There is no perfect ranking when it comes to determining the top players in any sport, but ESPN's panel of 23 reporters and staffers tried anyway, selecting the WNBA's top 30 players as the league wraps up its 30th season. Voters aimed to balance recency bias against the tendency to underrate current players, drawing on observers with different perspectives on the league.
The most notable omission among retired players is three-time champion Penny Taylor. She was the only player on ESPN's 2021 all-time Top 25 list who failed to make this year's top 30. Her 13 seasons produced 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, and she was a major factor in all three WNBA Finals the Phoenix Mercury won. Swin Cash and Deanna Nolan, who also won three titles, did make the cut this time. Ticha Penicheiro and Chamique Holdsclaw each appeared on six ballots.
Among active players, six made the top 30: A'ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas and Chelsea Gray. De Wanna Bonner, playing for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Finals during her 17th season, came closest among the rest. Courtney Vandersloot, Jackie Young and Napheesa Collier also drew strong consideration.
Younger players are already making their case. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, the No. 1 and No. 7 picks in the 2024 draft, have quickly established themselves as the top players in their class. Clark averages 20.2 points and 8.4 assists, while Reese averages 15.0 points and 12.6 rebounds. Both need more seasons, but both project as potential all-time greats.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing