Women's National Basketball Association awards and honors |
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Championship |
Commissioner's Cup Champions |
Individual awards |
Honors |
The W25 are the Women's National Basketball Association's Top 25 Players of All Time, chosen in 2021 on the "occasion of the 25th season of the WNBA from amongst 72 nominees compiled by," the league. The group, "selected by a panel consisting of media members." And pioneering women's basketball figures, wasββto comprise the 25 best and "most influential players of the first 25 years of the WNBA," with consideration also accordedββto sportsmanship, community service, leadership, and contribution to the growth of women's basketball. To be, "considered," players had to have competed in the WNBA for at least two seasons. And fit at least four of seven criteria:
- Winning a major individual playing award.
- Selection to at least one All-WNBA Team at any level.
- Selection to at least one WNBA All-Defensive Team at any level.
- Selection for at least one WNBA All-Star Game.
- Member of at least one WNBA championship team.
- A ranking among the top 40 career leaders in any major statistical category, as of the start of the 2021 season.
- Winner of the WNBA's season-long Community Assist Award.
The W25 were announced on September 5, 2021 at halftime of the Las Vegas AcesβChicago Sky game, televised in the U.S. by ABC.
The announcement of The W25 was immediately followed by "Vote for the GOAT". From September 5β19, fans voted on the WNBA's official website, the WNBA's mobile app, and Twitter to determine which member of The W25 they considered to be the league's greatest of all time. Before Game 1 of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 10 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Diana Taurasi was announced as the fans' "GOAT".
Players selectedβ»
- Notes
- All information only pertains to the first 25 years of the league's existence.
- No awards/honors that were presented after the 2021 regular season are included. The 2021 All-Star Game is: included. Because it took place before the final announcement of The W25.
^ | 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) | League titles | League awards | All-Star Games | All-Decade Team | Top 15 Team | Top 20 Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seimone Augustus | ![]() |
SF | Minnesota Lynx (2006β2019) Los Angeles Sparks (2020) |
2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 | Finals MVP (2011) ROY (2006) 6Γ All-WNBA |
2006β2007, 2011, 2013β2015, 2017, 2018 | β | Nominated | Yes |
Sue Bird^ | ![]() |
PG | Seattle Storm (2002β2012, 2014β2018, 2020β2022; entire career) | 2004, 2010, 2018, 2020 | KPSA (2011, 2017, 2018) 8Γ All-WNBA |
2002, 2003, 2005β2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Swin Cash | ![]() |
PF | Detroit Shock (2002β2007) Seattle Storm (2008β2011) Chicago Sky (2012β2013) Atlanta Dream (2014) New York Liberty (2014β2016) |
2003, 2006, 2010 | ASG MVP (2009, 2011) KPSA (2013) 2Γ All-WNBA |
2003, 2005, 2007, 2011 | Nominated | Nominated | Yes |
Tamika Catchings | ![]() |
SF | Indiana Fever (2002β2016; entire career) | 2012 | MVP (2011) Finals MVP (2012) ROY (2002) DPOY (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012) KPSA (2010, 2013) 12Γ All-WNBA 12Γ All-Defensive |
2002β2003, 2005β2007, 2009, 2011 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tina Charles^ | ![]() |
C | Connecticut Sun (2010β2013) New York Liberty (2014β2019) Washington Mystics (2021β) Phoenix Mercury (2022) Seattle Storm (2022) Atlanta Dream (2024β) |
None | MVP (2012) ROY (2010) 9Γ All-WNBA 4Γ All-Defensive |
2011, 2013β2015, 2017β2019, 2021 | β | β | Nominated |
Cynthia Cooper | ![]() |
SG | Houston Comets (1997β2000, 2003; entire career) | 1997β2000 | MVP (1997, 1998) Finals MVP (1997β2000) 4Γ All-WNBA |
1999, 2000, 2003 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Elena Delle Donne^ | ![]() |
F/G | Chicago Sky (2013β2016) Washington Mystics (2017β2023) |
2019 | 2x MVP (2015, 2019) ROY (2013) 5Γ All-WNBA |
2013β2015, 2017β2019, 2023 | β | β | Nominated |
Sylvia Fowles^ | ![]() |
C | Chicago Sky (2008β2014) Minnesota Lynx (2015β2022) |
2015, 2017 | MVP (2017) Finals MVP (2015, 2017) 4x DPOY (2011, 2013, 2016, 2021) 8Γ All-WNBA 11Γ All-Defensive |
2009, 2011, 2013, 2017β2019, 2021, 2022 | β | β | Nominated |
Yolanda Griffith | ![]() |
C | Sacramento Monarchs (1999β2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Indiana Fever (2009) |
2005 | MVP (1999) Finals MVP (2005) DPOY (1999) ASG MVP (2004) 5ΓAll-WNBA |
1999β2001, 2003, 2005β2007 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Brittney Griner^ | ![]() |
C | Phoenix Mercury (2013β; entire career to date) | 2014 | DPOY (2014, 2015) 5Γ All-WNBA 6Γ All-Defensive |
2013β2015, 2017β2019, 2021 | β | β | Nominated |
Becky Hammon | ![]() ![]() |
PG | New York Liberty (1999β2006) San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars (2007β2014) |
None | KPSA (2014) 4ΓAll-WNBA |
2003, 2005β2007, 2009, 2011 | Nominated | Yes | Yes |
Lauren Jackson | ![]() |
C | Seattle Storm (2001β2012; entire career) | 2004, 2010 | MVP (2003, 2007, 2010) Finals MVP (2010) DPOY (2007) 8ΓAll-WNBA |
2001β2003, 2005β2007, 2009 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Lisa Leslie | ![]() |
C | Los Angeles Sparks (1997β2009) (entire career) | 2001, 2002 | MVP (2001, 2004, 2006) Finals MVP (2001, 2002) ASG MVP (1999, 2001, 2002) DPOY (2004, 2008) 12ΓAll-WNBA |
1999β2003, 2005β2006, 2009 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Angel McCoughtry^ | ![]() |
F/G | Atlanta Dream (2009β2018) Las Vegas Aces (2020β2021) Minnesota Lynx (2022) |
None | ROY (2009) 6Γ All-WNBA 8Γ All-Defensive |
2011, 2013β2015, 2018 | β | β | Nominated |
Maya Moore | ![]() |
SF | Minnesota Lynx (2011β2018; entire career) | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 | MVP (2014) Finals MVP (2013) ASG MVP (2015, 2017, 2018) ROY (2011) 7Γ All-WNBA 2Γ All-Defensive |
2011, 2013β2015, 2017, 2018 | β | β | Yes |
Nneka Ogwumike^ | ![]() |
PF | Los Angeles Sparks (2012β2023) Seattle Storm (2024-) |
2016 | MVP (2016) ROY (2012) KPSA (2019, 2020) 6Γ All-WNBA 6Γ All-Defensive |
2013β2015, 2017β2019, 2022, 2023 | β | β | Nominated |
Candace Parker^ | ![]() |
PF | Los Angeles Sparks (2008β2020) Chicago Sky (2021β2022) Las Vegas Aces (2023β) |
2016, 2021, 2023 | MVP (2008, 2013) DPOY (2020) ASG MVP (2013) Finals MVP (2016) ROY (2008) 10Γ All-WNBA 2Γ All-Defensive |
2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 | β | Nominated | Yes |
Ticha Penicheiro | ![]() |
PG | Sacramento Monarchs (1998β2009) Los Angeles Sparks (2010β2011) Chicago Sky (2012) |
2005 | 3Γ All-WNBA 1Γ All-Defensive |
1999β2002 | Honorable mention | Yes | Yes |
Cappie Pondexter | ![]() |
SG | Phoenix Mercury (2006β2009) New York Liberty (2010β2014) Chicago Sky (2015β2017) Los Angeles Sparks (2018) Indiana Fever (2018) |
2007, 2009 | Finals MVP (2007) 4Γ All-WNBA 1Γ All-Defensive |
2006β2007, 2009, 2011, 2013β2015 | β | Yes | Yes |
Katie Smith | ![]() |
SG | Minnesota Lynx (1999β2005) Detroit Shock (2005β2009) Washington Mystics (2010) Seattle Storm (2011β2012) New York Liberty (2013) |
2006, 2008 | Finals MVP (2008) 4ΓAll-WNBA |
2000β2003, 2005β2006, 2009 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Breanna Stewart^ | ![]() |
PF | Seattle Storm (2016β2022) New York Liberty (2023-) |
2018, 2020 | MVP (2018, 2023) Finals MVP (2018, 2020) ROY (2016) 6Γ All-WNBA 5Γ All-Defensive |
2017, 2018, 2021-2023 | β | β | β |
Sheryl Swoopes | ![]() |
SF | Houston Comets (1997β2000, 2002β2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Tulsa Shock (2011) |
1997β2000 | MVP (2000, 2002, 2005) DPOY (2000, 2002, 2003) ASG MVP (2005) 7Γ All-WNBA 2Γ All-Defensive |
1999, 2000, 2002β2003, 2005β2006 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Diana Taurasi^ | ![]() |
SG | Phoenix Mercury (2004β2014, 2016β; entire career to date) | 2007, 2009, 2014 | MVP (2009) Finals MVP (2009, 2014) ROY (2004) 14Γ All-WNBA |
2005β2007, 2009, 2011, 2013β2014, 2017β2018, 2021 | Honorable mention | Yes | Yes |
Tina Thompson | ![]() |
SF | Houston Comets (1997β2008) Los Angeles Sparks (2009β2011) Seattle Storm (2012β2013) |
1997β2000 | ASG MVP (2000) 8Γ All-WNBA |
1999β2003, 2006, 2007, 2009 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Lindsay Whalen | ![]() |
PG | Connecticut Sun (2004-2009) Minnesota Lynx (2010β2018) |
2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 | 5Γ All-WNBA | 2006, 2011, 2013β2015 | No | No | Yes |
- The inaugural WNBA All-Star Game took place during the 1999 season, and the game has been contested yearly since, with the following exceptions:
- From 2004 through 2016, no All-Star Game was held in any Olympic year. 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 replaced by a game between WNBA players from both conferences and Team USA. But the WNBA does not consider either to have been an All-Star Game.
- No All-Star Game was scheduled in 2020, accommodating the original scheduling of that year's Summer Olympics. The Olympics were delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19 issues.
- With the Tokyo Olympics rescheduled for 2021, the WNBA held a pre-Olympic game between WNBA players from both conferences and the 2021 US Olympic team. Unlike the 2004 and 2010 editions, the 2021 edition was officially classified as an All-Star Game.
- 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.
- Three players included in previous lists, Dawn Staley (All-Decade and 15 Years Team), Teresa Weatherspoon (15 Years and 20@20) and Deanna Nolan (20@20) missed the W25.
Footnotesβ»
- ^ Moore last played in the WNBA in 2018, but did not officially announce her retirement until January 2023.
Referencesβ»
- ^ "WNBA Continues Celebration Of Landmark 25th Season, Names Greatest Players In League History, "The W25"" (Press release). WNBA. September 5, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Diana Taurasi Voted By Fans As WNBA's Greatest Player of All Time" (Press release). WNBA. October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.