Originally by Ranker SportsList RulesBest female basketball players to ever compete in the WNBA
From Brittney Griner to Diana Taurasi, we're ranking the best WNBA players of all time, many of whom find themselves still dominating as some of the greatest current WNBA players. Who are the legends of the Women's National Basketball Association? Composed of 12 all-women basketball teams, the WNBA was founded in 1996. Originally, all teams were owned by the NBA. But several teams, such as the Los Angeles Sparks and the Atlanta Dream, are independently owned. This distinction is incredibly important for the WNBA, as they've had the opportunity to distance themselves from the NBA and come into their own.
Early famous WNBA stars included Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Rebecca Lobo, all of whom helped the U.S. women's basketball team win the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. The Houston Comets, lead by four-time Finals MVP, Cynthia Cooper, dominated the WNBA from 1997 to 2000. Lisa Leslie and the Los Angeles Sparks won back-to-back WNBA championships the next two years before she retired in 2009. Today's best women's basketball players include Lauren Jackson, Seimone Augustus and Tamika Catchings.
Who are the top WNBA players of all time? Vote for your favorite to the top of the list and see who's truly the best of the best!
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932377Sue Bird
Point guardAge: 39
Birthplace: Syosset, New York, United States of America
Number: 10
Suzanne Brigit Bird (born October 16, 1980), commonly known as Sue Bird, is an American... more on Wikipedia2
1,429645Candace Parker
Power forward, CenterAge: 33
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986) is an American professional basketball player who... more on Wikipedia3
1,297584Maya Moore
Small forwardAge: 30
Birthplace: Jefferson City, Missouri
Maya April Moore (born June 11, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia4
1,685777Diana Taurasi
Point guard, Shooting guardAge: 37
Birthplace: Glendale, California, United States of America
Number: 3
Diana Lorena Taurasi (born June 11, 1982) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia5
Sheryl Denise Swoopes (born March 25, 1971) is a retired American professional basketball... more on Wikipedia723301Sheryl Swoopes
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709272Elena Delle Donne
Small forwardAge: 30
Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware
Number: 11
Teams: Washington Mystics
Elena Delle Donne (born September 5, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia7
1,091485Lisa Leslie
CenterAge: 47
Birthplace: Gardena, California, United States of America
Lisa Deshaun Leslie (born July 7, 1972) is the Head Coach for Triplets in the BIG3... more on Wikipedia8
756319Tamika Catchings
Small forwardAge: 40
Birthplace: Stratford, New Jersey, United States of America
Number: 24
Tamika Devonne Catchings (born July 21, 1979) is an American retired professional basketball... more on Wikipedia9
Cynthia Cooper may refer to: Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, née Cynthia Cooper, basketball... more on Wikipedia74432010
739339Lauren Jackson
CenterAge: 38
Birthplace: Albury, Australia
Number: 15
Lauren Elizabeth Jackson (born May 11, 1981) is an Australian former professional basketball... more on Wikipedia11
353214Tina Thompson
Power forwardAge: 44
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Number: 7
Tina Marie Thompson (born February 10, 1975) is an American former WNBA professional... more on Wikipedia12
350236Becky Hammon
Point guardAge: 42
Birthplace: Rapid City, South Dakota
Rebecca Lynn Hammon (born March 11, 1977) is a Russian-American assistant coach for the San... more on Wikipedia13
Dawn Michelle Staley (born May 4, 1970) is an American basketball Hall of Fame player and... more on Wikipedia24216414
272192Chamique Holdsclaw
Small forward, Power forwardAge: 43
Birthplace: Astoria, New York City, New York, United States of America
Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw (born August 9, 1977) is a former professional basketball player in... more on Wikipedia15
248151Tina Charles
CenterAge: 31
Birthplace: Jamaica, New York City, New York
Number: 31
Tina Alexandria Charles (born December 5, 1988) is an American professional basketball player... more on Wikipedia16
264183Seimone Augustus
Shooting guard, Small forwardAge: 35
Birthplace: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
Seimone Delicia Augustus (born April 30, 1984) is an American professional women's basketball... more on Wikipedia17
351246Brittney Griner
CenterAge: 29
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Brittney Yevette Griner (born October 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player... more on Wikipedia18
Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon (born December 8, 1965) is a retired American basketball player who... more on Wikipedia19414319
Nnemkadi "Nneka" Ogwumike (born July 2, 1990) is an American basketball player of Nigerian... more on Wikipedia842320
161102Angel McCoughtry
Small forwardAge: 34
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
Number: 35
Teams: Atlanta Dream
Angel Lajuane McCoughtry (born September 10, 1986) is an American professional basketball... more on Wikipedia21
13358Skylar diggins
Point guardBirthplace: South Bend, Indiana
Number: 4
Teams: Dallas Wings
Skylar Kierra Diggins-Smith (born August 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball... more on Wikipedia22
300243Lindsay Whalen
Point guardAge: 37
Birthplace: Hutchinson, Minnesota
Lindsay Marie Whalen Greve (born May 9, 1982) is the head coach of the University of... more on Wikipedia23
281227Rebecca Lobo
ForwardAge: 46
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin (born October 6, 1973) is an American television basketball analyst... more on Wikipedia24
223168Katie Smith
Point guard, Shooting guardAge: 45
Birthplace: Lancaster, Ohio, USA
Number: 14
Katie Smith (born June 4, 1974) is an American retired professional basketball player and... more on Wikipedia25
191126Swin Cash
Power forwardAge: 40
Birthplace: McKeesport, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Swintayla Marie "Swin" Cash Canal (born September 22, 1979) is an American retired... more on Wikipedia
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