The WNBA may not be an old league, beginning play in 1996, but the talent that has come through the league has been endless, from the Lisa Leslie’s to the Dawn Staley’s and everything in between. But in more recent years, the popularity of women’s basketball has risen, with more and more superstars being put on the map. Nowadays, the WNBA is loaded with star power and is unequivocally the best women’s basketball league in the world.
Even among the great players of today, there are still a select few who are thought of more than any other players when we talk about the WNBA, having shown that they will, more likely than not, be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame when they are retired. So, let’s take a look at the top five current WNBA players.
A’Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Once a star at South Carolina and being the central player on its 2017 national title run, Wilson was selected first overall by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018 and has since become arguably the best female basketball player in the world, having made six All-Star teams, winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year, making four All-WNBA First-Teams, winning two championships and three WNBA league MVPs among many other accolades. Last season, Wilson averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists while also helping Team USA win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, en route to being the tournament MVP.
Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Often considered the Stephen Curry of women’s basketball, Ionescu can ball. The Oregon Ducks product left college as the NCAA Division I career leader in triple-doubles and also set the Pac-12 record for most assists. Drafted No. 1 overall by the Liberty in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Ionescu quickly developed a reputation for being a sharpshooter, setting the WNBA record in 2023 for most three-pointers in a single season. A three-time WNBA All-Star, three-time All-WNBA Second-Team selection and a WNBA champion, Ionescu’s career has been very successful so far. She averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 2024.
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Stewart already has a Hall of Fame resume and she still has plenty more in the tank. At only 30 years old, Stewart has won three WNBA championships, two with the Seattle Storm and one with the Liberty, two finals MVPs, two league MVPs, six All-Star selections, a Rookie of the Year, six All-WNBA First-team selections and multiple All-Defensive team selections, among many others. A former star at UConn playing for Geno Auriemma, Stewart won four straight NCAA titles with the Huskies from 2013-16 before being selected No. 1 overall by the Storm in 2016. Last season, she averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists and played a big role during the Liberty’s championship run.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Yes, Clark may only be going into her second year. But it is precisely because of how good she is that women’s basketball has grown in popularity over the last couple of years. Considered one of, if not the greatest, college basketball player ever and leaving Iowa as the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer while winning two national players of the year, Clark was drafted No. 1 overall by the Fever in the 2024 draft and quickly became the team’s most important piece. In her first season, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds and helped the Fever make their first playoff appearance since 2016. She also was named an All-Star starter, becoming just the seventh WNBA rookie to earn that honor and also led the league in assists. Named to the All-WNBA First-Team and All-Rookie Team, Clark took home Rookie of the Year honors and will only keep getting better.
Brittney Griner, Atlanta Dream
It is no secret that Griner has been one of the league’s most dominant centers for years, and even at age 34, she keeps playing elite basketball. A superstar for Kim Mulkey’s Baylor Bears, Griner won a national title and was earned multiple national player of the year awards in college before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2013. From there, she continued her dominance, being named to 10 All-Star teams, being the league scoring champion twice, leading the league in blocks eight times, winning two league Defensive Player of the Year Awards, making multiple All-WNBA and All-WNBA defensive teams and winning a championship with the Mercury in 2014, among many other accolades. Joining the Atlanta Dream on a one-year deal after spending 11 seasons in Phoenix, Griner is expected to play a big role on the team this season.
Final Thoughts
The WNBA is loaded with talent from top to bottom, but when it comes to these five, they are just on another level. Whenever an opponent has to go against Griner, Clark, Wilson, Stewart or Ionescu though, a little bit more gameplanning and preparation has to go into it.
