The WNBA has grown immensely in recent years. Growth has been a bit slow, but it’s miles away from what it used to be.
The 2023 season has been expanded to 40 games, which is the most in a single season throughout the league’s history. That’s why there are way more people interested in WNBA lines and projections for next season.
The 2022 season has just ended, and it was a lot of fun. But before the new season starts, we’ve decided to look back at some of the best players in WNBA history with inspiring stories that may also inspire you.
We’ll look at some current and some older players who have impacted the league and made their mark during their playing days.
Check out our list below to learn more!
Sue Bird
After a long and tremendously successful career, Sue Bird finally chose to retire after the 2022 season. And while her career ended in a playoff loss, her story is far from one. When she retired, she was a 12-time all-star, and a multiple-year champion of the league.
In fact, Sue Bird is the only WNBA player to have won a WNBA championship in three different decades. And while it took a lot of work to get to where she was when she retired, it was clear that Sue Bird was destined for sports.
She was interested in soccer, track, and basketball but ultimately decided to pursue a career in basketball. Sue Bird is one of the best WNBA players of all time and has a resume to match. A true inspiration for basketball players in the future and definitely someone that will pave the way for the next generation of WNBA players.
Candace Parker
Candace Parker is an active WNBA player who has been making waves in the league since she was first drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008. She is a modern basketball player as she possesses a very versatile set of skills, playing both forward and center throughout her career.
In the 2009 season, Parker missed the first eight games as she gave birth to her daughter. But after recovering from childbirth, she went on to play the rest of the season. Not just that, she averaged over 18 points in the playoffs, reaching the finals that season.
In 2012, Parker resigned from the Sparks. And in that season, she was dubbed the league’s MVP, putting up more than impressive numbers.
Currently, Parker plays for the Chicago Sky. She won her second championship with the team after beating the Phoenix Mercury in the 2021 WNBA championships.
Lisa Leslie
Lisa Leslie grew up in Compton, California. During her childhood, her mother started a trucking business to support her family. It was only on her first day of middle school that Leslie would try playing basketball, where she would learn to shoot both right- and left-handed, which would become a huge advantage in her career.
She would grow into one of the best basketball players of her generation. Becoming a top recruit in college, eventually playing for the University of Southern California. From there, she would be drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks. She played in one of the league’s first seasons, making her one of the original WNBA players.
She retired in 2009 after amassing 6,000 points. She was the first WNBA player to win two championships and tons of medals with the US Olympic team.
Tamika Catchings
Tamika Catchings is one of the WNBA’s best defensive players. She is incredibly good at stealing the ball from the opponent’s hands and is largely unmatched throughout WNBA history. And while she is one of the best players in history, she has had to deal with a lot of adversity in her career in the form of injuries.
But one of the things Catchings proved is that injuries would never get the best of her. Whenever she would get injured, she would recover and proceed to give her all to the team and leave everything on the floor.
When she retired, she was an MVP and 10x all-star, comfortably sitting on top of the WNBA’s best player rankings. Throughout her career, she averaged 12 points and showed incredible defensive prowess.
Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi is a living and playing legend for the Phoenix Mercury. But at this point, it’s safe to say that she will retire as one of the best WNBA players to ever play the game.
She has averaged more than 20 points multiple times in her career, which is a huge accomplishment on its own. On top of that, she has three WNBA championships under her belt and ten all-start appearances.
Taurasi will definitely retire as one of the game’s best, and not just because of her incredible WNBA career. She’s also won multiple Olympic medals and a FIBA world championship, making her one of the most decorated athletes in the game.
Conclusion
It can be hard to keep your mind off the WNBA while waiting for the new season. And when you check out the highlights of any of the players above, you’re definitely going to get even more excited.