Best WNBA Basketball Players in the World
It’s no secret that the NBA is dominated by men. However, there are a few women who have made their mark in this male-dominated league. In honor of sports Women, we decided to highlight some of these female athletes and what makes them so great.
The best female basketball players in the world have competed against each other for decades. They are strong and powerful, but also graceful and agile. Their moves seem effortless as they dunk the ball or block their opponents from scoring points.
Some female basketball players you may recognize are Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Tamika Catchings, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. These female basketballers all have something different to offer but they also share a love for competition and teamwork that sets them apart from other players on the court. Whether it be with the WNBA or an international team like USA Basketball, each player has shown her dominance when she steps on the court to play ball.
Best Female Basketball Players is a list of the top WNBA players and top female basketballers in the world. The article includes their stats, where they played before, and what they have been doing recently. There is also information about some of the best NBA players who happen to be female.
Top 10 Best Female Basketball Players 2023 (WNBA)
Here are the Best Female Basketball Players 2023 (WNBA):
- Lindsay Whalen
- Elena Delle Donne
- Cynthia Cooper
- Lauren Jackson
- Candace Parker
- Tamika Catchings
- Maya Moore
- Diana Taurasi
- Lisa Leslie
- Carol Blazejowski
10. Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Whalen is an American professional basketball player and a coach from Wisconsin. Best known for playing with the Minnesota Lynx of Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
She played college basketball at University of Minnesota, where she won four NCAA championships in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Her team also took home Big Ten Tournament titles during her time as well. In 2008-2009 season Lindsay was awarded WBCA Defensive Player of the Year honor while averaging 16 points per game on 45% shooting! She was named to WNBA All-Defensive Second Team that same year too.
After 12 years spent wearing purple and gold jersey she retired in 2016 after being drafted by Sacramento Monarchs back when it still existed .
Lindsay Whalen is one of the best female basketball players in the world.
9. Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne is a professional basketball player for the WNBA.
She was drafted in 2013 with the number two pick of the first round by Chicago Sky, and she has been an integral part of their lineup ever since. Delle Donne played college ball at University of Delaware where she majored in psychology and sociology as well as playing on her team’s squad. She also won numerous awards while there including Naismith Award Winner (2009), Wade Trophy winner (2008), Wooden Award runner-up (2010). In 2016 Elena became only second woman to lead NCAA Division I women’s basketball players in rebounds per game averaging 15 boards each night! Her career averages are 16 points per game on 46 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent on three-pointers.
She was selected to play in two WNBA All Star teams (2014, 2015) , became a member of the US National Team for the 2016 Olympics where she led her team with 17 points per game while also being named Best Female Basketball Player!
8. Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper was a US Women’s National Basketball Association player and coach. She is the first woman to lead NCAA Division I women’s basketball players in rebounds per game with 16 boards each night, averaging 16 points per game on 46% from the field as well 33% behind three-pointers. While she played for Los Angeles Sparks during 2002 season, Cynthia became one of only five people ever to win both an Olympic Gold Medal (1984) , WNBA Championship Title!
She has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame (1999), Texas Sports Hall Of Fame, WBCA Court of Honor and Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball All Time Team.
7. Lauren Jackson
Born 14 May 1979 in Perth, Western Australia is a retired Australian Women’s Basketballer. Lauren Jackson played for Canberra Capitals from 1993 to 1998 before joining the Sydney Comets and then playing with Seattle Storm (2000-2010).
Jackson was named Best Female Player at 2000 Olympics gold medal game where she scored 16 points on 100% shooting. She also won Best Female Athlete award during 2008 Beijing Summer Games and is one of only three women to win Olympic Gold medals while winning Best Female Player Award!
Lauren Jackson has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame (2012), FIBA Hall Of Fame, WBCA Court of Honor and Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball All Time Team.
6. Candace Parker
She is a retired American Women’s Basketball player. Parker played for the Los Angeles Sparks (2009-2012) and also had stints with Sacramento Monarchs, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.
She was named Best Female Player at 2008 Beijing Olympics where she scored 14 points on 100% shooting. She is one of only three women to win Olympic Gold medals while winning Best Female Player Award!
Candace Parker has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame (2013), FIBA Hall Of Fame, WBCA Court of Honor and Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball All Time Team.
5. Tamika Catchings
Catchings is a retired American Women’s Basketball player. She has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2017) and one of only two women to have won Olympic Gold medals while winning Best Female Player Award!
She played for Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm during her professional career. Catchings was also named Best Female Athlete at 2004 Athens Olympics where she scored 16 points on 90% shooting in wins over Russia and Italy.
Tamika Catchings has been inducted into the WBCA Court Of Honor as well as being a member of Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball All Time Team.
4. Maya Moore
Moore played four years at Connecticut and is currently with Minnesota Lynx. She has been Best Female Player three times, twice consecutively in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 respectively.
Maya Moore won a gold medal as part of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team during her time there from 2006 to 2010. She was also voted Best College Woman Basketball Player by ESPNW for both 2009 and 2010 seasons which she went on to win Best Female Award in 2007 while at UConn!
In 2013, Maya Moore became first player ever to be named Associated Press’ Best Collegiate Athlete Twice – Male or Female (2009 & 2010). During her career, Moore scored 50 points more than any other NCAA Division women.
3. Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi is one of the Best Female Basketball Players as well as being one of the top WNBA players.
She has won Best American Collegiate Woman Athlete Twice in 2006 and 2007, was voted AP’s Best Collegiate Woman Athlete for 2004 season and 2011-2012 Season!
Her career accolades include two Olympic gold medals with USA Women’s National Team (2008 Beijing Olympics & 2012 London Olympics) Four NCAA Championships during her time at University of California – Berkley (2001, 2002, 2003 & 2005). Diana Taurasi holds an amazing four titles in FIBA World Championship history (2006 Ford Worlds; 2010 Samsung U23 Americas Qualifier Tournament; 2013 FIBA World Championship for Women; 2015 Pan Am Games.
2. Lisa Leslie
Lisa Leslie is one of the Best Female Basketball Players. She has won Best American Collegiate Woman Athlete Twice in 2006 and 2007, was voted AP’s Best Collegiate Woman Athlete for 2004 season and 2011-2012 Season!
Her career accolades include two Olympic gold medals with USA Women’s National Team (2008 Beijing Olympics & 2012 London Olympics) Four NCAA Championships during her time at University of California – Berkley (2001, 2002, 2003 & 2005).
1. Carol Blazejowski
Carol Blazejowski is still the Best Female Basketball Player who has the most international experience of any other female player in history. She competed with Poland’s national team from 1989 to 1999, taking part in three World Championships and a European Championship, leading her country to third place at EuroBasket 1993.
Carol Blazejowski is the most popular, highest-ranked and best female basketball player in history. Carol hails from Elizabeth, New Jersey which sits on the East Coast of United States. She was not only one of America’s first great women athletes but she had also been recognized as a Women’s Basketball Hall Of Fame member back in 1999 for her contributions to winning countless championships both domestically and internationally; this being said she was often considered by teammates to be ‘the world’s best player ever.”
Blazejowski led Team USA when they took home gold during their 1979 World Championship run – where it would later turn out that Blazeykowsi scored 40 points every game (her average).