When the conversation of basketball comes up, all too often the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) is dismissed, in favor of the NBA. However, the WNBA is composed of many fantastic female athletes. The following individuals are some of the all-time best WNBA players.
1: Sue Bird
Perhaps the most well-known WNBA player, Sue Bird, tops the chart as one of the best WNBA players of all time. After graduating from UConn, Bird played for over two decades on the Seattle Storm team. In her 417 career games played, she averaged 11.3 points a game and 5.5 assists. With 4 WNBA rings, Sue is the most decorated WNBA player and the only WNBA player to have a title in three different decades.
2: Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi, a current player for the Phoenix Mercury, is regarded as one of the best shooters in the WNBA. With a career average of 19.4 points per game, Taurasi dominates the league offensively. In fact, she is the only player ever to have scored over 9,000 career points. Her accomplishments are backed up by several awards including a 2009 MVP title and three championship titles.
3: Cynthia Cooper
Joining the WNBA at age 34, Cooper brought a plethora of overseas knowledge to the WNBA. Her skill unprecedented in the league, Cooper became an all-time top scorer. With an average of 21 points per game, Cooper has the highest career scoring average in all of the WNBA. While her stats speak for themselves ( Four championships (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000); two-time MVP (1997, 1998); four-time Finals MVP (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000); all-time leader in career scoring average (20.98 PPG); three-time scoring champion; four-time All-WNBA First Team) she also transformed the game of basketball with her mental game and skill.
4: Lisa Lesley
Lisa Lesley, a center for the Los Angeles Sparks from 1997-2009 might be one of the most well known names in women’s basketball. Not only was her professional performance for the Sparks impressive, but so was her success on the Olympic team. In her career Lesley helped the U.S win four gold medals, a performance that garnered her a spot on the WNBA Hall of Fame. As the first woman to dunk in the WNBA Lesley’s performance will be one remembered for long to come.