The W25

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The W25 are the Women's National Basketball Association's Top 25 Players of All Time, chosen in 2021 on the occasion of the 25th season of the WNBA from amongst 72 nominees compiled by the league. The group, selected by a panel consisting of media members and pioneering women's basketball figures, was to comprise the 25 best and most influential players of the first 25 years of the WNBA, with consideration also accorded to sportsmanship, community service, leadership, and contribution to the growth of women's basketball. To be considered, players had to have competed in the WNBA for at least two seasons, and fit at least four of seven criteria:

Contents

The W25 were announced on September 5, 2021 at halftime of the Las Vegas AcesChicago Sky game, televised in the U.S. by ABC. [1]

The announcement of The W25 was immediately followed by "Vote for the GOAT". From September 5–19, fans voted on the WNBA's official website, the WNBA's mobile app, and Twitter to determine which member of The W25 they considered to be the league's greatest of all time. Before Game 1 of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 10 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Diana Taurasi was announced as the fans' "GOAT". [2]

Players selected

Notes
^Denotes player who was still active in the WNBA at this time
~Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
PlayerNationalityPositionTeam(s) League titles League awards All-Star Games All-Decade Team Top 15 Team Top 20 Team
Seimone Augustus Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SF Minnesota Lynx (2006–2019)
Los Angeles Sparks (2020)
2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 Finals MVP (2011)
ROY (2006)
All-WNBA
2006–2007, 2011, 2013–2015, 2017, 2018NominatedYes
Sue Bird Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States PG Seattle Storm (2002–2012, 2014–2018, 2020–2022; entire career) 2004, 2010, 2018, 2020 KPSA (2011, 2017, 2018)
All-WNBA
2002, 2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022YesYesYes
Swin Cash Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States PF Detroit Shock (2002–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008–2011)
Chicago Sky (2012–2013)
Atlanta Dream (2014)
New York Liberty (2014–2016)
2003, 2006, 2010 ASG MVP (2009, 2011)
KPSA (2013)
All-WNBA
2003, 2005, 2007, 2011NominatedNominatedYes
Tamika Catchings Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SF Indiana Fever (2002–2016; entire career) 2012 MVP (2011)
Finals MVP (2012)
ROY (2002)
DPOY (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012)
KPSA (2010, 2013)
12× All-WNBA
12× All-Defensive
2002–2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011YesYesYes
Tina Charles ^Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States C Connecticut Sun (2010–2013)
New York Liberty (2014–2019)
Washington Mystics (2021)
Phoenix Mercury (2022)
Seattle Storm (2022)
Atlanta Dream (2024)
Connecticut Sun (2025–)
None MVP (2012)
ROY (2010)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2011, 2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2021Nominated
Cynthia Cooper Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SG Houston Comets (1997–2000, 2003; entire career) 19972000 MVP (1997, 1998)
Finals MVP (1997–2000)
All-WNBA
1999, 2000, 2003YesYesYes
Elena Delle Donne Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States F/G Chicago Sky (2013–2016)
Washington Mystics (2017–2023)
2019 2x MVP (2015, 2019)
ROY (2013)
All-WNBA
2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2023Nominated
Sylvia Fowles Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States C Chicago Sky (2008–2014)
Minnesota Lynx (2015–2022)
2015, 2017 MVP (2017)
Finals MVP (2015, 2017)
4x DPOY (2011, 2013, 2016, 2021)
All-WNBA
11× All-Defensive
2009, 2011, 2013, 2017–2019, 2021, 2022Nominated
Yolanda Griffith Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States C Sacramento Monarchs (1999–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008)
Indiana Fever (2009)
2005 MVP (1999)
Finals MVP (2005)
DPOY (1999)
ASG MVP (2004)
All-WNBA
1999–2001, 2003, 2005–2007YesYesYes
Brittney Griner ^Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States C Phoenix Mercury (2013-2024)
Atlanta Dream (2025-)
2014 DPOY (2014, 2015)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2021Nominated
Becky Hammon Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
PG New York Liberty (1999–2006)
San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars (2007–2014)
None KPSA (2014)
All-WNBA
2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011NominatedYesYes
Lauren Jackson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia C Seattle Storm (2001–2012; entire career) 2004, 2010 MVP (2003, 2007, 2010)
Finals MVP (2010)
DPOY (2007)
All-WNBA
2001–2003, 2005–2007, 2009YesYesYes
Lisa Leslie Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States C Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2009) (entire career) 2001, 2002 MVP (2001, 2004, 2006)
Finals MVP (2001, 2002)
ASG MVP (1999, 2001, 2002)
DPOY (2004, 2008)
12×All-WNBA
1999–2003, 2005–2006, 2009YesYesYes
Angel McCoughtry Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States F/G Atlanta Dream (2009–2018)
Las Vegas Aces (2020–2021)
Minnesota Lynx (2022)
None ROY (2009)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2011, 2013–2015, 2018Nominated
Maya Moore ~Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SF Minnesota Lynx (2011–2018; entire career) [a] 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 MVP (2014)
Finals MVP (2013)
ASG MVP (2015, 2017, 2018)
ROY (2011)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2011, 2013–2015, 2017, 2018Yes
Nneka Ogwumike ^Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States PF Los Angeles Sparks (2012–2023)
Seattle Storm (2024-)
2016 MVP (2016)
ROY (2012)
KPSA (2019, 2020)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2022, 2023Nominated
Candace Parker Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States PF Los Angeles Sparks (2008–2020)
Chicago Sky (2021–2022)
Las Vegas Aces (2023)
2016, 2021, 2023 MVP (2008, 2013)
DPOY (2020)
ASG MVP (2013)
Finals MVP (2016)
ROY (2008)
10× All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022NominatedYes
Ticha Penicheiro ~Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal PG Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009)
Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011)
Chicago Sky (2012)
2005 All-WNBA
All-Defensive
1999–2002Honorable mentionYesYes
Cappie Pondexter Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SG Phoenix Mercury (2006–2009)
New York Liberty (2010–2014)
Chicago Sky (2015–2017)
Los Angeles Sparks (2018)
Indiana Fever (2018)
2007, 2009 Finals MVP (2007)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2006–2007, 2009, 2011, 2013–2015YesYes
Katie Smith Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SG Minnesota Lynx (1999–2005)
Detroit Shock (2005–2009)
Washington Mystics (2010)
Seattle Storm (2011–2012)
New York Liberty (2013)
2006, 2008 Finals MVP (2008)
All-WNBA
2000–2003, 2005–2006, 2009YesYesYes
Breanna Stewart ^Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States PF Seattle Storm (2016–2022)
New York Liberty (2023-)
2018, 2020, 2024 MVP (2018, 2023)
Finals MVP (2018, 2020)
ROY (2016)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
2017, 2018, 2021-2024
Sheryl Swoopes Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SF Houston Comets (1997–2000, 2002–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008)
Tulsa Shock (2011)
19972000 MVP (2000, 2002, 2005)
DPOY (2000, 2002, 2003)
ASG MVP (2005)
All-WNBA
All-Defensive
1999, 2000, 2002–2003, 2005–2006YesYesYes
Diana Taurasi ^Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SG Phoenix Mercury (2004–2014, 2016–; entire career to date) 2007, 2009, 2014 MVP (2009)
Finals MVP (2009, 2014)
ROY (2004)
14× All-WNBA
2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2013–2014, 2017–2018, 2021Honorable mentionYesYes
Tina Thompson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States SF Houston Comets (1997–2008)
Los Angeles Sparks (2009–2011)
Seattle Storm (2012–2013)
19972000 ASG MVP (2000)
All-WNBA
1999–2003, 2006, 2007, 2009YesYesYes
Lindsay Whalen Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States PG Connecticut Sun (2004-2009)
Minnesota Lynx (2010–2018)
2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 All-WNBA 2006, 2011, 2013–2015NoNoYes

Footnotes

  1. Moore last played in the WNBA in 2018, but did not officially announce her retirement until January 2023.

References

  1. "WNBA Continues Celebration Of Landmark 25th Season, Names Greatest Players In League History, "The W25"" (Press release). WNBA. September 5, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. "Diana Taurasi Voted By Fans As WNBA's Greatest Player of All Time" (Press release). WNBA. October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.