The 10 Greatest Basketball Women's Players of All Time, Ranked

Lisa Leslie didn't just play women's basketball - she redefined what was possible. Standing 6'5" with the grace of a guard and the power of a center, she became the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game ...

• ★3-time WNBA MVP (2001, 2004, 2006)
• ★2 WNBA championships with LA Sparks (2001, 2002)
• ★4 Olympic gold medals (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008)

Why #1: Tops the rankings thanks to elite cultural impact. First WNBA dunk, cultural pioneer, made women's basketball spectacular

Diana Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history and the closest thing the league has to an undisputed GOAT. Over 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, she racked up 10,646 points with a ru...

• ★All-time WNBA scoring leader with 10,646 career points
• ★3 WNBA championships with Phoenix Mercury (2007, 2009, 2014)
• ★5 Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)

Why #2: Falls just behind Lisa Leslie but excels in statistics. All-time scorer (10,800 pts), 1,447 3s, 5 scoring titles, 11 All-Stars — volume GOAT

Sue Bird was the floor general who made everyone around her better for over two decades. The all-time WNBA assists leader with 3,234, she ran the Seattle Storm offense with the precision of a chess gr...

• ★All-time WNBA assists leader with 3,234
• ★4 WNBA championships with Seattle Storm (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020)
• ★5 Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)

Why #3: Falls just behind Diana Taurasi but excels in longevity. 19+ seasons, titles in 3 decades, played until 41 — extraordinary

Candace Parker was the most versatile player in WNBA history - a 6'4" forward who could shoot threes, post up, pass like a point guard, and block shots at the rim. She won Rookie of the Year and MVP i...

• ★3 WNBA championships with 3 different teams (2016, 2021, 2023)
• ★2-time WNBA MVP (2008, 2013), first to win ROY and MVP same season
• ★First and only WNBA player to record a 5x5 stat line

Why #4: Falls just behind Sue Bird but excels in longevity. 14+ seasons (2008-2023), won titles across career arc

A'ja Wilson is doing things in the WNBA that nobody has done before — and she's doing them faster than anyone thought possible. Four MVP awards in seven seasons, a 2025 Grand Slam season (MVP, DPOY, F...

• ★4x WNBA MVP (most in history)
• ★2025 Grand Slam season (MVP, DPOY, FMVP, title)
• ★~22 PPG on ~50% FG — best rate stats in WNBA history

Why #5: Falls just behind Candace Parker but excels in peak performance. 2025 Grand Slam — MVP, DPOY, FMVP, All-Star MVP, title in one season. Most dominant peak ever

Lauren Jackson was the most dominant international player to ever grace the WNBA. The Australian powerhouse won three MVP awards with the Seattle Storm, combining a deadly midrange game with physical ...

• ★3-time WNBA MVP (2003, 2007, 2010) with Seattle Storm
• ★2 WNBA championships (2004, 2010) and Finals MVP (2010)
• ★Led Australia to FIBA World Cup gold (2006)

Why #6: Falls just behind A'ja Wilson but excels in peak performance. 3x MVP, highest PER seasons ever — when healthy, the most dominant scorer

Breanna Stewart might be the most complete player the WNBA has ever produced. At 6'4" with guard-like skills, she can score from all three levels, pass with vision, and defend every position on the co...

• ★3 WNBA championships (2018, 2020, 2024) with 3 Finals MVPs
• ★2-time WNBA MVP (2018, 2023)
• ★3 Olympic gold medals (2016, 2020, 2024)

Why #7: Falls just behind Lauren Jackson but excels in strength of competition. Current WNBA is deepest ever — 3 titles in the most competitive era

Sheryl Swoopes was the total package - scorer, defender, leader, and trailblazer. The first player signed in WNBA history, she went on to win three MVP awards and four championships with the Houston C...

• ★3-time WNBA MVP (2000, 2002, 2005) — first player to win 3
• ★4 WNBA championships with Houston Comets (1997-2000)
• ★3 Olympic gold medals (1996, 2000, 2004)

Why #8: Falls just behind Breanna Stewart but excels in cultural impact. First female Nike signature shoe, LGBTQ+ trailblazer, "MJ of WNBA"

Tamika Catchings was the ultimate do-everything player, the kind of athlete coaches dream about and opponents dread. Over 15 seasons with the Indiana Fever, she accumulated 7,380 points while leading ...

• ★5-time Defensive Player of the Year (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012)
• ★WNBA championship with Indiana Fever (2012) plus Finals MVP
• ★4 Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)

Why #9: Falls just behind Sheryl Swoopes but excels in longevity. 15 WNBA seasons of consistent excellence (2002-2016)

Maya Moore was on a trajectory to become the statistical GOAT of women's basketball when she walked away from the sport at 30 to fight for criminal justice reform. Four WNBA championships in eight sea...

• ★4 WNBA championships with Minnesota Lynx
• ★WNBA MVP (2014) and Finals MVP
• ★18.4 PPG in 8 seasons

Why #10: Falls just behind Tamika Catchings but excels in cultural impact. Left basketball to free wrongfully imprisoned man — most meaningful sacrifice in sport

How Rankings Change Under Different Philosophies

GOAT rankings depend on what you value. Here is the top 3 under each preset: