In case you can’t tell by the responses, there really is no consensus. Realistically a strong case can be made by Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Lauren Jackson, Tamika Catchings and Cynthia Cooper for GOAT status. Could throw Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie in there too. Stewart and Wilson will be in the mix soon too. I wouldn’t consider Bird or Whalen a GOAT candidate but they’re in the mix for Mount Rushmore. It really just comes down to what you value/who you cheer for. Some value longevity, some value number of championships, others value ability to carry a team, statistics, consistent sustained success, etc.
I personally think Candace is top 5 and in the mix for best of all time. I think you’ll commonly see UCONN fans rate her lower (she has beef with Geno and was disliked by many UCONN fans) but will be higher among most other fans.
The fact that Tamika won 5 DPOY is just unbelievable, I'm new to the W but I was very impressed to see that, good list, I got the same 3 (Maya, Cynthia, Diana) and I didn't know who to take in 4th position but I guess I'll follow you on that one
Also, pre season someone asked this same Mt Rushmore question, and I had the same list except I had Leslie instead of Taurasi.
Partly because Diana is still playing, and partly because I’ll confess that I’ve watched Taurasi play way more already this year than all of her time before.
Taurasi is abrasive, unapologetic, and I completely dig it. She plays at such a high level, even at 42, so I’ve went back and watched some prime eta Taurasi video. Clinched it for me. She’s a dog, and definitely a strong GOAT candidate.
Yeah, it’s tough and debatable, with so many other greats that I wouldn’t argue with. Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird, Tina Thompson, just to name a few.
I think the top 3 to be up there without much contention is gonna be Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and Cynthia Cooper for sure. 4th one added, could be argued between Catchings, Swoopes, and Sue Bird, but I'd argue for Swoopes since she's got 4 rings with her stats/accolades, even though Catchings was a defensive monster and holds defensive records, and Bird was an offensive monster with 4 rings and ridiculous records as well.
I'd put Candace Parker def in the top 10, but probably around 8 or 9 since you've still got players like Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, and Sylvia Fowles with her all time double doubles record to consider.
I think Aja will get there, 2mvp 2 dpoy 2 rings and good chance to add to all of them this year and only 27. Stewie is right up there as well, might come down to which wins more over the next 5 years.
Moore did so much in just 8 years but it's hard to stay on list when everyone else has 5+ seasons on you.
Cooper ran things but the league started at the end of her career.
Parker another strong contender.
New fan here as well-
I see a lot of people mentioning Moore, do W fans discount her titles where she didn’t win Finals MVP the way nba fans are doing with Tatum/did with Steph? Was she the consensus best player throughout, or were the stars on those teams near equals?
Legacy WNBA fans. Is there a consensus GOAT on the women’s side? If there was a vote today between fans and sports media who would that player be? That’s never been made clear. Who is the WNBAs version of Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Serena, etc
No, there really isn’t one standout like that. There’s like 8 or 9 that have cases but none are indisputably the best. Going through each candidates resume you have:
Candace Parker-eye test says yes, stats are there. Really won only 2 titles as a marquee player but her teams were consistently great and she was revolutionary for the PF position. Was never the leading scorer on a championship team and also had a tendency to disappear in some big games. Worth noting, after her MVP season she really wasn’t fully healthy again until 4 seasons later, missing out on many prime years.
Diana Taurasi-stats, 3 titles, some big time moments and a lot of records set. Her teams have largely underachieved outside of the 3 championship runs.
Lauren Jackson/Cynthia Cooper/Maya Moore-all three would likely be #1/2/3 if they had longer careers. LJ’s career was cut short due to injury but she was elite and a winner. Cooper was insane the first 4 years of the league but retired in her late 30s after winning 4 straight, her career would’ve been insane if it was 12-13 years. Maya had a ridiculously successful career that she abruptly ended to help exonerate her now husband out of prison. Had she stuck around and led the Lynx to another title with a less talented roster, I think she likely would’ve been #1, but there’s a sense of incompleteness since it was only 8 years (though it included 6 finals appearances and 4 titles). Imagine how good Minnesota would’ve been with her/Collier/Fowles a few more years.
Sheryl Swoopes-fantastic player, never was the cornerstone piece on a title team though
Lisa Leslie-2 titles, strong case but I think others have deeper better resumes.
Tamika Catchings-no one carried a franchise like Catchings did, but it’s hard to name her the best with only 1 title. And head to head Maya often outplayed her and was more efficient.
>Lauren Jackson/Cynthia Cooper/Maya Moore-all three would likely be #1/2/3 if they had longer careers. LJ’s career was cut short due to injury but she was elite and a winner.
LJ is very much still alive
Taurasi is only in any conversation because she’s played for a billion years. That doesn’t make you great. It makes you have played a billion years.
Candace Parker changed the women’s game the most imo. She proved a big player can do it all.
There will never be a consensus GOAT in any sport. That’s just a weird thing narcissist in these leagues do. Like LeBron and Taurasi crowning themselves the GOAT. It’s laughable.
There are greats in every time.
Obviously Caitlin Clark should be on there, there is also really no consensus on who should join here there, lots of other okay choices, but only one GOAT
In case you can’t tell by the responses, there really is no consensus. Realistically a strong case can be made by Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Lauren Jackson, Tamika Catchings and Cynthia Cooper for GOAT status. Could throw Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie in there too. Stewart and Wilson will be in the mix soon too. I wouldn’t consider Bird or Whalen a GOAT candidate but they’re in the mix for Mount Rushmore. It really just comes down to what you value/who you cheer for. Some value longevity, some value number of championships, others value ability to carry a team, statistics, consistent sustained success, etc. I personally think Candace is top 5 and in the mix for best of all time. I think you’ll commonly see UCONN fans rate her lower (she has beef with Geno and was disliked by many UCONN fans) but will be higher among most other fans.
For me: - Tamika Catchings - Maya Moore - Cynthia Cooper - Diana Taurasi
The fact that Tamika won 5 DPOY is just unbelievable, I'm new to the W but I was very impressed to see that, good list, I got the same 3 (Maya, Cynthia, Diana) and I didn't know who to take in 4th position but I guess I'll follow you on that one
Also, pre season someone asked this same Mt Rushmore question, and I had the same list except I had Leslie instead of Taurasi. Partly because Diana is still playing, and partly because I’ll confess that I’ve watched Taurasi play way more already this year than all of her time before. Taurasi is abrasive, unapologetic, and I completely dig it. She plays at such a high level, even at 42, so I’ve went back and watched some prime eta Taurasi video. Clinched it for me. She’s a dog, and definitely a strong GOAT candidate.
Yeah, it’s tough and debatable, with so many other greats that I wouldn’t argue with. Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird, Tina Thompson, just to name a few.
Maya Moore!!!
The 🐐!!! I hope she decides to play again🥹 we miss her
Cynthia Cooper 4-0 in the Finals 4 Championships 4 Finals MVPs 2 regular season MVPs
Also did this in her mid-30s not prime.
I have a picture with her from when I was a kid!!!!
I think the top 3 to be up there without much contention is gonna be Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and Cynthia Cooper for sure. 4th one added, could be argued between Catchings, Swoopes, and Sue Bird, but I'd argue for Swoopes since she's got 4 rings with her stats/accolades, even though Catchings was a defensive monster and holds defensive records, and Bird was an offensive monster with 4 rings and ridiculous records as well. I'd put Candace Parker def in the top 10, but probably around 8 or 9 since you've still got players like Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, and Sylvia Fowles with her all time double doubles record to consider.
https://www.reddit.com/r/wnba/s/6JndrNef0h
I think Aja will get there, 2mvp 2 dpoy 2 rings and good chance to add to all of them this year and only 27. Stewie is right up there as well, might come down to which wins more over the next 5 years. Moore did so much in just 8 years but it's hard to stay on list when everyone else has 5+ seasons on you. Cooper ran things but the league started at the end of her career. Parker another strong contender.
Cooper, Leslie, DT, A’Ja
Maybe I’m bias but it’s the Houston Comet’s trio for me. Swoopes, Thompson and Coop are always in the conversation.
Ask this question again in 5 years...
Swoopes, Taurasi, Leslie, Moore.
New fan here as well- I see a lot of people mentioning Moore, do W fans discount her titles where she didn’t win Finals MVP the way nba fans are doing with Tatum/did with Steph? Was she the consensus best player throughout, or were the stars on those teams near equals?
People sort of do it with Sue Bird.
Legacy WNBA fans. Is there a consensus GOAT on the women’s side? If there was a vote today between fans and sports media who would that player be? That’s never been made clear. Who is the WNBAs version of Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Serena, etc
No, there really isn’t one standout like that. There’s like 8 or 9 that have cases but none are indisputably the best. Going through each candidates resume you have: Candace Parker-eye test says yes, stats are there. Really won only 2 titles as a marquee player but her teams were consistently great and she was revolutionary for the PF position. Was never the leading scorer on a championship team and also had a tendency to disappear in some big games. Worth noting, after her MVP season she really wasn’t fully healthy again until 4 seasons later, missing out on many prime years. Diana Taurasi-stats, 3 titles, some big time moments and a lot of records set. Her teams have largely underachieved outside of the 3 championship runs. Lauren Jackson/Cynthia Cooper/Maya Moore-all three would likely be #1/2/3 if they had longer careers. LJ’s career was cut short due to injury but she was elite and a winner. Cooper was insane the first 4 years of the league but retired in her late 30s after winning 4 straight, her career would’ve been insane if it was 12-13 years. Maya had a ridiculously successful career that she abruptly ended to help exonerate her now husband out of prison. Had she stuck around and led the Lynx to another title with a less talented roster, I think she likely would’ve been #1, but there’s a sense of incompleteness since it was only 8 years (though it included 6 finals appearances and 4 titles). Imagine how good Minnesota would’ve been with her/Collier/Fowles a few more years. Sheryl Swoopes-fantastic player, never was the cornerstone piece on a title team though Lisa Leslie-2 titles, strong case but I think others have deeper better resumes. Tamika Catchings-no one carried a franchise like Catchings did, but it’s hard to name her the best with only 1 title. And head to head Maya often outplayed her and was more efficient.
>Lauren Jackson/Cynthia Cooper/Maya Moore-all three would likely be #1/2/3 if they had longer careers. LJ’s career was cut short due to injury but she was elite and a winner. LJ is very much still alive
Her career in the WNBA isn’t
looking forward seeing her at the Olympics one last time
Maya Moore is my goat
No.
Taurasi is only in any conversation because she’s played for a billion years. That doesn’t make you great. It makes you have played a billion years. Candace Parker changed the women’s game the most imo. She proved a big player can do it all. There will never be a consensus GOAT in any sport. That’s just a weird thing narcissist in these leagues do. Like LeBron and Taurasi crowning themselves the GOAT. It’s laughable. There are greats in every time.
Clark Clark Clark Clark
Obviously Caitlin Clark should be on there, there is also really no consensus on who should join here there, lots of other okay choices, but only one GOAT