Basketball is a popular game for many years around the world. People from many parts of the world enjoy watching the game. In the history of WNBA, we have seen many exceptional talents who have been dominating the basketball court. Some of them have got retired, and some are still shining bright today. In this article, we are going to feature the top 16 women basketball player. So without any delay, let’s get started!
Ivory Latta
Ivory Latta is an American basketball player who born on September 25, 1984. At present, she is a free agent. In the 2007 WNBA Draft, She has been drafted 11th overall by the Detroit Shock. Ivory is 5 feet 6 inches tall and most known of her three-point shooting and on-court enthusiasm. During the initial of her career, she played for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In South Carolina high school basketball history, she is the all-time leading scorer with a total of 4,319 career points. In 2006 Ivory won the Nancy Lieberman Award.
Sydney Wiese
Sydney Wiese is a professional basketball player from America. At present, she is playing for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). During the collegiate career with the Oregon State University Beavers, Sydney was four times All Pac-12 Team point guard and third-team All American. In the 2017 WNBA Draft, she was drafted with the 11th overall pick. In her second game in WNBA career, Sydney scored highest career points of 22 along with six three-pointers off the bench in a 99-89 victory against the Washington Mystics.
Cheryl Reeve
At present, Cheryl Reeve is serving as a head coach and general manager for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. She was also a coach of Minnesota Lynx to four league championships. Cheryl has the highest winning percentage in WNBA history. As a female coach she won the most games and also she won the most postseason games of any coach. In 2011 and 2016, Cheryl became the WNBA Coach of the Year. And also, in 2019, she became WNBA Basketball executive of the year. From birth, Cheryl grew up in Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. In 1984 Cheryl graduated from Washington Township High School, where she was an integral part of the school’s first team to make the team finals. Cheryl was a Rhodes Scholar nominee and got a MAAC Scholar-Athlete Post Graduate Award and an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship.
Brooke Smith
Brooke Smith is a professional basketball player born on April 30, 1984. In her high school life, she used to play for Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, California, where she was a WBCA All-American. In 2002, Brooke was part of the WBCA High School All-America Game, where she managed to score eight points. In 2002-03, Brooke played her freshman year in college at Duke University. She became graduated in 2007, and before her graduation, she played three years at Stanford University. In the 2007 WNBA draft, after the college career, she was selected 23rd overall by Minnesota Lynx.
Amanda Thompson
Amanda Clara Thompson is an American Basketball player born on November 18, 1987. At present, she is playing for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. Before drafting by the Tulsa Shock in the 2010 WNBA draft, previously, she had played college basketball for the University of Oklahoma.
Shannon Johnson
Shannon Regina Johnson is a basketball player from the US. She was born on August 18, 1974. Last time she played for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. Back in September 2015, Shannon became the coach at Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina. After the college days, Johnson played for the Columbus Quest, where she won the 1997 and 1998 American Basketball League championships. Shannon played for the Orlando Miracle of the WNBA when her professional career began in 1999. In 1999-00 season, she also played for Fenerbahçe İstanbul from Turkey. Johnson was traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars before the 2004 season. In 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003 Shannon was a WNBA All-Star. Shannon played in Spain for Ros Casares Valencia in 2001-2002 seasons, Perfumerías Avenida in 2002-2003 seasons, Dynamo Moscow 2003-2004 season, Wisla Cracovia in 2004-2005 seasons, Cadi la Seu in 2005-2006 seasons, Tarsus Beledeyesi in 2006-2007 seasons, Palacio de Congresos Ibiza in 2008-2010 seasons and CD Zamarat in 2010-2011 seasons. She was also a crucial factor in the club because she helped carry the team to Division One on May 1, 2011.
In August 1997, Shannon also represented the United States at the 1997 World University Games. The tournament was held in Marsala, Sicily, Italy, where the USA team managed to win all six games, earning the gold medal in the competition. In that tournament, Shannon had averaged 2.3 points per game.
Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw
Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw was a professional basketball player in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) from the USA. She was born on August 9, 1977. Most recently, she had a contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars. Although on June 11, 2007, she announced her retirement from the Los Angeles Sparks. For the 2009 WNBA Season, she also decided to retire from Atlanta Dream. In 2018, Shaunta Holdsclaw was inducted to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. From 1995 to 1999, Shaunta went to the University of Tennessee. There she played under Pat Summitt and assisted in leading the Lady Vols to the women’s NCAA’s first-ever three successive Women’s Basketball Championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. The 1998 contest was Tennessee’s first-ever unbeaten season at 39–0 and also set an NCAA record for the most wins ever in any season. She also assisted lead Tennessee to two SEC regular-season titles in 1998 and 1999 and three SEC competition in 1996, 1998, and 1999. The Washington Mystics 1st overall has selected Holdsclaw in the 1999 WNBA Draft. After the selection, she gained the distinction as a first and only female athlete to appear on the cover of SLAM Magazine. Also, she had been pictured in a New York Knicks jersey, suggesting that possibly she was good enough to play in the NBA. Shaunta was named the Rookie of the Year in her first season, the first number one draft picks to achieve the honor. She was also a starter in the opening WNBA All-Star Game in the same year. In her first season, she is the first player who averaged 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. In the next year, Holdsclaw has been included in the Olympic team, helping to earn a gold medal.
Ashley Robinson
Ashley Robinson is a professional basketball player from the USA. She had born on august 12, 1982. She is 6 feet 4 inches tall, and most recently, she played with Seattle Storm. In Grand Prairie, Texas, Ashley played basketball for South Grand Prairie High School. In 2000 WBCA High School All-America Game, Ashley participated and scored eleven points, which led her to earn MVP honor. Ashley was a team member of the USA Women’s U18 team that has won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. That event was held in July 2000, where the USA team has beaten Cuba to win the championship. Ashley was the top scorer with 15 points in the inaugural game against Mexico. She had an average of 8.4 points per game and became the third-highest rebounder on the team with 5.2 per game.
Jessica Moore
Jessica Alicia Moore is a professional basketball player from the US. She was born on July 9, 1982. She is currently a free agent. From 2000–2005, Moore was a Center for the UConn Huskies. At the age of 10, Jessica was introduced to basketball by her elder brother. She was an excellent all-round athlete. In school life, Jessica also used to play volleyball besides basketball. She studied in Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska. Her school basketball team reached the state finals four times won the State Championship two times as well. Also, the school volleyball team won two State Championships at that time. In the junior and senior high school years, Jessica was voted Alaska’s Athlete of the Year. Because of the family environment and the great opportunity of winning a National Championship, Jessica chose the University of Connecticut.
When she was in her school, she had to decide whether she would play both basketball and volleyball or just stick to one. But she chose basketball and continued to play it after that. The basketball team was already loaded with post players, so Jessica didn’t get much playing time as a newcomer. It all has paid off that time, and her team Huskies won three National Championships at Connecticut in Jessica’s years. In the 2005 WNBA Draft, Jessica was selected number 24 by the Charlotte Sting. At that time, the team struggled and made some changes to the team. She was a cut with a notice from the side. After two years, she has been picked up by the Los Angeles Sparks, where was with the winning team was making it to the WNBA playoffs.
During the WNBA off-season, Jessica went over to Europe to play basketball. She played for Universitario de Ferrol in Spain. The next year she played for Challes Les Eux in France.
Megan Duffy
Megan Duffy is serving as a professional basketball head coach at Marquette University. She was also the head coach of Miami RedHawks women’s basketball team, associate head coach of Michigan Wolverines women’s basketball team, George Washington Colonials women’s basketball team, and assistant coach of St. John’s Red Storm women’s basketball team. As a professional basketball player in WNBA, she used to play for the New York Liberty. Megan graduated from Chaminade Julienne High School, which was a catholic high school in Dayton. She has studied at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a double major in Psychology and Computer Applications in 2006. As a best senior player under 5 feet 8 inches, Megan received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. From Notre dame, she was one of the two players who that award. After her college career, she has been selected 31st overall in the 2006 WNBA Draft. Megan had her rookie season with the Lynx backing up Amber Jacobs. In 2006, she had an average of 3.4 points, 1.2 assists, and 12.5 minutes per game. Megan played for the Rhondda Rebels in Wales, during 2006–07 WNBA off-seasons. She played for Ribera in Italy in the 2007–08 WNBA off-seasons. From September through December 2008, during the WNBA off-season, she played for MBK Ružomberok in Slovakia. In January 2009, Duffy had a contract with CSS LMK Sfântu Gheorghe in Romania.
Jolene Nancy Anderson
Nancy Anderson is an American basketball player who born on July 22, 1986. In the 2008 WNBA Draft, she has been drafted by the Connecticut Sun. At present, Nancy plays for Reyer Venezia in Serie A (women’s football). Nancy is the all-time leading scorer for the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team with 2,312 total points.
Kiah Irene Stokes
Kiah Irene Stokes is an American professional basketball player who born on March 30, 1993. At present, she plays for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). At Mohegan Sun Arena, she has been chosen by the Libert. She was the No.11 pick in the first round of the 2015 WNBA Draft. From 2013 to 2015, Kiah played four years at the University of Connecticut, where she was part of four successive Final Four teams and have won three straight national contests. Kiah played for Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa, before joining at UConn. Kiah also played on the USA Basketball U16 National Team, where she assisted the team in winning the FIBA Americas U16 Championship Gold Medal. Kiah’s father is Greg Stokes, who was an all-American basketball player at the University of Iowa. Greg played for the Philadelphia 76ers and won gold with the 1983 USA Pan American Games Team.
Kiah studied at Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. Kiah was a three-year starter at Linn-Mar High School located in Marion, Iowa, where she has initiated in 52 of 76 games played. In one of 25 games played and had an average of 7.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks to lead Linn-Mar to a 22–3 record in her early freshman year in 2007–08. At Linn-Mar High School, as a senior player, Kiah averaged 25.0 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks per game in her final year school. Kiah was named Iowa’s 2010 Gatorade State Player of the year and was honored as a 2011 McDonald’s, Parade Magazine, WBCA All-American. In two WNBA seasons, Kiah has averaged 58.8% in field goals, 65.4% in free throws, and 6.3 points per game. In the 2016 WNBA playoffs, Kiah Stokes and the New York Liberty played.
Maria Alexandrovna Stepanova
Maria Alexandrovna Stepanova is a Russian professional basketball player. She had born on February 23, 1979. Maria played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the United States. Maria is the fourth-tallest player in league with a height of 201 cm. Stepanova was born in Shpakovskoye, which is now the town of Mikhaylovsk, in Stavropol Krai of the former Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union. But Maria grew up in Tosno, Leningrad Oblast.
Stacey Dales
Stacey Dales was a Canadian former basketball player who was born on September 5, 1979. At present, she is a reporter on the NFL Network. Stacey was born in Collingwood and grew in Brockville, Ontario. Before starting her life at the University of Oklahoma, Stacey attended Thousand Islands Secondary School (TISS). In 1997, after the graduation, Stacey attended the University of Oklahoma, and she made an Olympic appearance for Canada in 2000 and 2001 and 2002 was a first-team All-American. Stacey has been named the 2001 and 2002 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, and she is the Big 12 all-time career assist leader. In 2002, Stacey became the all-sports Academic All-American of the Year. Stacey was the first Oklahoma player who had a record of 1,700 points, 600 rebounds, and 700 assists. In her senior year, she led the Sooners to the NCAA Championship game, but they lost against Connecticut. Stacey served as a men’s and women’s college basketball analyst and also a sideline reporter for college football and the NBA on ESPN from 2002 to 2008. She was the first female at ESPN who worked as an in-studio men’s basketball analyst. In August 2009, the NFL Network declared that they appointed Stacey to serve as host and national reporter for NFL Media Programming. At present, Stacey is in her tenth year, ingoing her eleventh NFL season, with the NFL Network. Stacey was appointed by NBC Universal Sports to work as a correspondent for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In 2018 and 2019, Stacey was appointed as a brand ambassador and spokeswoman for Phillips 66 in linking with its long-running partnership with the Big 12 Basketball Contest.
Alex Ciabattoni
Alexandra Antonietta Ciabattoni is an Australian professional basketball player who born on 1st June 1994. Currently, she is playing for Treofan Battipaglia of the Italian Serie A1. Ciabattoni has moved to the US to play college basketball for Newman University in Wichita, Kansa, in 2012. Alex was named to the All-Heartland Conference First Team and received Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year As a freshman in 2012–13. Alex had an average team-highs in points (13.7) and rebounds (7.8) per game. At Newman in 2013–14, Alex has been named to the Heartland Conference Women’s Basketball All-Tournament Team. Alex was the Heartland Conference Player of the Year, along with being All-Tournament. She had an average a league-best 20.3 points and shot a league-best 59.5 percent, which was the sixth-highest total in the NCAA. During the 2015 off-season, when back in Adelaide, Alex decided to try out for the Adelaide Lightning, that team was scrambling for players in the wake of the club’s near off-season closure.
After the rookie season in the WNBL, Alex joined the Albury Wodonga Bandits for the 2016 SEABL season. She averaged 12.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, In 22 games for the Bandits.
Alex split the 2018–19 seasons in Italy, starting with Reyer Venezia before being loaned to Ponzano Basket Veneto in February 2019. She joined the Rockingham Flames n June 2019 for the remaining 2019 WSBL season. In August 2019, she assisted the Flames in winning the tournament. For the 2019–20 seasons, Alex again returned to Reyer Venezia. Alex left Reyer and joined opposing team Treofan Battipaglia in November 2019 for the rest of the season.
Jenny Boucek
Jenny Boucek was a former professional basketball player and now serving as an assistant basketball coach for the Dallas Mavericks. She was also a head coach of the Seattle Storm. The Storm appointed her on January 20, 2015. But terminated on August 10, 2017, because her team failed to meet the expectations that came along with the acquisition of successive top draft picks Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart. Jenny decided to join the med school, but because of the rumors of the WNBA’s founding had her spending a month getting back to shape to join a Cleveland Rockers open tryout. Despite the suffering that would prove to be a career-ending back fracture that season, Jenny made the contract with Keflavík in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild in November 1997. She assisted the club in winning the Icelandic competition and the Icelandic Basketball Cup. After that, she has been named as the foreign player of the year. In 1998 season, Jenny returned to the Cleveland Rockers but retired from playing because of the career-ending back injury.
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