The WNBA is celebrating its 30th season with the anniversary of its first game, between the Los Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty on Sunday, a game the Sparks won 67-57.The opening tip in that matchup was won by Lisa Leslie, who went on to have one of the most illustrious WNBA careers. As we commemorate the league reaching its 30th season, Leslie is one of the 30 players who defined this first era of the WNBA. Here are the rest:1. Tamika CatchingsIndiana Fever │ 15 years of service (2002-2016)Accolades: MVP, champion, finals MVP, 5-time DPOY, 12-time all-WNBA, 10-time All-StarA five-time Defensive Player of the Year and one-time MVP, Catchings is the best player to suit up for the Indiana Fever as she led the franchise to its lone WNBA title in 2012. Catchings is one of the most complete players in the league’s existence: an ace defender and a high-level scorer, rebounder and playmaker all wrapped into one.
Catchings earns the top spot in this exercise for the combination of her longevity, consistency, two-way excellence and peak performance. She has the most win shares in league history, and the gap between first and second in win shares is greater than the gap between second and 13th in that important stat category.2. Diana TaurasiPhoenix Mercury │ 20 YOS (2004-2014, 2016-2024)Accolades: MVP, 3-time champion, 2-time finals MVP, 14-time all-WNBA, 11-time All-StarThe WNBA recognized Taurasi as the GOAT in 2021 during its 25th season, when she led the Phoenix Mercury to the finals. In 2023, she became the first WNBA player to clear 10,000 points. Although only a one-time MVP, Taurasi has long been the most devastating scorer in league history, a title that has only recently been challenged by Aces star A’ja Wilson.
