If you’re still looking at women’s hoops through the lens of 2023, you’re basically watching a different sport. The game has moved so fast. Honestly, the shift we've seen in the last 24 months has turned the "top female basketball players" conversation into a total battlefield of opinions. It’s no longer just about who has the most rings or the highest scoring average in a vacuum. It’s about impact. It's about gravity.
Take A’ja Wilson. People throw the "GOAT" acronym around like confetti these days, but with A’ja, it actually fits. Coming off a 2025 season where she was unanimously selected to the All-WNBA First Team, she has nothing left to prove. Yet, she keeps proving it.
She's currently averaging a career-high 23.4 points per game while anchoring a Las Vegas Aces defense that remains the gold standard. You’ve got to realize she isn't just a post player anymore. She’s a 6-4 nightmare that can handle the rock and pick you apart from the elbow.
The Power Shift: Why Stats Aren't Everything
When we talk about the top female basketball players, the debate usually hits a wall when people start comparing the "old guard" to the new "icon" era.
Napheesa Collier is the name that most casual fans still sleep on, which is wild. In 2025, she officially joined the 50-40-90 club. Think about that. A 6-1 forward shooting 53.1% from the field, 40.3% from deep, and 90.6% from the line. She isn't just good; she's mathematically perfect. She led the Minnesota Lynx to the 2024 Finals and hasn't let off the gas in 2026.
Then there’s the Caitlin Clark factor.
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Her 2025 season was... complicated. Injuries to her groin and quad basically derailed her sophomore year, limiting her to just 13 games. But in those 13 games? She still put up 8.8 assists and 16.5 points. The gravity she pulls is still the highest in the league. Even when she’s not scoring, three defenders are leaning her way. That creates gaps for teammates like Aliyah Boston that wouldn't exist for any other point guard in history.
The Rise of the Unicorns
If you want to know where the game is going, look at JuJu Watkins.
She’s still in college at USC, but she’s already playing a pro-style game that most WNBA vets envy. She hit her 1,000th career point in just 38 games—the second-fastest in Division 1 history.
JuJu is different.
She’s a 6-2 guard who can block eight shots in a game (like she did against UCLA) and then go drop 40 the next night. She’s the prototype for the next decade of top female basketball players.
- Breanna Stewart: Still the most versatile winner in the world. She’s currently averaging 18.3 PPG and 6.5 RPG for the Liberty, but her value is in the "clutch" moments.
- Satou Sabally: The German "Unicorn" is the engine for her national team and a mismatch nightmare in the W. She’s a lock for the 2026 FIBA World Cup standouts.
- Kate Harpring: Keep this name on your radar. She’s the #1 recruit for the class of 2026. A 5-10 point guard from Georgia with a 99 rating. She’s the next evolution.
What Most People Get Wrong
People love to argue about "efficiency" versus "volume."
It’s a trap.
In the modern game, the best players are the ones who can handle the "Unrivaled" format—the new 3-on-3 league founded by Stewart and Collier. It’s forcing players to be better 1-on-1 defenders and more creative shot-makers.
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You can't hide on a 3-on-3 court.
This is why players like Sabrina Ionescu and Angel Reese are so fascinating. Reese, for instance, is constantly criticized for her shooting percentages. But she’s a walking double-double. In 2025, she was the only player consistently challenging A’ja Wilson for the rebounding title. You can’t teach that kind of nose for the ball.
Breaking Down the 2026 Landscape
We are heading into a FIBA Women's World Cup year in Berlin. This changes the stakes. Players aren't just thinking about the WNBA title; they’re thinking about global legacy.
- A’ja Wilson: Seeking to repeat as TISSOT MVP.
- Breanna Stewart: Aiming for her fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.
- Caitlin Clark: Needs a healthy 2026 to reclaim her spot as the face of the USA backcourt.
It’s easy to look at a box score and think you know who the best is. You don't. You have to see how Napheesa Collier switches on a ball screen or how JuJu Watkins uses her wingspan to disrupt passing lanes. The "top" list is fluid.
Your Move: How to Track the Greatness
Don't just watch the highlights. If you want to actually understand why these women are elite, you need to change how you consume the game.
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First, watch the off-ball movement of the Indiana Fever. See how the defense panics when Caitlin Clark crosses half-court. That "gravity" is a stat that doesn't show up in the box score but wins games.
Second, follow the international qualifying tournaments. The 2026 World Cup in Berlin is where the real hierarchy will be set. Watch for Zhang Ziyu out of China—the 7-foot-3 phenom who just took her first pro steps. She is the biggest "what if" in the sport right now.
Third, get into the "Unrivaled" 3-on-3 stats. This league is the ultimate litmus test for individual skill. If a player can’t create their own shot in 3-on-3, they’re going to struggle in the modern, high-pace WNBA.
Stop comparing eras. Start appreciating the fact that we are living through the highest level of basketball ever played on the women's side. The talent gap between #1 and #10 is smaller than it has ever been, and that’s a win for everybody watching.