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WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time

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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.

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

Players selected

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  • 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
19972000 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
19972000 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
19972000 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

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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

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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

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Omitted

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References

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