The WNBA is home to some of the world’s greatest and tallest female basketball players, and with each year, the league’s popularity gets higher.
In this rundown, we’re diving into the record books to bring you the tallest WNBA players in history. These basketball players have taken the league to new heights, literally and figuratively!
Top 15 Tallest WNBA Players In History
Here are the tallest female basketball players to have graced the court.
1. Malgorzata Dydek
Height: 7 ft. 2 in.
Years active: 1998–2008
Teams: Utah Starzz, San Antonio Stars, Connecticut Sun, Los Angeles Sparks
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 323 | Points: 10 | Total Rebounds: 6.6 | Assists: 1.6
Country: Poland
Malgorzata Dydek, known as “Margo,” was the tallest WNBA player and the only seven-footer in the history of women’s basketball.
Margo Dydek was a towering figure both on and off the basketball court. Dydek was the tallest professional female basketball player in WNBA history at a remarkable height of 7 feet 2 inches.
Starzz center Margo Dydek had seven blocked shots against the Minnesota Lynx, giving her 202 for her career.
Her basketball journey began at a young age, and she quickly rose through the ranks in Europe before making her mark in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Dydek’s unique contribution in the WNBA Finals was her 11-point total in four games against the Monarchs, despite averaging just 4.5 points in eight games.
2. Han Xu
Height: 6 ft. 10 in.
Years active: 2018–present
Teams: New York Liberty
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 58 | Points: 5.8 | Total Rebounds: 2.4 | Assists: 0.6
Country: China
Han Xu, a professional basketball player from China and among the tallest female basketball players, plays for the New York Liberty in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
She’s also an all-star on the Chinese national team, representing her country in various FIBA events.
Drafted 14th overall in the 2019 WNBA draft pick, Xu’s stint playing for NY was delayed by the COVID pandemic. She’s currently the tallest WNBA player in the league and the second-tallest player in the history of the entire league.
Han was named MVP of the WCBA (Women’s Chinese Basketball Association) in 2021 and 2022 and was selected as the All-Star Five in the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
She averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, helping China win their first silver medal since 1994. This was one of her career highs.
3. Bernadett Határ
Height: 6 ft. 10 in.
Years active: 2012-present
Teams: Indiana Fever, Connecticut Sun
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 13 | Points: 3.5 | Total Rebounds: 2.1 | Assists: 0.2
Country: Hungary
Bernadett Határ is a talented and tallest WNBA player hailing from Hungary. She has made a name for herself by playing for multiple WNBA teams.
One of the standout features of her basketball career is her impressive height of 2.09m, which makes her a valuable asset to any team and among the tallest female basketball players.
In 2020, Határ signed with the Indiana Fever, but unfortunately, she suffered an injury that stopped her from playing for the entire season. She only played in seven games during the 2021 WNBA season.
4. Brittney Griner
Height: 6 ft. 9 in.
Years active: 2013–present
Teams: Phoenix Mercury
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 285 | Points: 17.7 | Total Rebounds: 7.5 | Assists: 1.9
Country: USA
WNBA Star Brittney Griner is a dominant force in women’s basketball, renowned for her towering height, shot-blocking ability, and versatile scoring.
Since joining the league, Phoenix Mercury’s 2013 pick, Brittney Griner, has an average of 17.7 points, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
Her impact on the court was immediate, and the WNBA Peak Performer quickly established herself as one of the league’s premier and tallest female basketball players.
She has led the WNBA championship numerous times and holds the record for the most blocks in a single season.
Nobody could match Brittney Griner during a game with the Minnesota Lynx. The eight-time All-Star set WNBA finals records in game 1 for the most blocks in a quarter.
5. Liz Cambage
Height: 6 ft. 9 in.
Years active: 2007–present
Teams: Tulsa Shock, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 167 | Points: 15.8 | Total Rebounds: 7.5 | Assists: 1.6
Country: Australia
Liz Cambage is an accomplished 6’8″ Australian professional basketball player who’s made a name for herself as one of the tallest female basketball players and the most dynamic players in the league.
Cambage has steadily become one of the best female basketball players in the WNBA ever since the Tulsa Shock selected her second overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft Pick.
Cambage announced on August 27, 2012, that she would not return to the US to finish the 2012 WNBA season with the Tulsa Shock.
The former Tulsa Shock center set the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points on July 17, 2018, leading the league with 23.0 points per game that season.
In 2018, she returned to the WNBA after a five-year stint in China, signing with the Dallas Wings and being voted to the All-Star Game in her first season.
Cambage joined the Las Vegas Aces in 2019 after demanding a trade from Dallas one year into a multiyear contract.
6. Zheng Haixia
Height: 6 ft. 8 in.
Years active: 1997–1998
Teams: Los Angeles Sparks
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 34 | Points: 8.9 | Total Rebounds: 4.4 | Assists: 0.6
Country: China
Zheng Haixia is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who significantly impacted the sport in her home country. She is a pioneering figure in women’s basketball.
Zheng Haixia’s career is marked by her extraordinary height (making her one of the tallest female basketball players in the WNBA), outstanding skills, and her trailblazing journey through basketball.
Zheng gained recognition on the international stage as a key player for the Chinese national women’s basketball team during the 1990s.
Haixia averaged 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game during her two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Her presence in the post, shot-blocking ability, and scoring prowess made her a formidable force on the court.
7. Maria Stepanova
Height: 6 ft. 8 in.
Years active: 1998–2001, 2005
Teams: Phoenix Mercury
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 114 | Points: 7.6 | Total Rebounds: 4.7 | Assists: 0.9
Country: Russia
Maria Stepanova is one of the tallest WNBA players, and is a retired Russian female basketball player best known for her amazing global basketball career and contributions to the Russian national team.
Standing at an exceptional 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) tall, Maria Stepanova was dominant on the basketball court and one of the tallest female basketball players.
Stepanova returned to Phoenix Mercury for the 2005 season, averaging 10.8 points and 2.5 blocks per game, marking her career high.
Apart from being one of the tallest players around, Maria primarily played as a center and was known for her versatility, agility, and skill, further complementing her towering height.
Stepanova had a successful career in European basketball, playing for various clubs in Russia, including UMMC Ekaterinburg and CSKA Moscow, where she achieved numerous accolades.
8. Razija Brcaninovic
Height: 6 ft. 8 in.
Years active: 1998-1999
Teams: Dallas Wings
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 30 | Points: 9.1 | Total Rebounds: 5.1 | Assists: 1.0
Country: Serbia
Brcaninovic, a talented and the tallest WNBA player from Serbia, could potentially become a WNBA legend if only the league had started ten years earlier.
Born in Serbia 30 years before the WNBA’s first season, Brcaninovic only played one year in the league.
Unfortunately, the female basketball player only had one chance to showcase her skills in the league during her career.
Brcaninovic averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds during the course of her brief time with the Detroit Shock in 1998, playing in 30 games.
Despite her towering height, she wasn’t known for blocking many shots, with an average of less than one block per game.
However, in the second-to-last game of her WNBA career, Brcaninovic displayed her scoring prowess by scoring an impressive 25 points.
9. Kalani Brown
Height: 6 ft. 7 in.
Years active: 2019-present
Teams: Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 71 | Points: 6.0 | Total Rebounds: 3.6 | Assists: 0.7
Country: USA
Kalani Brown is a former (and the tallest) WNBA player known for her basketball prowess, particularly as a center. Kalani Brown played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears at Baylor University.
She had a highly successful collegiate career, earning several accolades, including All-American honors. Brown was a dominant force in the paint, known for her shot-blocking, rebounding, and scoring ability.
Brown was selected as the 7th overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the initial round of the 2019 WNBA Draft.
She made her WNBA debut with the Sparks in 2019 and played for them during her rookie season. She showcased her skills as a post-player in the league and contributed to her team’s efforts.
Kalani Brown’s playing style is characterized by her imposing size and strength, making her a formidable presence on the court.
10. Teaira McCowan
Height: 6 ft. 7 in.
Years active: 2019–present
Teams: Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 151 | Points: 11.0 | Total Rebounds: 8.5 | Assists: 0.8
Country: USA
Teaira McCowan is a talented and tallest WNBA player known for her skills as a center. She played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Mississippi State University.
She had a highly successful collegiate career and was a dominant force in the post. McCowan earned numerous accolades during her college years, including multiple All-American honors.
As a basketball player, she was selected as the third-round overall pick in the first round of the WNBA Draft 2019 by the Indiana Fever, rewarding them with a strong play each season.
Her arrival in the WNBA was nothing short of a revelation. She immediately stood out with her remarkable talent in three key areas of the game – shot-blocking, rebounding, and scoring.
McCowan quickly became known as one of the tallest female basketball players and the league’s premier centers and played a pivotal role for the Fever.
11. Katie Mattera
Height: 6 ft. 8 in.
Years active: 2005-2009
Teams: San Antonio Silver Stars, Detroit Shock, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky
Position: Center Position
Career stats: Games: 150 | Points: 6.7 | Total Rebounds: 4.7 | Assists: 0.3
Country: USA
The former American professional and tallest WNBA player Katharen Mattera is another entry for the tallest female basketball player. She’s a center who most recently played for Chicago Sky.
Mattera excelled during her stay at Liberty University, becoming the tallest woman in the Big South Conference and leading the nation in field goal percentage twice.
Thanks to her stature, Katie is recognized as one of the tallest WNBA players from the US.
Mattera was drafted by Connecticut in 2005 but was quickly swapped to the San Antonio Silver Stars for Margo Dydek, the tallest female basketball player.
Mattera, who was selected as the 8th overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft, had a successful career, playing in 150 games.
12. Kara Wolters Drinan
Height: 6 ft. 7 in.
Years active: 1999–2003
Teams: Houston Comets, Indiana Fever, Sacramento Monarchs
Position: Center Position
Career stats: Games: 86 | Points: 6.5 | Total Rebounds: 3.2 | Assists: 0.7
Country: USA
Kara Wolters Drinan is a former WNBA player, a retired professional women’s basketball player, and one of the tallest athletes in WNBA history.
Kara Wolters played college basketball for the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies. At UConn, she was a dominant force in women’s college basketball.
Kara Wolters was selected as the 6th overall pick by the Houston Comets in the first round of the 1999 WNBA Draft.
She played for the Comets during her WNBA career and was known for her size and scoring ability in the post. Wolters was part of the Comets’ roster when they won the WNBA Championship 1999.
Wolters was a true center with an imposing presence in the paint. Her height and post skills made her an offensive and defensive asset.
13. Azura Stevens
Height: 6 ft. 6 in.
Years active: 2018-present
Teams: Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks
Position: Center Position
Career stats: Games: 156 | Points: 9.4 | Total Rebounds: 4.8 | Assists: 1.0
Country: USA
Azura Stevens is a professional and tallest WNBA player known for her versatility and skills on the court.
She played for the Duke Blue Devils and later transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies. She was a standout player in both programs.
She earned All-American honors at UConn and was part of the Huskies’ dominant women’s basketball program.
Azura Stevens was selected as the 6th overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the first round of the 2018 WNBA Draft. After being traded from the Dallas Wings, she joined the Chicago Sky in February 2021.
She had career highs, including approximately 1.1 blocks per game. This statistic highlights her impressive shot-blocking ability and her defensive impact on the court.
Stevens has since joined Fenerbahçe and now plays in the Turkish Women’s Basketball League (TKBL).
Stevens is known for her versatility; she can play forward and center. She possesses a unique combination of size and agility, making her effective on both ends of the floor.
14. Jonquel Jones
Height: 6 ft. 6 in.
Years active: 2016–present
Teams: Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty
Position: Power Forward/Center
Career stats: Games: 236 | Points: 13.2 | Total Rebounds: 8.3 | Assists: 1.6
Country: The Bahamas
Jonquel Jones is a prominent and tallest WNBA player known for her exceptional skills as a forward/center. She played college basketball for the George Washington University Colonials.
She was a standout player in college, known for her rebounding, shot-blocking, and scoring abilities. Jones earned numerous accolades, including the WNBA MVP awards.
Jonquel Jones was selected as the 6th general pick by the LA Sparks in the initial round of the 2016 WNBA Draft but was traded to the Connecticut Sun shortly after that.
The New York Liberty has traded her to the Connecticut Sun. Over the course of her career, she’s averaged 1.4 blocks per game, befitting her stature as one of the tallest players in the WNBA.
She made her WNBA debut with the Sun and quickly emerged as one of the tallest female basketball players and the league’s top WNBA players.
This was the best season for her, as she hit a career-high 19.4 points per game and got career-highs in assists, steals, and minutes per game.
Jones is a highly skilled basketball player with a diverse range of abilities. She can significantly impact both court ends, whether scoring, passing, rebounding, or defending.
15. Mercedes Russell
Height: 6 ft. 6 in.
Years active: 2018–present
Teams: New York Liberty, Seattle Storm
Position: Center
Career stats: Games: 152 | Points: 5.2 | Total Rebounds: 4.3 | Assists: 1.0
Country: USA
Mercedes Russell is a talented WNBA player known for her contributions as a center and as one of the tallest basketball players.
During her college career, she established herself as a skilled and versatile post-player. Russell is known for her rebounding, shot-blocking, and scoring abilities.
Mercedes Russell was selected as the 22nd general pick in the second round of the 2018 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty but was traded to the Seattle Storm.
She had a career average of approximately 0.4 blocks per game. Since making her debut in the WNBA with the Seattle Storm, she has been an integral member of the team’s roster.
Russell’s size and presence have contributed to the success of Seattle Storm, and she has played alongside some of the league’s top talents.
Honorable Mention: Lindsay Corine Taylor
Lindsay Corine Taylor is another American professional basketball player who deserves an honorable mention. Lindsay Corine Taylor stands at 6 ft 8 in and is one of the tallest female athletes in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Got more questions about the tallest WNBA players today? I’ve got you covered. Learn more about the tallest women in WNBA history here.
How Important Is Height in Basketball?
Height is a crucial factor in basketball, but being the tallest player isn’t everything. Tall players have an advantage in rebounding and shot-blocking, as they can reach higher and secure missed shots.
Other factors like skill level, speed and agility, basketball IQ, teamwork, and versatility also contribute to a player’s overall effectiveness on the court.
Successful basketball teams often have a mix of players with various heights and skill sets to complement each other.
Who’s the Tallest WNBA Player Today?
Brittney Griner towers over her opponents as the current tallest woman in the WNBA, standing at six-foot-nine.
As the center for the Phoenix Mercury, Griner is a formidable force on offense and defense, utilizing her height and skill to dominate the court’s interior.
Interestingly enough, an old NBA strategy involved utilizing the tallest player on the court to run the ball through their opponents.
What’s the Average Height of a WNBA Player?
The typical height of a WNBA player is 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches, but this can vary.
Taller female basketball players, like power forwards, are taller than average, while guards and forwards may be slightly shorter.
In the WNBA, skill, athleticism, and versatility are highly valued, and the average height of players can vary depending on the season.
Who’s the Shortest WNBA player in History?
Although Shannon Bobbitt‘s WNBA career ended 12 years ago, she still holds the record for being the shortest player in WNBA history.
During her college years, Bobbitt significantly contributed to the Tennessee Volunteers, helping the team win two national championships before becoming the 15th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft.
The league has significantly shaped pro women’s basketball, establishing an identity distinct from its male counterparts.
Conclusion
So those were the tallest WNBA players in history who have made an indelible impact on the game, physically and figuratively.
From Brittney Griner’s towering presence to Margo Dydek’s historic height, these were the tallest women on the hardwood.
In female basketball, towering height is often considered a major advantage. However, it’s important to understand that success in this sport is not solely determined by physical attributes.
A player’s skill level, ability to work well with others, and passion for the game are all equally important on the court.