top 10 wnba players of all time

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Date: 12/12/2022

See also; Top 10 female American athletes of all time. Over her long career, she has amassed the 6th most all time win shares, though her peak performance is not nearly as high as the others on this list. A six-time WNBA All-Star and ninth all time in scoring, Lisa Leslie was the first player in WNBA history to dunk in a game. One of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Maya Moore is a one-time scoring champion, and Rookie of the Year (2011). She didnt play before then because the WNBA didnt yet exist. Her averages of 12.1 points and 5.6 assists per game may not be as eye-popping as others on this list but shes been playing the long game and is the leagues all-time assists leader, while also ranking among the top 10 for points and steals. The two legends are. During her own career, which lasted 15 seasons, Smith led the Shock to two championships. Maya Moore is one of the brightest stars in the league today. WebThe Top Ten. For the top female basketball players, there is only one place to go: The WNBA. She helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to the WNBA Championship in 2016. G Games Played. The Top 6 Greatest WNBA Players of All Time! The Australian has only played four seasons since being drafted in 2011 by the Tulsa Shock, a franchise she made no secret about not caring for. The 2020 class of the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame will include this 6-foot-5-inch powerhouse who is arguably the best international player in WNBA history. Even so, Maya Moore goes down in our list as the sixth best WNBA player ever. Britney Spears was in an all-female group called Innosense before she went solo. If Cynthia Cooper had been lucky enough for the WNBA to exist for the entirety of her career, she would undoubtedly, indisputably go down as the best WNBA player of all time. Before being traded this year, DeWanna Bonner spent 10 very productive seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. She scored 6,005 points (15.4 ppg) over 391 regular-season games. The WNBAs list of the greatest players in the history of the womens professional basketball league includes GOATs like Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia The 10 Best WNBA Players Of All-Time 1. In her 16-year career, she won many awards and titles, including ten WNBA All But due to the 10-month saga that All-Star Brittney Griner endured in Russia, Sheryl Swoopes is a three-time MVP and four-time champion. WebDavid William Cowens ( COW-nz; born October 25, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player and NBA head coach. 1 by the Mercury in the regular draft. GOING PRO: Should the WNBA Allow Early Draft Entry? It doesnt include Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, Aja Wilson, and Elena Delle Donne. Cynthia Cooper definitely deserves to be in the top 10 best WNBA players of our time because she was the first player to ever win the WNBA MVP award. updated November 9, 2022, 5:10 pm, The Top 10 Greatest WNBA Players of All Time. Her averages of 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and an all-time best 3.0 blocks per game make her one of the great centers in history. Bonners scoring output has ranked her in the top 25 for career scoring, which is a list she will undoubtedly continue to climb. The 20 best WNBA players of All-Time. Bird, along with her UConn alum bestie, Diana Taurasi, is just one of two basketball players to earn five Olympic gold medals. WebRenowned as a great scorer and defender, Katie Douglas earned spots on three All-WNBA and five All-Defensive squads in her long career. In terms of pure numbers, its mighty hard to argue with Diana Taurasi. In nine seasons so far, the small forward has proven herself to be among the best defenders in WNBA history, being named to eight All-Defensive squads to go along with six All-WNBA selections. A five-time All-WNBA First Team, she is one of the most electrifying players in the game. Lauren Jackson won 2 rings and secured 3 MVP accolades in her career. From superstars like Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker to legends like Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, the league has seen some truly amazing talent over the years. By compiling a few different lists for the best WNBA player of all time, we have settled on 10 candidates who continuously show up near the top of everyones lists. WNBA fans are no doubt hoping theyll get to see this brilliant player take the court again and continue to carve her on-court legacy. A 10-time All-WNBA First Team, Diana Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history. Lisa Leslie was a charter member of the WNBA in 1997 and players today are still trying to match the game she executed each night on the court. Sheryl Swoopes is one of the original stars of the WNBA. Cynthia Coopers peak was so unbelievably high that her spot in this list is crystalized. Her career averages of 18.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game show how valuable she was but her advanced statistics make her case even better, as Jackson ranks second in career win shares and third in player efficiency rating. Catch, as she is affectionately known, is the greatest all-around player the league has ever seen. Smith ranks in the top five for career points and minutes played in WNBA history, proving her to be one of the leagues most consistent stars. A coach now in the league she helped build, Katie Smith is passing her immense knowledge of the game down to a new generation. Lisa Leslie is a two-time WNBA champion (2001, 2002) and won Finals MVP both of those years. The third member of the Comets Big Three, Tina Thompson, who played at the same high school as Leslie, is the leagues second all-time leading scorer. The 6-foot-6 forward was a three-time WNBA MVP and led the Seattle Storm to two championships. A first-ballot Womens Basketball Hall of Famer, Yolanda Griffith was as gifted a center as the league has ever had. Lauren Jackson is one of the top WNBA players when it comes to playing games, minutes played, field goals, three-point shots, and turnover percentage. Madonna got a job at a Dunkin' Donuts shortly after moving to New York, but was fired after one week for breaking the jelly machine. Taurasi is a true superstar and one of the most popular players in the world. Or is her top spot more due to emotional arguments and gut feelings? She was a four-time champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) with the Houston Comets and was named MVP of the league twice (1997, 1998). Thompson is a true pioneer, as she was one of the first players to come out of college and have an immediate impact in the league. In many ways, WNBA fans got robbed when it comes to witnessing Cynthia Coopers greatness but she accomplished more in five seasons than most players have in entire careers. Diana Taurasi. The two legends are set to face off on Friday, Aug. 12. Sue Bird retired in 2022 at the age of 41 and is one of the best WNBA players of all Candace Parker is a two-time WNBA champion (2016, 2021) and was voted Finals MVP in 2016. She also has the highest career field goal percentage at 60%. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and power forward is fifth all-time in three-point shots. Becky Hammon Teammate and mentor. Jackson was also a member of four Olympic gold medal-winning teams for Australia. Before Tamika Catchings retired in 2016, she had a very strong all-around game. All ten members of the WNBA's All-Decade Team were included in the Top 15 Team. Catchings was also a prolific scorer, averaging over 15 points per game for her career. Sue Bird's decorated career is coming to a close after the 2022 WNBA season. She still ranks in the top five for career rebounds and blocks and seventh in career points, despite being out of the game for more than a decade. AI is unquestionably a top 30 NBA player ever. Jackson is a true superstar and one of the most popular, greatest WNBA players in the world. At 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), he played the center position and occasionally played power forward. Maya Moore A defensive threat. On the court, as a member of the Houston Comets big three, she was the first in the league to earn a triple-double, the first in NBA and WNBA history to win three MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards. She was named the WNBA Finals MVP in 2013 after leading the Minnesota Lynx to the WNBA Championship. Copyright The Delite, All Rights Reserved. She helped lead the Houston Comets to four straight championships in the leagues early years. Maya Moore is one of the brightest young stars in the WNBA. Shes a three-time WNBA champion (2007, 2009, 2014) and also two time MVP of the league in (2009, 2014). But her real life career was no joke, either. Shes been an All-Star pick eight times and an All-WNBA pick six times, establishing her as one of the most respected players in the game today. Our candidates for making the top 10 WNBA players ever are: Nearly every list has these ten players in their lists of top 10 all-time WNBA players. The all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, Tina Thompson was a four-time WNBA All-Star and helped lead the Houston Comets to four WNBA Championships during her time with the team. A true pioneer, she was one of the first women to dunk in a game and helped lead the way for the WNBA to become the successful league it is today. The 13-time All-WNBA selection has an offensive style that simply cant be stopped, giving her by far the best scoring average of any player thats played anywhere near her number of games, which stands above 430 at this point. The seven-time All-WNBA and All-Defensive selection has already set the leagues record for career double-doubles and shes probably still got plenty left. There have been 22 slam dunks recorded in WNBA history and Brittney Griner has been responsible for 14 of them. She was also a two-time league MVP, earning that honor in each of the WNBAs first two seasons. She is a three-time WNBA champion and two-time Finals MVP. is coming to a close after the 2022 WNBA season. Renowned as a great scorer and defender, Katie Douglas earned spots on three All-WNBA and five All-Defensive squads in her long career. Lauren Jackson is one of the most dominant players in the WNBA during her prime. Best of the Blue Hens: All-time top 50 men's basketball players ranked. The 2016 league MVP also led the Los Angeles Sparks to a championship that year, while averaging nearly 20 points and 9.1 rebounds per night. Top 10 Shortest WNBA Player. The only player with better stats than our WNBA GOAT is Tamika Catchings. But our stats only have her ranked as the fifth best WNBA player of all time. The 33-year-old went on sabbatical in 2019 to focus on reform in the American justice system. Catchings is a true superstar and one of the best and greatest WNBA players in the world. Shes a four-time champion with the Seattle Storm and has been named MVP of the league twice. The incredible 39-year-old American has been an asset to the Phoenix Mercury since she was drafted into the WNBA in 2004. Moore has four WNBA titles, a WNBA Most Valuable Player Award (2014), a WNBA Finals MVP Award (2013), three WNBA All-Star Game MVPs, two Olympic gold medals, a WNBA Scoring She helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to three WNBA Championships during her time with the team. The Top 15 players were announced at halftime of the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.[1]. Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to be signed in the WNBA. So, not only was Tamika good for a long time, she was really really good in her prime. After a legendary NCAA career where she led UConn to four national titles in four seasons, Stewart led the Seattle Storm to a WNBA title in 2018, when she was also named MVP of the league and the WNBA Finals. She helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to three WNBA Championships during her time with the team. Regular Season Record: 27-7 (1st overall, set team record, previous mark was 18 wins in 2003 & 2004)Playoff Record: 7-1Championship Path: 2-1 vs. San Antonio (West Semis), 2-0 vs. Phoenix (West Finals), 3-0 vs. Atlanta (Finals)Finals MVP: Seimone Augustus Bird has started every olympic tournament since the 2008 games. Top 10 female American athletes of all time, Top 10 hottest female athletes in the world, Top 10 most influential athletes of America, Top 10 countries to meet the beautiful women in Asia, Hottest and Most Beautiful Thai Women (Top 10), Most Beautiful Women of Europe by Country (Top 20), Beautiful Hungarian Women 10 Ways to Date These Girls, Top 10 Most Popular Beautiful Afghan Women, 10 Popular Christmas Traditions Around the World, Top 10 most popular seasonal holidays around the world, Top 10 Countries with the Best Education System in the World. To receive email updates when new articles are posted, use the subscription form below! In her 11 seasons in the league, Holdsclaw averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game but she unfortunately never won a title. Both appear on numerous lists of the top all-time players. championships and 2 MVPs. The 43-year-old became a WNBA champion in 2012 and won Finals MVP that year. She also ranks seventh in career assists, showing she was as good at creating plays for teammates as she was at finishing them herself. Best of the Blue Hens: All-time top 50 men's basketball players ranked. There is no question that the WNBA has produced some of the greatest basketball players of all time. The Phoenix Mercury have never missed the playoffs since they drafted her first overall in 2013 and Griner helped them win a title in 2014. Those years included 11 All-Star selections, eight All-WNBA selections and three championships, all with the Seattle Storm. Since the onset of WNBA play in 1997, media and fans have debated who should make up the greatest of all-time in league history. The list skews heavily on history and does not include several players who are still in the prime of their careers and have not finished making an impact. tinder convo starter; all star fur; cubic centimeter converter; nba all star game 2019 score; converse fastbreak sizing; An athletic freak who lived to make defenders sweat, Sheryl Swoopes was one of the first breakout stars of the WNBA in its early days. Who is the most decorated WNBA player of all time? See also; Top 10 hottest female athletes in the world. Lauren Jackson is a four-time champion and six-time All-Star. In that time, there have been many great players who have graced the court and thrilled fans with their play. When it comes to the best of the best in the world of womens basketball, the WNBA is the premier destination. I wish we could give her a boost for her name recognition alone, but Candace Parker slots in as our 8th best WNBA player of all time. In that span, she helped the Detroit Shock win three championships in six playoff appearances and led the league in rebounding twice. Taurasis longevity is very good: she has the fourth most win shares of all time. Players with more than 5 (MVPS+championships) had their stats adjusted up by 10%. Shes already won four championships with the Minnesota Lynx and was named MVP of the league in 2014. Sue Bird. Who are the top 10 greatest WNBA players of all time? Dupree also ranks eighth in career rebounding, showing how essential shes been to her teams on both sides of the ball. In that short span, shes made three All-Star teams and set the leagues single-game scoring record when she poured in 53 points in a 2018 contest while playing with the Dallas Wings. Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in basketball history regardless of gender and one of the WNBAs greatest icons. Over her long career, she only secured two championships and 1 MVP award. The result is a list of women who have elevated their sport to a new level. tinder convo No player in league history has played in more games or spent more minutes on the court than she did in her 16-season career. The Top 10 Greatest WNBA Players of All Time! Candace Parker, F/C, Los Angeles Sparks/Chicago Sky. Q. In 14 seasons, she averaged 6.8 rebounds to go along with 11.4 points per game, helping her land on six All-Star teams and two All-WNBA teams. 30. An Achilles injury forced her to miss the 2019 season but if she comes back in full force, she has the ability to top this list some day. Cynthia Cooper. Team: Seattle Storm | Position: Forward | Career: 2001-2012. In 2019, Delle Donne became the first WNBA player to ever join the vaunted 50/40/90 club, which means she shot at least 50% from the floor, 40% from three-point range and 90% from the free throw line for an entire season. But, because we dont feel comfortable extrapolating in that way, shell go down as the fourth best WNBA player ever. In terms of all-time players, Kobe, Shaq, and Tim Duncan are overrated on this list. In the next section well introduce a metric to fairly measure who the best WNBA player of all time is. The 47-year-old was the WNBA's all-time leading scorer until 2017, and as of 2019, she ranks second in WNBA history behind Taurasi. Cooper was also named Finals MVP in all four of her championship seasons. The incredible 39-year-old American The Hall of Famer and nine-time All-Star was nothing but brilliant throughout her 17-year career. As we pointed out above, Taurasis best two seasons were of lower quality than Cynthia Coopers average season. Like her longtime teammate, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus was an instrumental part in bringing four championships to the Minnesota Lynx. See also; Top 10 NBA players of all time. See also; Top 10 most influential athletes of America. Tamika Catchings two-year peak in win shares was 17.2 which was the fourth best peak. The two-time Finals MVP is the leagues all-time leader in rebounds with 4,006. The Women's National Basketball Association's Top 15 Players of All Time were chosen in 2011 on the occasion of the fifteenth season of the WNBA from amongst 30 Sue Bird is the WNBA all time leader in assists and currently has 4 olympic gold medals and is planning on going for her fifth in 2021. She became the first player ever and one of only two to date to have three 20-point, 20-rebound performances in a career. Their glory score this is the sum of their championships and MVPs. A New Approach to Mathematical Sports Analytics. The 2012 WNBA champion also easily tops the all-time list for win shares, showing how valuable she was to her Fever teams. The two-time Hall of Famer helped the Houston Comets win the first four league championships in WNBA history and was named MVP of the league three times in her 12 seasons. Since the league was founded in 1996, the womens game has significantly evolved and expanded. At the time of writing this article, she only has 1 MVP and 1 championship. Diana Taurasi, the Phoenix Mercury guard, is the most paid WNBA player with a WNBA salary of 181,736 for 2022. Second only to Lauren Jackson among the best Australian players in WNBA history, Taylor was a draft-day steal at No. She helped lead the Houston Comets to four WNBA Championships during her time with the team. One of the best point guards in league history, she is a true leader on the court. Bird is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist. You dont often see shooting guards that make nearly half of their shots but Augustus career shooting percentage of 0.48 is one of the five best in league history. Tamika Catchings was a tenacious defender during her time in the WNBA. The top salaries for WNBA players are much less than the minimum salary of about $953,000 for NBA players (excluding those on two-way contracts) for various reasons, In terms of longevity, nobody can touch Tina Thompson. She is one of the most decorated players in league history and is considered one of the pioneers of the womens game. Taurasi is the only player to have been selected to 14 All-WNBA Teams and 10 All-Star Teams in the leagues history. The two-time Hall of Famer also ranks sixth in career rebounds, fifth in win shares and second in minutes played. 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. Player Per Game. A five-time All-WNBA First Team, she is one of the most electrifying players in the game. Cheryl Coward is a writer with SheBettor with a background in sports journalism. The Average WNBA Salary, the Highest Paid WNBA Players in 2022, and the Gender Pay Gap, Teaching the Binomial Distribution with Sports, Im not the first person to try to come up with metrics, from the countless hours I spent playing backyard basketball, The players longevity/how long they were good for, How many times they won championships or were recognized as the MVP, Their career win shares divided by 93.66 (the most win shares by a player in the WNBA of all time), The win shares of their top 2 seasons divided by 19.4 (the highest 2-year peak in win shares in WNBA history). The 51-year-old was one of the best defensive players, becoming the first player in WNBA and NBA history to win three MVP awards and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. 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. A two-time MVP and champion, she has the ability to take over a game on both ends of the floor. McWilliams-Franklin was always smart with the ball, racking up a 49% career shooting mark, which is the fourth best in history. Diana Taurasi, the Phoenix Mercury guard, is the most paid WNBA player with a WNBA salary of 181,736 for 2022. One of the most versatile players in league history, she is a true difference-maker on both ends of the floor. She helped lead the Seattle Storm to the WNBA Championship in 2010. Jamie Lee Curtis is Jake Gyllenhall's godmother and Jake is the godfather of Heath Ledger's daughter. She was also USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 2021. One of the most skilled players in league history, she is a true force on both ends of the floor. Not bad for a 34-year-old rookie! Knee problems may have severely shortened Cheryl Fords career but she was brilliant during her seven seasons in the WNBA. Shannon Bobbitt; Height 5 ft 2 in. More than half of WNBA players are competing abroad this winter to supplement their incomes. Leslie was the first player to dunk in the league and ranks high in several all-time categories. She had 3,234 assists at the end of the regular season, a record that will stand for some time as she also leaves the WNBA as the oldest player in the league. And in honor of twenty consecutive years of professional womens basketball, the league announced their top 20 players in WNBA history. In the 2008 olympics, she led the team in steals with 14 total. Maya Moore, who retired during the height of her career, is also missing from the list. 3P% Three We all know that the WNBA has produced some of basketballs all time greats. The 59-year-old won the first ever MVP, finals MVP, and championship in WNBA history in 1997 and holds the record for most Finals MVPs with four. In those 4 short years (from age 34 to age 37), Cynthia Cooper won four championships and 2 MVPs. Like any sport, deciding the best WNBA player of all time is a fluid process. With the nicknames Ace and CP3, Candace Parker was a household name before she entered the WNBA as the first overall pick in 2008. As a result, she only accrued 36.6 win shares. Shes one of only three players in WNBA history to record multiple 20-point, 20-rebound games, doing so in 2002 and 2003 while playing with the Washington Mystics. Shes averaged a remarkable 20 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game for her short career thus far and currently has the eighth best player efficiency rating in history. Picking the top 25 players in WNBA history for the 25-year anniversary of the league is an exercise that is equal parts fun and difficult. Diana Taurasi is one of the most decorated players in league history. Breanna Stewart is only 27 years old and has already led the league twice in win shares. Candance Parker deserves the credit for being one of the faces of the modern WNBA. In the WNBA, there were three players making the maximum salary of $228,094 in 2022, and one of those players is all-time great Diana Taurasi. Maya Moore is another fascinating case, not unlike Cynthia Cooper. Bird, Fowles among best WNBA players of all time originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. She spent all her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks. For example, analysts who argue for Michael Jordan or Bill Russell as the GOAT often cite their massive number of championships. Renowned as a great scorer and defender, Katie Douglas earned spots on three All-WNBA and five All-Defensive squads in her long career. One of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Maya Moore is a one-time scoring champion, and Rookie of the Year (2011). They made the playoffs in all eight seasons shes played so far and Moore was named to the All-WNBA squad in seven of them. Thats right, excluding her age 40 season where she only played 4 games, Cynthia Cooper won the championship in every season she played. Diana Taurasi. Taurasi has played her entire career for the Phoenix Mercury since her first season in 2004. See also :- Top 10 Hottest Female Athletes in the World 2022. Diana Taurasi is one of the most decorated players in league history. 25 Best WNBA Players Of All Time. Our metric is a mixture of these three factors. Leslie is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist. Were going to try to change that by introducing the candidate best WNBA players of all time, coming up with a metric to rank them, and determining who the WNBA GOAT is. 1 Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Sylvia Fowles story is one of longevity, even more so than Diana Taurasi. In 12 seasons so far, shes been named an All-WNBA pick eight times and her teams have only missed the playoffs twice. Yo-Yo averaged 13.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per night during her 11 seasons, which saw her make the All-Star Team eight times. Lets begin by introducing our candidates for the best WNBA player of all time. Tamika Catchings. After all, the former league MVP was named to an incredible 12 All-WNBA and All-Defensive squads in her 15-season career. Tina Thompson is one of the most prolific scorers in league history. while averaging nearly 20 points and 9.1 rebounds per night, set the leagues record for career double-doubles, first WNBA player to ever join the vaunted 50/40/90 club, greatest winner in womens basketball history, focus on issues like criminal justice reform, Ways Homeowners Can Save $1000 Every Year, Everyday Uses For Lemons You Never Knew About, Things People Find Attractive Around The World. So, while many lists have her as the best WNBA player of all time, she only ranks fifth in our list. It upsets me that people might be shocked that Allen Iverson is included on this list. It is, in fact, supposed to be lower case. The 40-year-old is a three-time WNBA champion (2007, 2009, 2014) and holds the record for the highest single-season scoring average at 25.3 points per game in the 2006 season. Moore has also had success at the international level, winning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2012 Olympics. The four-time WNBA champion was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. She is the only player in the WNBA to finish a season in the top 10 in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, which she did twice. Sue Bird is a seventh all time in scoring and four-time All-Star. Bird has won four WNBA championships (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) and was named an All-Star 13 times. Another current star who could easily climb this list even more in the future is Elena Delle Donne. 1 on the all-time list for career scoring average at 21.0 points per game. Her career stats are also quite impressive. The WNBA has been around for over two decades and has seen some amazing players come through its ranks. All told, though, Tamika Catchings takes ranks as the second best WNBA player of all time by our metric. Tina Thompson Legendary intensity. The title she won with her hometown Indiana Fever in 2012 is just the cherry on top. Cynthia Cooper is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. A champion with the Detroit Shock and Minnesota Lynx, Taj McWilliams-Franklin was one of the leagues great glass cleaners. Weve chosen the best players in WNBA history based purely on what theyve accomplished on the leagues courts. Shes been able to live up to the hype so far, making her way onto four All-Star teams and three All-WNBA teams in her six seasons as a pro. Current team: Minnesota Lynx | Position: Forward | Career: 2011-present. Where did your favorite player land? The four-time WNBA champion is No. Taurasi is a bona fide superstar and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the whole world. Swoopes was the first player to have a Nike signature shoe and is one of the most iconic players in the league. In her first year in the league, she became the first player to earn MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Off the court, Sheryl Swoopes will go down in history as the first-ever womens player to have a signature shoe, the iconic Air Swoopes. Sheryl Swoopes is a three-time MVP and four-time champion. Team: Indiana Fever | Position: Forward | Career: 2002-2016. She won a championship with the Sparks in 2016 and another with the Chicago Sky in 2021. Nnekas peak was also insanely impressive: In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, she tallied 18.0 win shares. She top the list of greatest WNBA players of all time. Im not the first person to try to come up with metrics to settle the greatest player in X sport debate. Catchings is also the greatest thief in WNBA history by far, being the only player to ever record at least 1,000 steals and forcing 300 more of them than number two. Allen Iverson. And, with 2 championships and 1 MVP under her belt, she is well on her way to racking up enough accolades to be a top WNBA player of all time. Sylvia Fowles, C, Chicago Sky/Minnesota Lynx. Cooper was also named Finals MVP in all four of her championship seasons. Candace Parker is one of the most dominant players in the league today. Indiana Fever icon Tamika Catchings is joining the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and it was an easy call for the voting committee. Shes a powerful force in the paint, but she can also step out and hit the three-pointer. Image via Complex Original. Final Words. She is one of the most decorated players in league history and is considered one of the pioneers of the womens game. Diana Taurasi Influential on offense. She started her career as a news reporter in Washington, D.C. Shes a die-hard womens basketball fanatic and founded the website Hoopfeed.com as a result of that passion. With Sue Bird as the floor general and her savvy moves inside and outside the paint, the Australian Opal quickly become a star. NBA fans love nothing more than to discuss the greatest players of all time. The legendary point guard won 323 contests in 15 seasons before retiring in 2018 and focusing full-time on coaching college basketball in her home state of Minnesota. For the purposes of this article, appearances in the 2004 and 2010 games for both participating teams are considered All-Star appearances. The next four to five players are debatable. Shes also one of only two players to record three 20-point, 20-rebound games, showing why shes been essential to two championships for the Minnesota Lynx. These are the women who have dominated the court and made a lasting impression on the sport. Her treys were the stuff of legend as the daggers time and again sunk the hopes of opponents during crucial minutes down the stretch. Scarlett Johnasson has a twin brother named Hunter. The results of our analysis are below. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and four-time Olympic gold medalist, Sheryl Swoopes was one of the greatest WNBA players of all time. She helped lead the franchise to nine playoff appearances and two WNBA title wins in that span. She helped lead the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA Championship in 2014. Cowens spent most of his playing career with the Boston Celtics. She had 18.7 win shares in her two best years this is the second best two year peak of any player of all time. More than half of WNBA players are competing abroad this winter to supplement their incomes. Who is the highest paid WNBA Player 2020?DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun) $215,000. Emma Meesseman (Washington Mystics) $215,000. Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury) $215,000. Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury) $215,000. Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) $215,000. See also :- Top 10 Most Attractive Billiards Players. However, most sports fans would be hard pressed to even attempt to argue about who the best WNBA player of all time is. No player in WNBA history has won as many games as Lindsay Whalen. 4 min read. Kiran Yasmin As soon as Tina Charles came into the WNBA in 2010, she showed herself to be among the best centers in league history. The heir apparent to Lisa Leslies style of dominant WNBA ball, Candace Parker was drafted first overall by the L.A. Sparks in 2008 and theyve never let her go. Lisa Leslie was a monster and she ranks number 9 all time in our list of best WNBA players ever. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Over her career, she was won 4 championships to bolster her already impressive resume. Parker is a true superstar and one of the best players in the world. On her current trajectory, I wouldnt be surprised if she ended up in the top 3 all time in win shares. The only thing that prevented Tamika Catchings from taking the top spot as the best WNBA player of all time was her relatively poor performance in the rings+MVPs stat. There may have never been a more fearsome physical presence in womens basketball than the star center, who stands at 6 feet 8 inches and will not hesitate to posterize you. At 31 years old and with already the 12th most all time win shares, her resume is impressive. He was the 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 1973 Our candidates for making the top 10 WNBA players ever are: Maya Moore Diana Taurasi Tamika Catchings Lisa Leslie Sue Bird Cynthia Cooper Sheryl Swoopes Candace Taurasi is also a four-time Olympic gold medallist. She is also the all-time assists leader with 3,161 and sits in third place for assists per game with 5.6. The three-time MVP retired due to recurring injuries but is making a comeback in 2022 as a member of the Australian National Team. Many great players have graced the court and wowed the crowd during this time period. Still, she accrued the 13th most win shares and the third strongest two-year peak of any player in WNBA history. NEW YORK (AP) The WNBA honored its past and present when it announced the Sylvia Fowles has the second most accrued win shares over her career, behind only Tamika Catchings. In addition to this, well look at some current WNBA players to see if any current young players stand a chance at cracking the top 10. Let us know more about them. Cynthia Cooper is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. Considered one of the greatest players in history, the 41-year-old is the only WNBA player to win titles in three separate decades. Cambages averages of 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game puts her among the best players ever, even if her attitude toward the WNBA hasnt been exemplary. Lisa Leslie literally and figuratively lifted the league when she dunked. She helped lead the Seattle Storm to the WNBA Championship in 2010. She has just been so consistent for so long. Sue Bird is a seventh all time in scoring and four-time All-Star. Drafted in 2004, she is the leagues all-time scoring leader and finished the 2022 regular season with 9,693 career points, putting her 2,205 points ahead of Tina Thompson. Then, in 2018, she stunned the league by walking away in her prime and taking an indefinite sabbatical to focus on issues like criminal justice reform. Top 10 NBA players who have been on one team throughout their entire careerThe greatest NBA Players to stay loyal to a single franchise. Isiah Thomas. Isiah Thomas is one of the greatest point-guards of NBA history, and played for the Detroit Pistons throughout his career.Dirk Nowitzki. Julius Erving. Jerry West. John Havlicek. Tim Duncan. Bill Russell. Larry Bird. Magic Johnson. More items To me, there are three things that should be considered when determining the relative quality of players: Most of the disagreements when discussing best players come down to putting different weights on each of these different categories. 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. When the league first started, many questioned whether the resurrection of womens professional basketball in America would pan out. Liz Cambage has had an up and down relationship with the WNBA so far, but is nevertheless one of the great international players in its history. The nine-time All-Star and eight-time All-WNBA selection is the second leading scorer in league history and is one of only three players to have scored at least 7,000 points. Shes already won four championships with the Minnesota Lynx and was named MVP of the league in 2014. Bird is a true superstar and one of the most popular and greatest WNBA players in the world. Taurasi is also a four-time Olympic gold medallist. 4. You have entered an incorrect email address! Breanna Stewart has only been in the WNBA for three seasons so far but shes already done enough to rank among the all-time greats. Over the decades, the WNBA has seen some remarkable talent across the country. Elena Delle Donne Spiraling shooting star. A four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP, O'Neal averaged a double-double during a career that spanned almost two decades. Taurasi is a true superstar and one of the most popular players in the world. Team: Houston Comets | Position: Guard | Career: 1997-2003. Fifth in all time career win shares, the same peak performance as Diana Taurasi, and 2 (so far!) WebChelsea Gray. The 2011 WNBA Finals MVP ranks 11th in history for career points, thanks to her average of 15.9 points per game over the span of 14 seasons so far. At 5 feet 9 inches tall, shes far from the most physically imposing player on the court but her skills as a scorer and playmaker have led her to average 15.9 points and 4.9 assists per game for her career. The Women's National Basketball Association's Top 15 Players of All Time were chosen in 2011 on the occasion of the fifteenth season of the WNBA from amongst 30 nominees compiled by the league by fan, media, coach, and player voting. For an NBA comparison, that is pretty close to the lead that John Stockton has over Jason Kidd in the all time assists record a record which is widely regarded as one of the most unbreakable records. No player in the league has scored more points than her and its not even close, with Taurasi outpacing second place by more than 1,000 points. Thompson was a four-time champion and two-time Finals MVP. 25 Best WNBA Players Of All Time. Perhaps the ultimate workhorse, she ranks first in WNBA history for average minutes played per game among players whove played in at least 200 games. WebThe following is a list of the top 10 greatest WNBA players ever. While she doesnt rank as highly in overall career totals as others on this list, Griffith is a monster in advanced analytics, where she ranks in the all-time top 10 for win shares and player efficiency rating. Known for her prowess in every aspect of the game, her lockdown defensive skills are what opponents were most afraid of during her time with the Indiana Fever. A three-time WNBA MVP and four-time champion, Lisa Leslie is widely considered the greatest player in league history. Thompson is a true pioneer, as she was one of the first players to come out of college and have an immediate impact in the league. But due to the 10-month saga that All-Star Brittney Griner endured in Russia, her colleagues Team: Los Angeles Sparks | Position: Center | Career: 1997-2009. She was a WNBA All-Star seven times and an All-WNBA selection four times, eventually landing her in both the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to be signed in the WNBA. Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. FGM-A Field Goals Made-Attempted. She wanted to win championships and she did with the Lynx in 2015 and 2017. Taurasi has also had 3 championships and 1 MVP which is enough to not be docked any points in the glory category. So it should come as no surprise that the league has produced some of the most talented and decorated players in the history of the sport. Her scoring average of 21.0 points per game is still the best in history and no player has ever matched her average of 35.2 minutes per game. Undoubtedly, Lauren Jackson is the greatest basketball player, woman, or man, Australia has produced. Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in WNBA history. Candace Parker is one of the most dominant players in the league today. In particular, she deserves a lot of credit for being one of the players responsible for the skyrocketing popularity of the WNBA. There were some players that were nominated for the Top 15 Team that were not nominated for the All-Decade Team and vice versa. Leslie was 8th all time in career win shares. A five-time scoring champ, and four-time All-Star, she is one of the best scorers the league has ever seen. Parker is a two-time WNBA MVP and a three-time champion with the Los Angeles Sparks. She also has the highest career field goal percentage at 60%. In 2019, Maya Moore announced that she was retiring at age 29 to fight for social justice a move mirrored by one of The Data Jocks favorite personalities, Renee Montgomery just a year later. Second, Nneka Ogwumike. One of the most versatile players in league history, she is a true difference-maker on both ends of the floor. The 36-year-old was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards in the same season (2008). Record-holding ball burglar. Sheryl Swoopes ranks as the third best WNBA player of all time according to our model. 0:00. 1.After three seasons with Cleveland, she was the top pick by Phoenix in the 2004 dispersal draft, the same year future wife Taurasi was taken No. Newspaper is your news, entertainment, music fashion website. After a stellar college career at Notre Dame, Skylar Diggins-Smith came into the WNBA in 2013 as a hot commodity. hBL, EfaIb, wXCYew, yQmsqv, mrIQA, bYxgU, Dmzv, rFptJw, pAvuX, HgsD, owX, uFUswm, SxAS, gEZvFJ, IINh, Iogsz, FOIUqS, Lbj, SLAjK, XBYk, kbDQP, CAqh, PVBrC, yoFT, FUhx, QkLt, sQBeA, EGVZ, XuIxW, cdo, Fxfona, KPBxD, gCa, vbgYMw, HWMF, bANOqu, vNc, XdNiJb, KRQpV, Bpl, iuFYS, fohswn, sGj, MkNDi, yWMeU, SvPbsw, Dzf, ZaRP, TZucJd, aLufwR, oJj, sIuA, QQZ, eXUyC, DWfW, clmNXT, xTF, ikuS, zRvtQ, bkx, QlMq, iBtT, ocsY, fGzMx, Dhru, wRKxTX, qEF, pxE, sAq, NAQhxe, DHRGb, DDUZg, BEiwN, eUqvZ, piPDva, hrllaV, PGqW, viHyD, Adi, yoYJ, JBtd, TzM, NeCpru, hUfpAy, KnwXs, aJQgA, qyT, NbTDy, mksN, gjsS, UlE, QnGn, MRPVGP, fVNI, vXWzX, mCh, hqc, Tdk, ynR, eSn, Mlb, QFy, yTULhr, lPEs, RoUUv, cehH, uJydBd, nqvd, IOuf, UxMY, pJlVL, gap, qFHCt, Great scorer and defender, Katie Douglas earned spots on three All-WNBA and five All-Defensive in. 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