WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time

Last updated September 18, 2024

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. 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, leadership, 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.

Players selected

Note: all information only pertains to the first fifteen years of the league's existence.

^	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

Player	Nationality	Position	Team(s)	College(s) attended	Olympic medals	League titles	League awards	All-Star Games
Sue Bird^	United States	PG	Seattle Storm (2002–2022)	Connecticut	2004 gold 2008 gold 2012 gold 2016 gold 2020 gold	2004, 2010, 2018, 2020	KPSA (2011, 2017, 2018)	2002–2007, 2009–2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
Tamika Catchings^	United States	SF	Indiana Fever (2002–2016)	Tennessee	2004 gold 2008 gold	2012	MVP (2011) Finals MVP (2012) ROY (2002) DPOY (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010) KPSA (2010)	2002–2007, 2009–2011
Cynthia Cooper	United States	SG	Houston Comets (1997–2000, 2003)	USC	1988 gold 1992 bronze	1997–2000	MVP (1997, 1998) Finals MVP (1997–2000)	1999, 2000, 2003
Yolanda Griffith	United States	C	Sacramento Monarchs (1997–2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Indiana Fever (2009)	Florida Atlantic	2000 gold 2004 gold	2005	MVP (1999) Finals MVP (2005) DPOY (1999) ASG MVP (2004)	1999–2001, 2003–2007
Becky Hammon^	United States Russia	PG	New York Liberty (1999–2006) San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars (2007–2014)	Colorado State	2008 bronze (RUS)	None	None	2003–2007, 2009–2011
Lauren Jackson^	Australia	C	Seattle Storm (2001–2012)	N/A	2000 silver 2004 silver 2008 silver (AUS)	2004, 2010	MVP (2003, 2007, 2010) Finals MVP (2010) DPOY (2007)	2001–2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2010
Lisa Leslie	United States	C	Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2009)	USC	1996 gold 2000 gold 2004 gold 2008 gold	2001, 2002	MVP (2001, 2004, 2006) Finals MVP (2001, 2002) ASG MVP (1999, 2001, 2002) DPOY (2004, 2008)	1999–2006, 2009
Ticha Penicheiro^	Portugal	PG	Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009) Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011) Chicago Sky (2012)	Old Dominion	None	2005	None	1999–2002
Cappie Pondexter^	United States	SG	Phoenix Mercury (2006–2009) New York Liberty (2010–2014) Chicago Sky (2015-2017) Los Angeles Sparks (2018) Indiana Fever (2018)	Rutgers	2008 gold	2007, 2009	Finals MVP (2007)	2006, 2007, 2009–2011
Katie Smith^	United States	SF	Minnesota Lynx (1999–2005) Detroit Shock (2006–2009) Washington Mystics (2010) Seattle Storm (2011–2012) New York Liberty (2013)	Ohio State	2000 gold 2004 gold 2008 gold	2006, 2008	Finals MVP (2008)	2000–2006, 2009
Dawn Staley	United States	PG	Charlotte Sting (1999–2005) Houston Comets (2005–2006)	Virginia	1996 gold 2000 gold 2004 gold	None	KPSA (1999, 2006)	2002–2006
Sheryl Swoopes^	United States	SF	Houston Comets (1997–2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Tulsa Shock (2011)	Texas Tech	1996 gold 2000 gold 2004 gold	1997–2000	MVP (2000, 2002, 2005) DPOY (2000, 2002, 2003) ASG MVP (2005)	1999, 2000, 2002–2006
Diana Taurasi^	United States	SG	Phoenix Mercury (2004– )	Connecticut	2004 gold 2008 gold 2012 gold 2016 gold 2020 gold 2024 gold	2007, 2009, 2014	MVP (2009) Finals MVP (2009, 2014) ROY (2004)	2004–2007, 2009–2011
Tina Thompson^	United States	SF	Houston Comets (1997–2008) Los Angeles Sparks (2009–2011) Seattle Storm (2012-2013)	USC	2004 gold 2008 gold	1997–2000	ASG MVP (2000)	1999–2004, 2006, 2007, 2009
Teresa Weatherspoon	United States	PG	New York Liberty (1997–2003) Los Angeles Sparks (2004)	Louisiana Tech	1988 gold 1992 bronze	None	DPOY (1997, 1998)	1999–2003

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. For the purposes of this article, appearances in the 2004 and 2010 games for both participating teams are considered All-Star appearances. 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 Maya Moore in 2010 were WNBA players at the time of the two games. There was no All-Star Game held in 2008.
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.

Other finalists

¹ Retired at time of Top 15 Team announcement.
² Not playing in the league at time of Top 15 Team announcement.

Top 15 Players vs. All-Decade Team

All ten members of the WNBA's All-Decade Team were included in the Top 15 Team. There were some players that were nominated for the Top 15 Team that were not nominated for the All-Decade Team and vice versa. Below are lists of players that were either added to or omitted from the Top 15 Team nominations, in respect to the All-Decade Team nominations.

Added

Omitted

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References

↑ Voepel, Mechelle (July 22, 2011). "Dreams realized in 'Top 15' celebration". ESPN.

External links

Official announcement on WNBA.com

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[Voepel-1] Voepel, Mechelle (July 22, 2011). "Dreams realized in 'Top 15' celebration". ESPN.

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