Ten current players were included, along with five-time Olympians Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, as well as three former MVPs, in the "The W25" list, which was released Sunday by the WNBA to mark its 25th anniversary season.
It was described by the league as "a collection of 25 greatest and most influential players in WNBA History", with players chosen based on their overall contribution.
72 nominees were chosen to be part of the WNBA's inaugural class based on their on-court performance, ability, sportsmanship, community service, and leadership. The W25 was decided by a panel consisting of women's basketball advocates/pioneers and media.
In her 18th season, Seattle's Bird and Phoenix's Taurasi have been with their respective teams for their entire WNBA careers. Bird won four WNBA titles with the Storm, and Taurasi three with Mercury. Both teams are in the playoffs this season.
Tina Charles (both with Washington); Sylvia Fowles(Minnesota); Brittney griner (Phoenix); Angel McCoughtry, Las Vegas; Nneka Olwumike, Los Angeles; Candace Parker (Chicago); and Breanna Stewart, Seattle.
Bird, aged 40, is the oldest player, while Stewart (27) is youngest.
Maya Moore is also on the list. She has not been active since 2018, but she hasn't yet announced her retirement.
Three-time MVPs Lauren Jackson and Lisa Leslie, who played their whole WNBA career for Seattle and Los Angeles, respectively, lead the 14 former players. Sheryl Swoopes spent her entire career in Houston. Jackson was inducted into the Women's Basketball and Naismith halls of fame this year.
Other retired players include: Swin Cash and Tamika Catchings; Seimone Augustus; Tamika Catchings; Cynthia Cooper; Yolanda Griffith; Becky Hammon; Ticha Penicheiro. Cappie Pondexter. Katie Smith. Tina Thompson.
Twenty-two of the W25's members have won at most one WNBA championship, including four each for Augustus Bird, Cooper Moore, Swoopess, Thompson, Swoopess, Thompson, and Moore. Charles and McCoughtry still want their first championship, while Hammon did not win one in her career.
The W25 list included all but one regular-season MVP in league history, 2020 recipient A'ja Wilson (25 years old), of Las Vegas.
Nominees had to be a member of a WNBA team at least twice and meet four criteria: win a major award; be selected for the All-WNBA first, second or third teams; be selected for the All-Defensive second or first teams; be selected as All-Star; win a WNBA title; be ranked in the top 40 career leaders in at minimum one major statistical category; receive the WNBA's season-long Community Assist Award.
WNBA fans can vote for their favorite player in WNBA history with the "Vote For the GOAT Campaign" which begins Sunday at 5 p.m. ET until Sept. 19, when the regular season ends. Voting can be done via the WNBA app and website, or via Twitter. The winner will be announced during the WNBA Finals, October.
