Top 10 all-time best WNBA players

As the WNBA prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary, it’s time for us to explore the history of this league through the creation of this rather special Top 10 list. You loved our all-time NBA rankings, so here we go again with the women’s version.

Longevity in the big leagues, peak dominance, legacy, the ability to take a franchise to the highest level, and achievements are our criteria for today.

10) Sue Bird : No sooner had it begun than we already knew who our queen of longevity would be. With 580 games under her belt, Sue Bird is by far the most capped player in the WNBA. The Seattle Storm legend has enjoyed nearly two decades of success in all areas. Individually, the 12-time All-Star is the prototype of the complete point guard. Known for her outstanding passing skills, her often underestimated shooting ability also caused significant damage, especially from the parking lot. At the top of the all-time assists ranking, the American knew how to orchestrate attacks like no one else. And this elite playmaking was immediately reflected in her team. Two years after her debut, Sue Bird won her first title in Game 3. Between this formidable epic and her last trophy, nearly 16 years would pass. And during that time, the point guard continued to reign supreme in her field. However, her four rings do not make up for her total absence from MVP honors. Especially since many consider that until at least 2012, she was not the best player on her team.

9) Lauren Jackson : That’s right, because right in front of her is Sue Bird’s longtime teammate: Lauren Jackson. The GOAT of Australian basketball—both men’s and women’s—completely revolutionized her position, and the WNBA in general. With an average of over 18 points and 7 rebounds, the center was simply unstoppable in her prime. On both sides of the court, she put pressure on opposing defenses. In the regular season, it took a lot to stop her, as evidenced by her three MVP awards. This trend continued into the postseason, where the Albury native managed to bring three banners back to Seattle. With the second-highest win rate in the WNBA, Lauren Jackson literally had winning in her blood. A rare combination of size, skill, ball-handling, and mobility, she proved that a center is not just a force of nature. The problem: the 2007 DPOY’s peak lasted less than a decade. This was not due to a decline in form, but to recurring injury problems. Her physique was both her greatest strength and her worst enemy. A fatal lack of longevity in this all-time Top 10.

8) Breanna Stewart : The three-time NBA champion continues to dominate the WNBA. An iconic performer on the Old Continent, Breanna Stewart has also established herself as one of, if not the dominant force of her generation. A two-time MVP of both the regular season and the WNBA Finals, the forward has changed her status at the New York Liberty. Already impressive in Seattle, the four-time NCAA champion has managed to exceed expectations. The hype was so huge that it was almost a feat in itself. And even when her body slowed her down, the American was able to bounce back. The fact that she is particularly tall for her position—a bit like Kevin Durant—makes her almost unstoppable when she puts on her big-game jersey. Her enormous wingspan also makes her a defensive force, as reflected in her three nominations to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. Perfectly comfortable both inside and outside the paint, her rebounding ability can completely change the course of a game. Not to mention the countless blocks she racks up. Today, she ranks eighth due to her short career compared to the competition. But keep an eye on this name, as she could be much higher in the rankings in the near future.

7) Sheryl Swoopes : In the GOAT debate, everyone constantly sets their own criteria. However, some stand out as untouchable elements, true talismans of the game, including offensive range, defensive impact, and leadership. Sheryl Swoopes ticks all of these fundamental boxes without question. “Ms. First” has racked up achievements that will forever be etched in WNBA history: first player to compile a triple-double, first to have her own signature shoe, first to win four consecutive titles, first to win NCAA – WNBA – Olympic gold… And above all, she is the only player, male or female, to have won three regular season MVPs and three DPOYs. The point guard has set the standard for anyone wishing to achieve superstar status. It’s hard to imagine a more complete player, given her talent. No matter the situation, no matter the timing, no matter her position on the court, she was a constant nightmare for her opponents. Already difficult to defend, facing the Houston Comets icon also meant being perfect with the ball in your hands, or risking having it stolen. A cornerstone of the WNBA’s first dynasty, Sheryl Swoopes left behind an immense legacy that inspires today’s stars. Nevertheless, during her heyday, she did not dominate the NBA as much as her predecessors in the rankings.

6) Maya Moore : The story of Maya Mour is an unfinished tale whose final chapter is more fantastical than realistic. Drafted at the top of the 2011 draft, the whole of America was already hailing her as the future star of her sport. It was enormous pressure, but the power forward brushed it aside with a simple wave of her hand. During her eight seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, she dominated the league like no one had ever done before. Her single MVP award hardly does justice to her skill with the ball. Blessed with rare versatility, the Missouri native had an infinite set of keys that allowed her to unlock every opponent’s game plan. Carrying her team on her back or transforming herself into an extremely reliable passer was no problem for her. Seeing her franchise win was the main thing. And the Lynx won a lot of games. Under her leadership, they reached six finals and won four titles (all in eight seasons, remember). Maya Moore will undoubtedly be remembered as the greatest female basketball player of all time. But some things transcend sport. At the height of her career, she chose to sacrifice her career to help others and change lives. Upon her retirement, the WNBA superstar immediately focused on criminal justice reform while advocating to help Jonathan Irons—her future husband who had been wrongfully convicted—get out of prison. A magnificent scenario, a remarkable battle which, from a purely sporting point of view, unfortunately works against him.

5) Cynthia Cooper : The best scorer our sport has ever seen? That’s the status Cynthia Cooper can legitimately claim. Earlier, we talked about Sheryl Swoopes as a pioneer in her sport. That’s a title that can also be legitimately attributed to Cynthia Cooper. Also a four-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets, she racked up the individual awards. In addition to her two regular season MVP awards, the guard has as many Finals MVP awards as she does rings. It’s absurd. Because, remember, the WNBA was only created in 1996. Cynthia Cooper is the franchise player of the first great dynasty in the Major League. And yet, we are entitled to wonder if this golden age was ultimately only a small sample of her talent. It’s important to keep in mind that all of her accomplishments, including all of her playoff games in which she scored more than 20 points, were achieved at the age of 34! The WNBA was almost the twilight of an immense career marked above all by an XXL stint in Europe. The permanent introduction of the pick and roll in women’s basketball came from Cynthia Cooper. So did the need to implement specific game plans to trap the best opposing player and the possibility of catching fire at any moment on the scoreboard. The shooting guard position will forever remain a “what if.” How high could she have reached if she had played her entire career in the WNBA? This unanswered question prevents us from ranking her higher.

4) Tamika Catchings : The WNBA has seen its share of ultra-complete players. But having many strings to your bow does not automatically mean excelling in every area. Except perhaps for Tamika Catchings. Since the beginning of this ranking, we have seen stars who excel in their versatility. However, here we are closer to the ultimate Swiss Army knife than the athletic power forward. The title of the most well-rounded basketball player the world of women’s basketball has ever known goes without question to the Indiana legend. By becoming the first player to finish a season in the top 10 in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, she set one of the most unattainable records ever. Almost on par with Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points in a single game. And the worst part is that she did it twice! The five-time DPOY also stands out for her unique character. Leading the Fever to 12 consecutive playoff appearances illustrates two things: her ability to galvanize an entire team behind her and, above all, her extraordinary longevity. However, the weight of that single ring, coupled with “only” two MVP awards (one regular season and one Finals MVP), does not carry enough weight. It’s a sensational record for 99.99999% of professional basketball players. The problem is that we’re talking about the cream of the crop here.

3) Lisa Leslie 🥉 : The WNBA has never seen another physical force quite like Lisa Leslie, who stands at 6’5″. The league’s first big star had an extraordinary career from start to finish. Playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, the center never finished with an average of less than 15 points, with several seasons ending in a double-double. Exceeding two blocks and a rating of 20 per game was also the norm for the Californian. During the early years of her career, she had to contend with the dominance of the Houston Comets duo of Cooper and Swoopes. But once the storm had passed, Lisa Leslie was the main architect of the first dynasty of the millennium. The only franchise to have achieved back-to-back titles without losing a single game in the finals, the Sparks finally cracked in 2003 in the final game against the Detroit Shock. During those two seasons, Lisa Leslie dominated the competition both offensively and defensively. At the same time, when a bulldozer comes barreling down the court at full speed, it’s not easy to stop. In addition to her Finals MVP awards, she also won the first of her three regular season MVP awards. And later, the eight-time All-NBA First Team player would shine even brighter without the ball, winning two DPOY awards. Behind the two UFOs, she is the greatest player in WNBA history.

2) Diana Taurasi 🥈 : She is undoubtedly the GOAT of our sport. Six-time Olympic champion, three-time world champion, three-time NCAA champion, six-time EuroLeague winner… Yet Diana Taurasi is currently second in our rankings (which is already incredible). The reason? Only achievements in the WNBA are taken into account. A league she didn’t forget to torment along the way. Her nickname, “White Mamba,” perfectly describes her playing style. This direct reference to Kobe Bryant is by no means an exaggeration. While Cynthia Cooper had a scoring talent superior to that of all her counterparts, Diana Taurasi has a more complete offensive arsenal. She knows how to rack up points, as well as distribute, organize the game, empower her teammates, and get the crowd going. The former Phoenix Mercury player was the WNBA’s leading scorer five times, including four consecutive seasons. She hasn’t won the most WNBA championships (2007, 2009, 2014) or regular season MVP awards (2009). However, the player with the highest winning percentage is Cynthia Cooper. Her champion DNA didn’t need a visa to cross the Atlantic. The Italian-American is all the more difficult to pin down because when she is mentioned, passion quickly takes over reason. Her buzzer beaters, her 2014 finals, her offensive sequences… Everything is memorable.

   

1) A’ja Wilson 🐐 : In eight seasons, A’ja Wilson—or rather “Miss MVP”—has already established herself as a key figure in the WNBA. In eight seasons, she has already racked up a SENSATIONAL list of collective and individual achievements: four regular season MVPs (a record), three championship rings, three DPOY awards, and two Finals MVP awards. In eight seasons, the center has made her mark with a style that combines impressive physical power (6’4″), offensive versatility (mid-range shooting, back-to-the-basket play, ability to dominate in the paint) and formidable defense (blocks, rebounds). In eight seasons, the charismatic leader of the Las Vegas Aces has established herself as one of the most dominant players in the history of women’s basketball… like our GOAT! Trained at the University of North Carolina, A’ja Wilson earned an All-Star star in her rookie season. With her, age is not a factor. In 2024, she finished an exceptional season with an average of 26.9 points. We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves, but there’s no doubt that our decision to place her at the top of this prestigious ranking will be quickly confirmed.