Thompson led the Comets to win four WNBA championships.
Till 2014, she played with teams like Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm. Whereas from 2015 to 2022, she served as the assistant coach for Texas Longhorns and Virginia Cavalier’s basketball team.
Tina Thompson (Source: High Post Hoops)
During her time in court, Thompson was nine times All-Star, two-times Olympic medalist, and 2000 All-Star MVP.
With total score points of 7,488, Thompson is the second all-time leading scorer in WNBA history.
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inducted Thompson in 2018.
14. Yolanda Griffith
Born: 1st March 1970 (52 years)
Position: Center
Team: Sacramento Monarchs, Seattle Storm, and Indiana Fever.
Career Stats: 13.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.7 SPG
Roster Status: Retired
Holding the 14th spot is one of the greatest rebounders and defensive players in WNBA history.
Yolanda Griffith is a former center from Chicago. She played in ABL from 1993 to 1998 and in WNBA from 1999 to 2009.
During her ten years of WNBA career, Griffith played for teams like Sacramento Monarchs, Seattle Storm, and Indiana Fever.
Yolanda Griffith (Source: University Press)
In 2001, Griffith broke the record for most offensive rebounds in a single season with 162 in WNBA history.
Moreover, she is eight times All-Star, two times rebounding champion, 2005 WNBA champion, 2005 WNBA Finals MVP, and 2014 Hall of Famer.
13. Elena Delle Donne
Born: 5th September 1989 (32 years)
Position: Small forward/ Shooting guard
Team: Washington Mystics
Career Stats: 20.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.6 BPG
Roster Status: Active
Elena Delle Done is a small forward in WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
In 2013, the Chicago Sky drafted her in the second pick in the WNBA draft. She then played for the Sky for four seasons.
Since 2017, Donne has been playing for the Washington Mystics.
Elena Delle Donne (Source: People.com)
In 2019, Donne led the Mystics to win their first WNBA championship.
To date, Donne is six times All-Star, two times WNBA MVP, 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year, and 2015 WNBA scoring champion and peak performer.
Besides, she is the only player to be a member of the 50-40-90 club in WNBA history.
12. Lindsay Whalen
Born: 9th May 1982 (39 years)
Position: Point guard
Team: Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx, and Dynamo Moscow.
Career Stats: 11.5 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.8 RPG
Roster Status: Retired
Lindsay Whalen is a former point guard in WNBA.
She played in WNBA from 2004 to 2018 with teams like Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx, and Dynamo Moscow.
Since 2018, Whalen has been serving as the head coach for the women’s basketball team for the University of Minnesota.
During her time in Lynx, Whalen led the team to win four WNBA championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.
Lindsay Whalen (Source: Wikipedia)
Over the course of her career, she was five times WNBA All-Star, three times WNBA assist leader, three times WNBA peak performer, and a 2014 Euro Cup winner.
After Becky Hammon, Whalen is the only player to score 4,000 points, 1,500 assists, and 1,000 rebounds in WNBA history.
11. Breanna Stewart
Born: 27th August 1994 (27 years)
Position: Power forward
Team: Seattle Storm
Career Stats: 20.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 BPG
Roster Status: Active
Holding the 11th spot is a power forward from WNBA’s Seattle Storm.
Breanna Stewart made her WNBA debut when the Seattle Storm drafted her in the first round of the 2016 Draft.
Breanna Stewart (Source: IMDb)
To date, Stewart is three times All-Star, two times WNBA champion, two times WNBA Finals MVP, and 2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Moreover, she is the 2018 FIBA World Cup MVP and 2021 Russian League Champion.
10. Candace Parker
Born: 19th April 1986 (35 years)
Position: Center/ Power forward
Team: Chicago Sky
Career Stats: 16.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.6 BPG
Roster Status: Active
Candace Parker is a center and power forward in WNBA’s Chicago Sky.
In 2008, the Los Angeles Sparks drafted Parker in the first pick of the WNBA Draft.
She played for the Sparks for 13 seasons and led them to win their first WNBA championship in 2016.
Besides, she also led the Sparks in rebounds three times in 2008, 2009, and 2020.
In 2021, Parker joined the Chicago Sky and led them to win their first WNBA championship.
Candace Parker (Source: Wikipedia)
Aside from playing in WNBA, Parker serves as the commentator for Turner Sports, which focuses on NBA games.
To date, Parker is six times WNBA All-Star, two times WNBA Finals MVP, three times WNBA peak performer, nine times All-WNBA Team, and the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year.
Parker was the first WNBA player to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP Award in the same season in 2008.
9. Sue Bird
Born: 16th October 1980 (41 years)
Position: Point guard
Team: Seattle Storm
Career Stats: 12.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 5.6 APG
Roster Status: Active
Holding the 9th spot is a point guard from WNBA’s Seattle Storm.
Suzanne Brigit Bird, famous as “Sue Bird,” made her WNBA debut when Seattle Storm picked her in the first round in the 2002 draft.
Sue Bird (Source: GQ)
To date, she has been 12 times All-Star, four times WNBA champion, four times FIBA World Cup champion, three times WNBA assist leader, and two times WNBA Peak Performer.
Besides, Sue Bird is one of two players to win five Olympic medals in WNBA history along with Diana Taurasi.
8. Sylvia Fowles
Born: 6th October 1985 (36 years)
Position: Center
Team: Minnesota Lynx
Career Stats: 15.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.8 BPG
Roster Status: Active
Sylvia Fowles is a center for WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
She debuted in WNBA when the Chicago Sky drafted her as the second pick in the 2008 draft.
Later, she played for the teams like Spartak Moscow and Beijing Great Wall.
Sylvia Fowles (Source: High Post Hoops)
To date, Fowles is seven times WNBA All-Star, two times WNBA Finals MVP, four times WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, four times Olympic gold medalist, and two times WNBA rebounding champion.
7. Cynthia Cooper-Dyke
Born: 14th April 1963 (58 years)
Position: Point guard/ Shooting guard
Team: Segivua, Basket Parma, and Houston Comets
Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.9 APG
Roster Status: Retired
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is a former point guard in WNBA who played for 17 seasons.
From 1986 to 2003, she played for WNBA teams like Basket Parma and Houston Comets.
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (Source: Los Angeles Sentinel)
Currently, Dyke is serving as a head coach for the Texas Southern Lady Tigers basketball team.
During her time in court, Dyke was three times All-Star, four times WNBA champion, four times WNBA Finals MVP, and three times WNBA scoring champion.
In 2009, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame made Dyke, its member.
6. Lauren Jackson
Born: 11 May 1981 (40 years)
Position: Center/ Power forward
Team: Seattle Storm, Samsung Bichumi, and Spartak Moscow Region.
Career Stats: 18.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.4 APG
Roster Status: Retired
Holding the 6th spot is a former WNBA player from Australia.
Lauren Jackson made her WNBA debut as a power forward with the Seattle Storm in 2001.
Besides, she played for 16 seasons in the WNBA from 2001 to 2016 with teams like Samsung Life Blueminx and Spartak Moscow Region.
Lauren Jackson (Source: InsideTheGames)
During her time on the court, Jackson was seven times WNBA All-Star, five times All-Defensive Team, two times WNBA champion, three times WNBA MVP, and three times WNBA Scoring Champion.
Moreover, Jackson was the 2007 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and rebounding champion.
Further, she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
5. Maya Moore
Born: 11th June 1989 (32 years)
Position: Small forward
Team: Minnesota Lynx.
Career Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG
Roster Status: On a Break
Maya April Moore is a small forward in WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
In 2011, the Minnesota Lynx drafted her as the first pick in the WNBA draft. But, since 2019, Moore has been on a break from her WBA career for fighting against the American justice system.
Maya Moore (Source: Wikipedia)
To date, Moore is seven times All-Star Team member, has appeared in six WNBA All-Star games, won four WNBA Championships, and 2014 WNBA MVP.
Moreover, she is the 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2014 WNBA scoring leader, and 2018 WNBA steals leader.
Lisa Leslie is a former center from WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
Leslie played for the Sparks for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2009. Currently, she is serving as the head coach for BIG3’s basketball team, Triplets, and as a commentator in Fox Sports Florida.
Lisa Leslie (Source: Antigua Observer)
During her time in court, Leslie was eight times WNBA All-Star, two times WNBA champion, two times WNBA Finals MVP, and two times WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Further, she has a career record of 6,263 points, 3,307 rebounds, and 822 blocks.
3. Tamika Catchings
Born: 21st July 1979 (42 years)
Position: Small forward
Team: Indiana Fever
Career Stats: 16.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.4 SPG
Roster Status: Retired
Tamika Catchings is a former WNBA player from New Jersey who played for 15 seasons.
From 2002 to 2016, Catchings played as a small forward in WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
Tamika Catchings (Source: Forbes)
During her time in court, Catchings was 2002 Rookie of the Year, 2011 WNBA MVP, 2012 WNBA Champion, and five times WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
By that, she is among the 11 women to win all four honors in WNBA history.
Further, she was ten times WNBA All-Star, 12 times All-WNBA Team, four times Olympic gold medalist, and had led the WNBA in steals eight times.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame made Catchings its member in 2015.
2. Sheryl Swoopes
Born: 25th March 1971 (51 years)
Position: Shooting guard/ Small forward
Teams: Houston Comets, Seattle Storm, and Tulsa Shock.
Career Stats: 15.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.0 SPG
Roster Status: Retired
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is a former shooting guard and Hall of Famer from the WNBA.
The Houston Comets drafted Swoopes in the 1997 WNBA draft.
From 1997 to 2011, Swoopes played for the WNBA teams like Houston Comets, Seattle Storm, and Tulsa Shock.
Sheryl Swoopes (Source: Face2Face Africa)
After retiring, she served as an assistant coach for the NCAA’s Texas Tech Lady Raiders.
During her time in court, Swoopes was six times WNBA All-Star, seven times All-WNBA Team, four times WNBA champion, three times WNBA MVP, and three times WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inducted Swoopes in 2017.
1. Diana Taurasi
Born: 11th June 1982 (39 years)
Position: Point guard/ Shooting guard
Team: Phoenix Mercury
Career Stats: 19.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.3 APG
Roster Status: Active
At the top comes the GOAT, Diana Taurasi.
Famous as “White Mamba,” Taurasi is a point guard in WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
The Mercury drafted her as the first pick of the first round in the 2004 WNBA Draft.
Diana Taurasi (Source: NewsChain)
To date, Taurasi has appeared in 10 WNBA All-Star Games, won three WNBA championships, two WNBA Finals MVP, five Olympic gold medals, and three FIBA World Cups.
Besides, she is five times WNBA scoring champion, six times WNBA Peak Performer, six times EuroLeague champion, and led WNBA in assists in 2014.
Moreover, the 14 times All-WNBA Team member, Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA with more than 9,174 points.
Whereas she is the first player in WNBA history to exceed 9,000 points.
