Items20The creator’s order
  1. 1Cynthia Cooper-DykeCynthia Cooper-DykeThe league's first superstar was a 34-year-old guard who had spent a decade playing in Europe. Cynthia Cooper won the first two MVP awards and the first four championships with the Houston Comets, from 1997 to 2000, as Finals MVP each time. Start here to understand how the WNBA found its feet: a…0i
  2. 2Sheryl SwoopesSheryl SwoopesBorn 25 Mar 1971Swoopes was the first player signed by the WNBA in 1996, won three MVP awards and three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and was the third member of Houston's four-title core. She was also the first basketball player, man or woman, to have a Nike signature shoe named after her, the Air Swoopes.…0i
  3. 3Lisa LeslieLisa LeslieBorn 7 Jul 1972Leslie threw down the WNBA's first dunk in 2002, but her real legacy is the post game she brought to the Los Angeles Sparks: three MVP awards, two titles and four Olympic golds. A graceful 6ft 5in centre who could face up or score on the block, she was the league's first true star big. Footage of…0i
  4. 4Lauren JacksonLauren JacksonBorn 11 May 1981The Australian forward won three WNBA MVP awards and two titles with Seattle, a 6ft 5in player who could shoot from outside, block shots and run the floor. She was also a national icon at home, where she came out of retirement to play in her fifth Olympics in 2024. If you are curious about the…0i
  5. 5Sue BirdSue BirdBorn 16 Oct 1980Bird played 19 seasons for the Seattle Storm, won four titles across three different decades and retired in 2022 as the league's career assist leader. She is the WNBA's model point guard: calm, clever with her eyes and able to adapt to very different team-mates. Her five Olympic golds also make her…0i
  6. 6Tamika CatchingsTamika CatchingsBorn 21 Jul 1979Catchings spent her whole 15-season career with the Indiana Fever and won five Defensive Player of the Year awards, an MVP and the 2012 title. She played with hearing loss from childhood and became known for relentless effort on every possession. She is the player to watch if you want to understand…0i
  7. 7Diana TaurasiDiana TaurasiBorn 11 Jun 1982The league's all-time leading scorer retired in 2025 after 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, three titles and six Olympic golds. Taurasi brought swagger and trash talk as well as deep shooting, and she is the player older fans quote when they talk about clutch moments. Watch her late-game…0i
  8. 8Candace ParkerCandace ParkerBorn 19 Apr 1986Parker won MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season, 2008, and later won titles with three different franchises: Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas. A 6ft 4in forward who could dunk, handle and pass, she was the prototype for today's positionless bigs. Many new fans also know her from…0i
  9. 9Maya MooreMaya MooreBorn 11 Jun 1989Moore won four titles in seven seasons with the Minnesota Lynx dynasty, plus an MVP, then stepped away at her peak in 2019 to work on overturning the wrongful conviction of Jonathan Irons, who was freed in 2020. Few athletes have made a choice like it. Her playing years show a smooth, two-way wing;…0i
  10. 10Sylvia FowlesSylvia FowlesBorn 6 Oct 1985Fowles retired in 2022 as the WNBA's career rebounding leader, with four Defensive Player of the Year awards, an MVP and two titles as Finals MVP with Minnesota. A powerful centre with soft hands, she is the reference point for interior defence and rebounding. She has since studied to become a…0i