WNBA Top 20@20

Women's National Basketball Association awards and honors
Championship
Individual awards
Honors

WNBA Top 20@20 refers to the Women's National Basketball Association's Top 20 Players of All Time, chosen in 2016 on the occasion of the twentieth season of the WNBA from amongst 60 nominees compiled by the league. The group was to comprise the 20 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 for at least two seasons, and fit at least three of seven criteria (WNBA championship, major individual award, a selection to either the All-WNBA Team, WNBA All-Defensive Team, or WNBA All-Star Game; a current ranking among the top 30 statistical career leaders; and a selection to either the WNBA's All-Decade Team or the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time) were considered.

The Top 15 players were announced on June 21, 2016 at ESPN's SportsCenter.[1] Dawn Staley was the only member of both the WNBA's All-Decade Team (2006) and the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time (2011) absent from the Top 20 list.[2]

Players selected

Player Nationality Position Team(s) League titles League awards All-Star Games All-Decade Team 15 Years Team
Seimone Augustus  United States SF Minnesota Lynx (2006–) 2011, 2013, 2015 Finals MVP (2011)
ROY (2006)
All-WNBA
2006–2007, 2011, 2013, 2014 N/A Nominated
Sue Bird  United States PG Seattle Storm (2002–) 2004, 2010 KPSA (2011)
All-WNBA
2002–2007, 2009–2011 Yes Yes
Swin Cash  United States PF Detroit Shock (2002–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008–2011)
Chicago Sky (2012–2013)
Atlanta Dream (2014)
New York Liberty (2014–present)
2003, 2006, 2010 ASG MVP (2009, 2011)
KPSA (2013)
All-WNBA
2003, 2005, 2007, 2011 Nominated Nominated
Tamika Catchings  United States SF Indiana Fever (2002–) 2012 MVP (2011)
Finals MVP (2012)
ROY (2002)
DPOY (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012)
KPSA (2010, 2013)
12×All-WNBA
2002–2007, 2009–2011 Yes Yes
Cynthia Cooper  United States SG Houston Comets (1997–2000, 2003) 19972000 MVP (1997, 1998)
Finals MVP (1997–2000)
All-WNBA
1999, 2000, 2003 Yes Yes
Yolanda Griffith  United States C Sacramento Monarchs (1997–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008)
Indiana Fever (2009)
2005 MVP (1999)
Finals MVP (2005)
DPOY (1999)
ASG MVP (2004)
All-WNBA
1999–2001, 2003–2007 Yes Yes
Becky Hammon  United States
 Russia
PG New York Liberty (1999–2006)
San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars (2007–2014)
None KPSA (2014)
All-WNBA
2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011 Nominated Yes
Lauren Jackson  Australia C Seattle Storm (2001–2012) 2004, 2010 MVP (2003, 2007, 2010)
Finals MVP (2010)
DPOY (2007)
All-WNBA
2001–2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2010 Yes Yes
Lisa Leslie  United States C Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2009) 2001, 2002 MVP (2001, 2004, 2006)
Finals MVP (2001, 2002)
ASG MVP (1999, 2001, 2002)
DPOY (2004, 2008)
12×All-WNBA
1999–2006, 2009Yes Yes
Maya Moore  United States SF Minnesota Lynx (2011–) 2011, 2013, 2015 MVP (2014)
Finals MVP (2013)
ASG MVP (2015)
ROY (2011)
All-WNBA
2011, 2013-2015 N/A N/A
Deanna Nolan  United States
 Russia
SG Detroit Shock (2001–2009) 2003, 2006, 2008 Finals MVP (2006)
All-WNBA
2003-2007 Nominated Nominated
Candace Parker  United States PF Los Angeles Sparks (2008–) None MVP (2008, 2013)
ASG MVP (2013)
ROY (2008)
All-WNBA
2011, 2013, 2014 N/A Nominated
Ticha Penicheiro  Portugal PG Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009)
Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011)
Chicago Sky (2012)
2005 All-WNBA 1999–2002 Honorable mention Yes
Cappie Pondexter  United States SG Phoenix Mercury (2006–2009)
New York Liberty (2010–2014)
Chicago Sky (2015-)
2007, 2009 Finals MVP (2007)
All-WNBA
2006, 2007, 2009–2011 N/A Yes
Katie Smith  United States SG Minnesota Lynx (1999–2005)
Detroit Shock (2006–2009)
Washington Mystics (2010)
Seattle Storm (2011–2012)
New York Liberty (2013)
2006, 2008 Finals MVP (2008)
All-WNBA
2000–2006, 2009 Yes Yes
Sheryl Swoopes  United States SF Houston Comets (1997–2007)
Seattle Storm (2008)
Tulsa Shock (2011)
19972000 MVP (2000, 2002, 2005)
DPOY (2000, 2002, 2003)
ASG MVP (2005)
All-WNBA
1999, 2000, 2002–2006 Yes Yes
Diana Taurasi  United States SG Phoenix Mercury (2004–) 2007, 2009 MVP (2009)
Finals MVP (2009)
ROY (2004)
10×All-WNBA
2004–2007, 2009–2011, 2013-2014 Honorable mention Yes
Tina Thompson  United States SF Houston Comets (1997–2008)
Los Angeles Sparks (2009–2011)
Seattle Storm (2012-2013)
19972000 ASG MVP (2000)
All-WNBA
1999–2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 Yes Yes
Teresa Weatherspoon  United States PG New York Liberty (1997–2003)
Los Angeles Sparks (2004)
None DPOY (1997, 1998)
All-WNBA
1999–2003 Honorable mention Yes
Lindsay Whalen  United States PG Connecticut Sun (2004-2009)
Minnesota Lynx (2010–)
2011, 2013, 2015 All-WNBA 2006, 2011, 2013-2015 No No
Part of the 20@20 ring ceremony, (left to right) Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, WNBA president Lisa Borders, Lindsay Whalen

Other finalists

1 Still active at time of Top 20 Team announcement.
2 Was in both the All-Decade and Top 15 teams.
3All-Decade honorable mention, Top 15 nominee.
4Nominated for both All-Decade and Top 15 teams.
5All-Decade nominee.
6Top 15 nominee.

References

External links

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