WNBA Seattle Storm

Seattle Storm Players Named to WNBA Top 15 All-Time List

Published on July 23, 2011 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release


SEATTLE, Wash., July 23, 2011 - Three players on the Seattle Storm's 2011 roster have been recognized among the WNBA's Top 15 Players in History, the league announced today. Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson and Katie Smith were among those honored as the list was unveiled during halftime ceremonies at the 2011 All-Star Game presented by adidas in San Antonio, Texas. Former Storm players Yolanda Griffith and Sheryl Swoopes, who played for Seattle in 2008, were also included in the list that celebrated the WNBA's 15th season.

Los Angeles was the only other team with multiple current players represented as Tina Thompson and Ticha Penicheiro were recognized.

The current Seattle trio has a collection of WNBA championships to its credit as Bird and Jackson teamed to lead the Storm to titles in 2004 and 2011 and Smith won with Detroit in 2006 and 2008.

Bird, in her 10th season with the Storm, is one of seven players to have won NCAA and WNBA championships and an Olympic gold medal. She has been voted a starter in all seven All-Star Games that have been played during her career (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011). Bird was also named to the WNBA's All-Decade Team in 2006.

Jackson, also a seven-time All-Star selection, is a three-time league MVP (2003, 200, 2010). She earned multiple honors in 2007 when she was named both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year and again in 2010 when she was tabbed as both the league and Finals MVP after leading Seattle to its second championship.

Smith, 37, joined the Storm this year and is playing her 13th year of professional basketball. The 2008 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, her name is scattered throughout the WNBA career lists. She is currently third all-time in scoring, behind Thompson and Lisa Leslie. Like Bird, she has two Olympic gold medals on her resume.

"The 15 athletes honored today represent an extraordinarily accomplished group and the very best in women's professional basketball from around the world," said WNBA President Laurel J. Richie. "In just the few months I've been with the WNBA, I have had an opportunity to meet each of the current players on this list as well as some of the legends who paved the way. I have found that they are not only tremendous athletes who have reached extraordinary heights on the court, but also terrific women who give unselfishly of their time in the community. I am proud to be associated with these outstanding women; and I am so pleased for them that the fans, media members, and the current generation of players and coaches, have chosen to recognize and honor them."

A panel comprising media members and basketball experts selected the 30-nominee ballot, giving consideration to such factors as oncourt performance and ability, leadership, sportsmanship, and community service, as well as to contributions to team success and the overall growth of women's basketball.

Voting for the league's Top 15 Players of All Time began on June 23 and was conducted among fans, who voted on WNBA.com, by select national and WNBA-market media, and by current players and coaches. The league weighted each of three voting groups to account for an equal percentage of the total vote.

"This list of 15 players is composed of exciting - and dominating - players from start to finish and highlighted by players of all kinds - scorers, playmakers, ballhandlers, rebounders, defensive wizards, leaders, and players who have brought out the best in their teammates," added WNBA Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations Renee Brown, who has been an executive with the WNBA since its inception. "I cannot think of 15 more deserving women to represent the more than 700 players who have taken the court wearing the WNBA logo on their uniform during our 15-year history."

The WNBA's Top 15 Players of all time:

Name WNBA Team (Current/Last) Previous Team(s)

Sue Bird Seattle Storm (2002-Current)

Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever (2002-Current)

Cynthia Cooper* Houston Comets (1997-2000, 2003)

Yolanda Griffith* Indiana Fever (2009) Sacramento Monarchs (1999-2007),

Seattle Storm (2008)

Becky Hammon San Antonio Silver Stars (07-Current) New York Liberty (1999-2006)

Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm (2001-Current)

Lisa Leslie* Los Angeles Sparks (1997-2006, 2008-2009)

Ticha Penicheiro Los Angeles Sparks (2010-Current) Sacramento Monarchs (1998-2009)

Cappie Pondexter New York Liberty (2010-Current) Phoenix Mercury (2006-2009)

Katie Smith Seattle Storm (Current) Minnesota Lynx (1999-2005), Detroit Shock (2005-2009), Washington Mystics (2010)

Dawn Staley* Houston Comets (2006-2006) Charlotte Sting (1999-2005)

Sheryl Swoopes Tulsa Shock (Current) Houston Comets (1997-2000, 2002- 2007), Seattle Storm (2008)

Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury (2004-Current)

Tina Thompson Los Angeles Sparks (2009-Current) Houston Comets (1997-2008)

Teresa Weatherspoon* Los Angeles Sparks (2004) New York Liberty (1997-2003)

*Retired

WNBA Top 15 Players of All Time

Top 15 Players Facts & Figures:

* 14 have earned Olympic medals (Jackson, three silver medals with Australia in 2000, 2004 and 2008; Hammon, a bronze medal with Russia in 2008; Weatherspoon, a gold medal in 1988 and a bronze medal with the U.S. in 1992, the rest gold medals for the U.S.)

* 11 have played on a WNBA championship team (Cooper, Swoopes, and Thompson with Houston in 1997-2000, Leslie with Los Angeles in 2001 and 2002, Bird and Jackson with Seattle in 2004 and 2010, Griffith and Penicheiro with Sacramento in 2005, Pondexter and Taurasi with Phoenix in 2007 and 2009, Smith with Detroit in 2006 and 2008)

* 10 members of the All-Decade Team selected in 2006 (the league's 10th season) are members of the Top 15 Players of All Time

* Nine won gold medals with the U.S. Olympic team in 2004 (Bird, Catchings, Griffith, Leslie, Smith, Staley, Swoopes, Taurasi, and Thompson)

* Seven won gold medals with the U.S. Olympic team in 2008 (Bird, Catchings, Leslie, Pondexter, Smith, Taurasi, and Thompson,)

* Six have won a total of 13 of 14 regular-season WNBA MVP awards (Cooper in 1997 and 1998; Griffith in 1999; Jackson in 2003, 2007, and 2010; Leslie in 2001, 2004, and 2006; Swoopes in 2000, 2002, and 2005; Taurasi in 2009)

* Six have won a total of 13 of 14 regular-season WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards (Catchings in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010; Griffith in 1999; Jackson in 2007; Leslie in 2004 and 2008; Swoopes in 2000, 2002, and 2003; Weatherspoon in 1997 and 1998)

* Four have won both WNBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season (Griffith in 1999; Jackson in 2007; Leslie in 2004; Swoopes in 2000 and 2002)

* Four are former No. 1 overall WNBA Draft picks (Bird in 2002, Jackson in 2001, Taurasi in 2004, and Thompson in 1997)

* Four have won a WNBA championship, an NCAA title, and a gold medal (Bird, Cooper, Swoopes, and Taurasi)

* Three were on the five-player Honorable Mention list for the All-Decade Team selected in 2006 (Penicheiro, Taurasi, and Weatherspoon)

* Three are currently head basketball coaches of women's collegiate programs (Cooper at UNC Wilmington, Staley at South Carolina, Weatherspoon at Louisiana Tech)

* Three are former members of the American Basketball League (Griffith, Smith, and Staley)

* Three played collegiate ball at Southern California (Cooper, Leslie, and Thompson)

* Two are original members of the WNBA, and still active as players in the league (Swoopes and Thompson)

* Two won WNBA Rookie of the Year honors (Catchings in 2002 and Taurasi in 2004)

* Two are current members of the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm (Bird and Jackson)

* Two played collegiate ball at Connecticut (Bird and Taurasi)

* One is the only player to win championships in both the ABL and WNBA (Smith with the Columbus Quest of the ABL in 1997 and 1998, and Detroit Shock in 2006).

* One is the daughter of a former NBA player (Catchings - father Harvey)

* One was the first player ever to sign with the WNBA (Swoopes, Oct. 23, 1996)

* One was the first collegian ever drafted in the WNBA (Thompson, April 28, 1997).

Colleges represented by the Top 15 players: Colorado State (Hammon), Connecticut (Bird and Taurasi), Florida Atlantic (Griffith), Louisiana Tech (Weatherspoon), Ohio State (Smith), Old Dominion (Penicheiro), Rutgers (Pondexter), Southern California (Cooper, Leslie, and Thompson), Tennessee (Catchings), Texas Tech (Swoopes), and Virginia (Staley).

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 23, 2011


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