WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time

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, 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.

Women's National Basketball Association awards and honors
Championship
Individual awards
Honors

The Top 15 players were announced at halftime of the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.[1]

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 StatesPGSeattle Storm (2002–2022)Connecticut2004 gold
2008 gold
2012 gold
2016 gold

2020 gold

 2004, 2010, 2018, 2020KPSA (2011, 2017, 2018)2002–2007, 2009–2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
Tamika Catchings^ United StatesSFIndiana Fever (2002–2016)Tennessee2004 gold
2008 gold		2012MVP (2011)
Finals MVP (2012)
ROY (2002)
DPOY (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010)
KPSA (2010)		2002–2007, 2009–2011
Cynthia Cooper United StatesSGHouston Comets (1997–2000, 2003)USC1988 gold
1992 bronze		1997–2000MVP (1997, 1998)
Finals MVP (1997–2000)		1999, 2000, 2003
Yolanda Griffith United StatesCSacramento Monarchs (1997–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008)
Indiana Fever (2009)		Florida Atlantic2000 gold
2004 gold		2005MVP (1999)
Finals MVP (2005)
DPOY (1999)
ASG MVP (2004)		1999–2001, 2003–2007
Becky Hammon^ United States
 Russia		PGNew York Liberty (1999–2006)
San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars (2007–2014)		Colorado State2008 bronze (RUS)NoneNone2003–2007, 2009–2011
Lauren Jackson^ AustraliaCSeattle Storm (2001–2012)N/A2000 silver
2004 silver
2008 silver (AUS)		2004, 2010MVP (2003, 2007, 2010)
Finals MVP (2010)
DPOY (2007)		2001–2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2010
Lisa Leslie United StatesCLos Angeles Sparks (1997–2009)USC1996 gold
2000 gold
2004 gold
2008 gold		2001, 2002MVP (2001, 2004, 2006)
Finals MVP (2001, 2002)
ASG MVP (1999, 2001, 2002)
DPOY (2004, 2008)		1999–2006, 2009
Ticha Penicheiro^ PortugalPGSacramento Monarchs (1998–2009)
Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011)
Chicago Sky (2012)		Old DominionNone2005None1999–2002
Cappie Pondexter^ United StatesSGPhoenix Mercury (2006–2009)
New York Liberty (2010–2014)
Chicago Sky (2015-2017)
Los Angeles Sparks (2018)
Indiana Fever (2018)		Rutgers2008 gold2007, 2009Finals MVP (2007)2006, 2007, 2009–2011
Katie Smith^ United StatesSFMinnesota Lynx (1999–2005)
Detroit Shock (2006–2009)
Washington Mystics (2010)
Seattle Storm (2011–2012)
New York Liberty (2013)		Ohio State2000 gold
2004 gold
2008 gold		2006, 2008Finals MVP (2008)2000–2006, 2009
Dawn Staley United StatesPGCharlotte Sting (1999–2005)
Houston Comets (2005–2006)		Virginia1996 gold
2000 gold
2004 gold		NoneKPSA (1999, 2006)2002–2006
Sheryl Swoopes^ United StatesSFHouston Comets (1997–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008)
Tulsa Shock (2011)		Texas Tech1996 gold
2000 gold
2004 gold		1997–2000MVP (2000, 2002, 2005)
DPOY (2000, 2002, 2003)
ASG MVP (2005)		1999, 2000, 2002–2006
Diana Taurasi^ United StatesSGPhoenix Mercury (2004– )Connecticut2004 gold
2008 gold
2012 gold
2016 gold

2020 gold

 2007, 2009MVP (2009)
Finals MVP (2009, 2014)
ROY (2004)		2004–2007, 2009–2011
Tina Thompson^ United StatesSFHouston Comets (1997–2008)
Los Angeles Sparks (2009–2011)
Seattle Storm (2012-2013)		USC2004 gold
2008 gold		1997–2000ASG MVP (2000)1999–2004, 2006, 2007, 2009
Teresa Weatherspoon United StatesPGNew York Liberty (1997–2003)
Los Angeles Sparks (2004)		Louisiana Tech1988 gold
1992 bronze		NoneDPOY (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

References
  1. Voepel, Mechelle (July 22, 2011). "Dreams realized in 'Top 15' celebration". ESPN.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.