The Women's National Basketball Association's Top 15 Players of All Time were chosen in 2011 on the occasion of the fifteenth season of the WNBA from amongst 30 nominees compiled by the league by fan, media, coach, and player voting. The group was to comprise the 15 best and most influential players of the first fifteen years of the WNBA, with consideration also accorded to sportsmanship, community service, leadership, and contribution to the growth of women's basketball; only players to have competed in the WNBA were eligible, but extra-league achievements were considered.

The Top 15 players were announced at halftime of the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.

Players selected Note: all information only pertains to the first fifteen years of the league's existence.

^Denotes player who was still active in the WNBA at time of award~Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Player Nationality Position Team(s)College(s) attendedOlympic medalsLeague titlesLeague awardsAll-Star Games Sue Bird^ PG Seattle Storm (2002–2022) Connecticut 2004 gold2008 gold2012 gold 2016 gold 2020 gold2004, 2010, 2018, 2020 KPSA (2011, 2017, 2018) 2002–2007, 2009–2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 Tamika Catchings^ SF Indiana Fever (2002–2016) Tennessee 2004 gold2008 gold 2012 MVP (2011)Finals MVP (2012)ROY (2002)DPOY (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010)KPSA (2010) 2002–2007, 2009–2011 Cynthia Cooper SG Houston Comets (1997–2000, 2003) USC 1988 gold1992 bronze 1997–2000 MVP (1997, 1998)Finals MVP (1997–2000) 1999, 2000, 2003 Yolanda Griffith C Sacramento Monarchs (1997–2007)Seattle Storm (2008)Indiana Fever (2009) Florida Atlantic 2000 gold2004 gold 2005 MVP (1999)Finals MVP (2005)DPOY (1999)ASG MVP (2004) 1999–2001, 2003–2007 Becky Hammon^ PG New York Liberty (1999–2006)San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars (2007–2014) Colorado State 2008 bronze (RUS) None None 2003–2007, 2009–2011 Lauren Jackson^ C Seattle Storm (2001–2012) N/A 2000 silver2004 silver2008 silver (AUS) 2004, 2010 MVP (2003, 2007, 2010)Finals MVP (2010)DPOY (2007) 2001–2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2010 Lisa Leslie C Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2009) USC 1996 gold2000 gold2004 gold2008 gold 2001, 2002 MVP (2001, 2004, 2006)Finals MVP (2001, 2002)ASG MVP (1999, 2001, 2002)DPOY (2004, 2008) 1999–2006, 2009 Ticha Penicheiro^ PG Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009)Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011)Chicago Sky (2012) Old Dominion None 2005 None 1999–2002 Cappie Pondexter^ SG Phoenix Mercury (2006–2009)New York Liberty (2010–2014)Chicago Sky (2015-2017)Los Angeles Sparks (2018) Indiana Fever (2018) Rutgers 2008 gold 2007, 2009 Finals MVP (2007) 2006, 2007, 2009–2011 Katie Smith^ SF Minnesota Lynx (1999–2005)Detroit Shock (2006–2009)Washington Mystics (2010)Seattle Storm (2011–2012) New York Liberty (2013) Ohio State 2000 gold2004 gold2008 gold 2006, 2008 Finals MVP (2008) 2000–2006, 2009 Dawn Staley PG Charlotte Sting (1999–2005)Houston Comets (2005–2006) Virginia 1996 gold2000 gold2004 gold None KPSA (1999, 2006) 2002–2006 Sheryl Swoopes^ SF Houston Comets (1997–2007)Seattle Storm (2008)Tulsa Shock (2011) Texas Tech 1996 gold2000 gold2004 gold 1997–2000 MVP (2000, 2002, 2005)DPOY (2000, 2002, 2003)ASG MVP (2005) 1999, 2000, 2002–2006 Diana Taurasi^ SG Phoenix Mercury (2004–2024) Connecticut 2004 gold2008 gold 2012 gold 2016 gold 2020 gold 2024 gold2007, 2009, 2014 MVP (2009)Finals MVP (2009, 2014)ROY (2004) 2004–2007, 2009–2011 Tina Thompson^ SF Houston Comets (1997–2008)Los Angeles Sparks (2009–2011) Seattle Storm (2012-2013) USC 2004 gold2008 gold 1997–2000 ASG MVP (2000) 1999–2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 Teresa Weatherspoon PG New York Liberty (1997–2003)Los Angeles Sparks (2004) Louisiana Tech 1988 gold1992 bronze None DPOY (1997, 1998) 1999–2003

The inaugural WNBA All-Star Game took place during the 1999 season, and the game has been contested yearly since, although 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 a game between WNBA players from both conferences and the USA National Team. For the purposes of this article, appearances in the 2004 and 2010 games for both participating teams are considered All-Star appearances. This differs from the WNBA's practice, which does not count Team USA players in 2004 and 2010 as All-Stars, even though all members of Team USA except for Maya Moore in 2010 were WNBA players at the time of the two games. There was no All-Star Game held in 2008. 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.

Other finalists

Seimone Augustus Ruthie Bolton1 Swin Cash Katie Douglas Cheryl Ford2 Chamique Holdsclaw1 Shannon Johnson1 Taj McWilliams-Franklin DeLisha Milton-Jones Deanna Nolan2 Candace Parker Nykesha Sales1 Tangela Smith Penny Taylor Natalie Williams1

1 Retired at time of Top 15 Team announcement. 2 Not playing in the league at time of Top 15 Team announcement.

Top 15 Players vs. All-Decade Team All ten members of the WNBA's All-Decade Team were included in the Top 15 Team. There were some players that were nominated for the Top 15 Team that were not nominated for the All-Decade Team and vice versa. Below are lists of players that were either added to or omitted from the Top 15 Team nominations, in respect to the All-Decade Team nominations.

Added Maya Moore Seimone Augustus Sylvia Fowles Lindsay Whalen Sue Bird

Omitted Janeth Arcain Tamecka Dixon Jennifer Gillom Vickie Johnson Rebecca Lobo Mwadi Mabika Andrea Stinson

References

External links Official announcement on WNBA.com