25 Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Times

25 Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Times

Originally published by Hamisi in December 2022 and Updated by Ian S in May 2024.

Basketball was initially thought to be a game of the elite. A lot has changed since then. Male and female competitors are exceeding expectations at playing this sport. Also, it’s one of the most popular sports played around the world.

1. Carol Blazejowski

We start with the best. Carol Blazejowski. She possesses impressive three-point shooting abilities and represented US in various competitions. In 1980, Blazejowski became the highest-paid player in the Women’s Pro Basketball League, signing a three-year contract for a reported $150,000 with the New Jersey Gems. However, the league folded after her first season, effectively ending her playing career.

After her playing career, she worked in the front office of the National Basketball Association. Moving up the ladder, she was later promoted to President of the New York Liberty. In 1994, Blazejowski was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, as well as, the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame.

Read more here

2. Diana Taurasi

Diana Taurasi. Author AureliaMaior. Wikimedia Commons

Diana Lorena Taurasi is currently a player with the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association. Taurasi is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, male or female. Her ability to score in crucial situations has earned her the nickname “White Mamba”, coined by Kobe Bryant.

The 40-year old has won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2004), three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, and 2014), a historic five Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020), one WNBA Most Valuable Player Award (2009), two WNBA Finals MVP Awards (2009 and 2014), five scoring titles (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011), and three FIBA World Cups (2010, 2014, and 2018). She has also been selected to ten WNBA All-Star teams and fourteen All-WNBA teams (including ten first-team selections). In 2011, her skills enabled her to be voted by fans as one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time. On June 18, 2017, Taurasi became the WNBA all-time leading scorer and on June 27, 2021, became the first player to surpass 9,000 points.

More exciting stories here

3. Tamika Catchings

Tamika Catchings. Author Ruben.caraveo. Wikimedia Commons

Tamika Devonne Catchings is an American retired professional basketball player who played her entire 15-year career for the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is a well decorated player having won a WNBA championship (2012), WNBA Most Valuable Player Award (2011), WNBA Finals MVP Award (2012), five WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012), four Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2002). She is one of only 11 women to receive an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, Fiba World cup gold and a WNBA Championship. In addition, she has also been selected to ten WNBA All-Star teams, 12 All-WNBA teams, and 12 All-Defensive teams and led the league in steals eight times.

Outside playing basketball, Catchings served as President of the WNBA Players Association from 2012 to 2016. She was also inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

4. Maya Moore

Maya Moore receiving the wade trophy. Author Sphilbrick. Wikimedia Commons

Maya April Moore is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx. She is currently on sabbatical to focus on reform in the American justice system. Naming her their inaugural Performer of the Year in 2017, Sports Illustrated called Moore the greatest winner in the history of women’s basketball. She also became the first female basketball player to sign with Air Jordan.

Find out more about the city of Minnesota

5. Cynthia Cooper

Cynthia Lynne Cooper-Dyke is an American basketball coach and former player who won championships in college, in the Olympics, and in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is considered by many as one of the greatest basketball players ever. In 2011, Cooper-Dyke was voted by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history.

At the league’s inception, she played for the Houston Comets from 1997 to 2000, being named the Most Valuable Player of the WNBA Finals in all four seasons, and returned to play again in 2003. It also should be remembered that Cooper-Dyke still holds the record for most Finals MVPs with four.

After her playing career, she was introduced as the head coach for the Texas Southern Lady Tigers basketball team, a position she held in the 2012–13 season. She has also coached at USC, UNC Wilmington, Prairie View A&M, and, professionally, for the Phoenix Mercury. Cooper-Dyke was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

6. Candace Parker

Candace Parker. Author Lorie Shaull. Wikimedia Commons

Candace Parker is a WNBA star, currently playing for the Los Angeles Sparks. She additionally has played for the Euro league’s UMMC Ekaterinburg club in Russia.  A versatile player, Parker mainly plays the forward and center positions. In high school, Parker won the 2003 and 2004 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year awards, becoming just the second junior and the only woman to receive the award twice.

In 2016, the Dunk specialist, having become the second player to dunk in a WNBA game on June 22, 2008, was at it again helping the Sparks to win their first WNBA Finals title since 2002. In 2021, she helped the Sky win their first title. Parker has won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2008, 2013), a WNBA Finals MVP Award (2016), a WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award (2013), two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012), and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2008).  An outstanding player during her time, she has been selected to six All-WNBA teams and five All-Star teams, and was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards in the same season.

Upon her retirement in 2018, Parker has been an analyst and commentator for Turner Sports, providing coverage for NBA games on TNT and NBA TV and for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

7. Lauren Jackson

Interestingly, Jackson made the Australian under-20 team when she was only 14 years old and was first called up to the Australian Women’s National Basketball Team (nicknamed The Opals) when she was 16 years old. Internationally, she was a member of the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics teams and captain of the 2008 Summer Olympics team, winning three silver medals. She was also part of the Australian team that won the bronze at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Jackson was a member of the Australian Senior Women’s Team that won a silver medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship for Women in China, co-captain of the team that won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and captain of the team that won a gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil.

She won two WNBA titles with the Storm, in 2004 and 2010, the latter also earning Jackson the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. She proudly ranks among the top WNBA players in played games, minutes played, field goals, three-point shots, and turnover percentage. Jackson was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. In 2021 she added another accolade when she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

8. Elena Delle Donne

Elena Delle Donne currently plays for the Washington Mystics of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She has won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2015, 2019), been selected to six All-Star teams, and was the first WNBA player to join the 50–40–90 club.

9. Lisa Leslie

Lisa Deshaun Leslie is an American former professional basketball player and head coach for Triplets in the BIG3 professional basketball league, as well as a studio analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts on Fox Sports Florida. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner.

Leslie was also the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history. In international competition, she won four Olympic gold medals (1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008) and two FIBA World Championships (1998, 2002). In 2015, Leslie was inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

10. Lindsay Whalen

Lindsay Marie Whalen is the head coach of the University of Minnesota’s women’s basketball team. She began her professional career as a point guard for the Connecticut Sun of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and has won World titles and two Olympic gold medals with the United States women’s national basketball team, as well as four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx.

She has made a name for herself as an outstanding, skilled and fulfilled female basketball player who inspires young girls wishing to take up the sport.

11. Sue Bird

WNBA Sue Bird. Author WNBA__Sue_Bird_makes_the_last_shot.jpg: katharine j moriarty. Wikimedia Commons

Sue Bird is credited with Four championships (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020); Commissioner’s Cup champion (2021); career assists leader; seventh all time in scoring, fourth in steals, seventh in field goals made, second in 3-pointers made; first player in WNBA history to win titles in three different decades; three-time assists champion; five-time All-WNBA First Team.

She played in and started more WNBA games than anyone in league history, by a wide margin. And in that time, she has solidified herself as one of the greatest point guards to ever pick up a basketball. A veteran in the game, she has played 18 seasons, and still soldiers on.

Read more here

12. Sylvia Fowles

She truly deserves to be in our list. With Two championships (2015, 2017); MVP (2017); two-time Finals MVP (2015, 2017); career leader in rebounds, defensive rebounds and field goal percentage, fourth all time in blocks; three-time Defensive Player of the Year; three-time All-WNBA First Team; nine-time all-defensive team.

A large part of Fowles’ greatness also stems from her longevity in the game. She has demonstrated a level of consistent dominance throughout her career. This season, in Year 14, she posted a 20-20 game, is a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year and is in the MVP conversation.

13. Breanna Stewart

She qualifies with Two championships (2018, 2020); MVP (2018); two-time Finals MVP (2018, 2020); Rookie of the Year (2016); Commissioner’s Cup champion (2021); Commissioner’s Cup MVP (2021); two-time All-WNBA First Team; two-time all-defensive team.

She is an unstoppable force offensively, and defensively she impacts the game in a bigger way than ever appears in a stat sheet. With her 7-foot-1 wingspan and the amount of space she can cover, she alters shots and passes. Offensively, she can beat everybody down the floor, catch a tough pass in stride and finish, or hit a 3-pointer. What’s most impressive about Stewie is that she just takes over when she needs to,

14. Yolanda Griffith

She has produced magnificent performances over the years which have been rewarded with One championship (2005); MVP (1999); Finals MVP (2005); Defensive Player of the Year (1999); two-time rebounding champion; two-time All-WNBA First Team; two-time all-defensive team.

Griffith took the league by storm in her first season, winning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. A 6-foot-4 center who seemed to grab every rebound anywhere near her, she averaged a double-double in each of her first three WNBA seasons, and reached her pinnacle with the Monarchs by winning the 2005 WNBA championship and being named Finals MVP.

15. Seimone Augustus

What you cannot take away from this player are Four championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017); Finals MVP (2011); Rookie of the Year (2006); tied for 10th all-time in scoring; one-time All-WNBA First Tea. She was part of those Minnesota teams that won four championships in seven years.

16. Sheryl Swoopes

TonyTheTiger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sheryl needs no introduction, as her legendary status precedes her. Sheryl Denise Swoopes, an American former professional basketball player, etched her name in history as the trailblazing first signee of the WNBA.

A three-time WNBA MVP and one of the league’s Top 15 Players of All Time, Swoopes’ dominance extended to the international stage with three Olympic gold medals.

She stands among an elite group of eleven players to have captured an Olympic gold, NCAA Championship, FIBA World Cup gold, and WNBA title.

In 2016, Swoopes received basketball’s highest honor with her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, followed by enshrinement in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame a year later. Without a doubt, she is among the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.

17. Tina Thompson

Danny Karwoski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A few players can match the brilliance of Tina Thompson, an American former WNBA professional and coach. Most recently leading the Virginia Cavaliers from 2018-2022, Thompson’s playing career was nothing short of legendary.

As the inaugural WNBA draft pick by the Houston Comets, she propelled the team to an unprecedented four consecutive championships from 1997-2000.

Her accolades include two Olympic gold medals, nine WNBA All-Star selections, and until 2017, the coveted title of the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer. Even in 2024, she ranks an impressive second in league history.

Thompson’s unparalleled accomplishments culminated in her induction into both the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, solidifying her status as one of the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.

18. Katie Smith

Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It’s simply undeniable that Katie Smith, the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx, is among the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.

As a retired pro, Smith primarily shined as a shooting guard, though her versatility allowed her to excel at small forward and point guard positions.

Her scoring prowess was unmatched, making her the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball with over 7000 points combined in the ABL and WNBA. In 2016, Smith’s legendary status was cemented when she was voted one of the WNBA Top 20@20.

The ultimate honor came in 2018 with her induction into the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, followed by enshrinement in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame that same year.

Smith’s impact on the game is etched in history, solidifying her place among the greatest to ever grace the hardwood.

19. Brittney Griner

Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Talent is an understatement when it comes to Brittney Griner, an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. A two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women’s national team and a six-time WNBA All-Star, Griner’s impact transcends the court.

In 2023, Time magazine rightfully named her one of the 100 most influential people worldwide. Her dominance was evident from her high school days as the nation’s No. 1 player and continued at Baylor, where she became the NCAA’s only 2,000-point scorer and 500-shot blocker.

The Phoenix Mercury wisely selected her first overall in 2013, leading to a 2014 WNBA championship. Griner’s prowess extends to the international stage with 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Cup titles. 

With an unwavering spirit and unparalleled skill, Brittney Griner has etched her name among the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.

20. Tina Charles

Danny Karwoski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tina is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court. Tina Charles, an American professional for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, has left an indelible mark on the game.

Hailing from Jamaica, Queens, New York City, Charles was the coveted first overall pick in the 2010 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. Her collegiate dominance alongside Maya Moore led the Connecticut Huskies to two undefeated national championships in 2009 and 2010.

Charles’ prowess extends to the international stage, where she has claimed three Olympic gold medals with Team USA. While individual accolades abound, many consider Charles the best WNBA player yet to grace the Finals.

Her unwavering determination and skill have earned her a place among the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time, a testament to her relentless pursuit of greatness.

21. Nneka Ogwumike

John Mac, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Starting on a high note, NnekaOgwumike is an American professional basketball superstar currently representing the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA draft, Ogwumike quickly inked an endorsement deal with Nike, showcasing her immense potential.

Her talent runs in the family, as she’s the older sister of former Sparks player Chiney Ogwumike. In 2016, Ogwumike’s dominance reached new heights when she was named WNBA MVP and led the Storm to the championship. 

Her impact was further cemented in 2021 with her inclusion in The W25, the league’s list of the top 25 players in its first 25 years. Beyond the WNBA, Ogwumike has also showcased her skills with Dynamo Kursk in Russia.

With a name meaning “Mother is Supreme” in the Igbo language, Ogwumike embodies strength and determination. Her journey to greatness began at Cy-Fair High School, where she led her team to a state championship. 

At Stanford, she propelled the Cardinal to four Final Four appearances, solidifying her status as one of the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.

22.  Angel McCoughtry

Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Players like Angel McCoughtry are rare gems in the world of basketball. An American professional who last graced the court for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA, McCoughtry is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, showcasing her prowess on the international stage.

Her collegiate dominance at the University of Louisville paved the way for her selection as the first overall pick by the Atlanta Dream in the 2009 WNBA draft, quickly establishing herself as the franchise’s cornerstone.

Beyond the WNBA, McCoughtry’s journey has taken her overseas, where she has showcased her talents in Turkey, Slovakia, Lebanon, Hungary, and Russia.

With an unrelenting drive and unparalleled skill set, Angel McCoughtry has cemented her place among the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.

23. Cappie Pondexter

SusanLesch, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cappie Pondexter, an American former professional basketball dynamo, hails from Oceanside, California, but was raised in the gritty streets of Chicago, Illinois.

Known for her tenacious, scrappy play, lightning-quick crossovers, and deadly midrange jumper, Pondexter left defenders in her wake. In 2011, her impact on the game was recognized when fans voted her as one of the Top 15 players in the illustrious history of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

With an unwavering competitive spirit and a skill set that left opponents in awe, Cappie Pondexter etched her name among the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time, inspiring generations to come with her fearless on-court presence.

24. Becky Hammon

Doug Davey, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Superstars like Rebecca Hammon leave an indelible mark on the game. A Russian-American trailblazer, she’s the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and a former WNBA player with the San Antonio Stars and New York Liberty.

Born in the U.S., Hammon gained Russian citizenship in 2008, representing their national team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Hammon shattered barriers when hired as an NBA assistant by the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, becoming the first female Summer League head coach a year later.

On December 30, 2020, she made history as the first woman acting NBA head coach after Gregg Popovich’s ejection. Returning to the WNBA in 2021 with the Aces, she became the league’s first Russian head coach.

Hammon’s achievements were immortalized in 2023 with induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame as its first Russian honoree. Undoubtedly, she stands among the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.

25. Rebekkah Brunson

Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Playing with unrelenting passion, Rebekkah Brunson has etched her name into basketball’s annals.

The American coach and analyst, currently an assistant with the Minnesota Lynx, is a former WNBA forward and the league’s only player to capture five championships. Brunson’s dominance on the boards was unmatched, holding the WNBA rebounding record until relinquishing it to Lynx teammate Sylvia Fowles in 2020.

Hailing from Washington D.C., Brunson’s journey began at Oxon Hill High School before starring at Georgetown, where she graduated as the program’s all-time leading rebounder in 2004.

Her talents extended to the international stage, representing the U.S. at the 2003 Pan American Games. With an unwavering competitive spirit and unparalleled rebounding prowess, Rebekkah Brunson solidified her status as one of the Greatest Female Basketball Players of All Time.