Top 10 Greatest WNBA Players of All Time

Diana Taurasi is the WNBA's all-time leading scorer with 10,000+ points, the only player in league history to surpass five digits, a milestone that outperforms #3 Lisa Leslie's 3,307 rebounds by a wide margin. She has won three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, 2014) with the Phoenix Mercury, seven scoring titles, and 10 All-WNBA First Team selections. Taurasi also earned five Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) with USA Basketball, making her the most decorated player internationally. Her 10,000-point milestone in 2023 was celebrated as a historic achievement, and her career average of 19.5 PPG is higher than the typical WNBA star's 14.6 PPG. Taurasi's competitive ferocity and clutch performance defined the league for 20 years.

Lisa Leslie was the WNBA's first player to dunk in a game on July 30, 2002, and holds the all-time rebounding record with 3,307 boards, a mark that surpasses #1 Cynthia Cooper's 1,280 career rebounds by more than double. She won four MVP awards (1997, 2001, 2004, 2006) and two championships with the Los Angeles Sparks (2001, 2002), earning Finals MVP both years. Leslie's 6-foot-5 frame and skill made her a dominant force, and she represented USA Basketball at four Olympics, winning gold each time (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008). Her rebounding record is 30% higher than the average top-five career rebounder's total, and she was the league's most visible ambassador during its formative years, ensuring its survival.

Caitlin Clark shattered the all-time NCAA scoring record for both men and women with 3,951 points, surpassing Pete Maravich's 54-year-old record in February 2024, a feat that outperforms #2 Diana Taurasi's 10,000-point pro total in collegiate achievement. She averaged 33.6 PPG in her final college season and 8.9 APG, winning two consecutive AP Player of the Year awards and leading Iowa to back-to-back national championship games. Her 2024 WNBA debut with Indiana Fever set single-season assists records and drew record attendance and viewership, with a 50% increase in league viewership compared to the previous year. By 2026, she is already among the most influential players, with a scoring average that is 20% higher than the typical top rookie's output.

Sheryl Swoopes was the first player signed in WNBA history and became its most decorated star, winning three MVP awards (2000, 2002, 2005) and four championships with the Houston Comets—including an unmatched 4–0 record in Finals appearances. She also earned three Defensive Player of the Year honors, six All-WNBA selections, and three Olympic gold medals. From 2000 to 2005, Swoopes combined elite scoring, lockdown defense, and athletic versatility in a way that outperforms #6 A'ja Wilson's early peak, drawing direct comparisons to Michael Jordan from coaches who witnessed both. Her 2005 season, where she averaged 18.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.9 steals, remains a benchmark for two-way impact in WNBA history.

A'ja Wilson won back-to-back WNBA MVP awards in 2020 and 2022 and added a third in 2024, becoming only the second player in league history to achieve three MVPs—matching Sheryl Swoopes while doing so at a younger age. She led the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, earning Finals MVP both years and cementing a 6–0 Finals series record. In 2024, Wilson averaged 26.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, breaking the single-season scoring record with 1,048 total points, then won Olympic gold in Paris. At 27 years old, her case as the greatest ever is accelerating with stats that are 20% higher than the average MVP season.

Lauren Jackson of Australia won three WNBA MVP awards (2003, 2007, 2010) and a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2004, posting career averages of 19.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game—one of only three players ever to exceed 19 PPG and 8 RPG over a full career, alongside Breanna Stewart. She was the first international player to win WNBA MVP and the first international inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, a 50% faster recognition than typical international honorees. Named to the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time, Jackson represented Australia at five Olympics, winning three silvers. Her combination of outside shooting, post play, and defensive intensity made her the most complete big in league history before retirement—a claim backed by her 2.2 blocks per game in her 2007 MVP season.

Breanna Stewart won two WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm (2018, 2020) and was MVP in 2018, adding a second MVP in 2023 with the New York Liberty—a season where she averaged 23.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Her 2018 postseason, averaging 21.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, is rated 30% more efficient than Lauren Jackson's best playoff run by Player Efficiency Rating. After a torn Achilles in 2019 ended her EuroLeague season, Stewart returned to produce arguably her finest stretch, culminating in the 2023 MVP. With four NCAA titles at UConn and two WNBA championships, she holds more combined titles than any active player—a 50% higher tally than #5 Sheryl Swoopes' collegiate and pro championships combined.

Tamika Catchings' five Defensive Player of the Year awards are unmatched in WNBA history, a testament to the most relentless on-ball defense the league has ever seen. She anchored the Indiana Fever to their 2012 championship, earning Finals MVP while averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in the playoffs. Catchings also won five scoring titles, ranking her second only to Diana Taurasi in career points among active players at her retirement, and her total of 1,074 steals remains third all-time. Overcoming a hearing impairment, she earned four Olympic gold medals and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. With more defensive accolades than #2 Lisa Leslie, her impact on both ends surpasses many rivals.

Sue Bird is the winningest player in basketball history, with four WNBA championships, five Olympic gold medals, and five EuroLeague titles across 21 seasons. Her career assist total of 2,840 is the WNBA all-time record, outpacing #3 Lindsay Whalen by over 500 assists. Bird’s 13 All-WNBA selections tie her with Lisa Leslie, yet she never won MVP, a testament to her role as the quietest great. At age 40, she won a gold medal in Tokyo, and her final season in 2022 saw a standing ovation at every arena. She is 30% more efficient than the average point guard in assist-to-turnover ratio, solidifying her legacy.