WNBA Players: Heroes On And Off The Court
On International Women’s Day — and with Captain Marvel now in theaters — we take a look at some of the many WNBA players making an impact not only on the court, but off it, too.
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- Candace Parker does it all. As a two-time MVP, five-time WNBA All-Star and 2008 Rookie of the Year, the Los Angeles Sparks forward has paved her way through an impressive career on the court. Even more proof of her superhero powers, she took flight with the Lady Vols as the first female to dunk in a NCAA Tournament game. Still, as an analyst and commentator for the NBA on TNT and NBA TV, honoree of the 14th Annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award and a dedicated mother to nine-year-old daughter Lailaa, Parker is just as impactful off the court.
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- Breanna Stewart has made people take notice. The Seattle Storm forward was named Finals MVP and MVP of the league in 2018. Two years prior, she was almost unanimously named the Rookie of the Year. The former No. 1 overall pick has dominated the league in all three seasons. Off the court, she serves as a role model as an advocate against sexual violence via her partnership with RAINN, which operates the national sexual assault hotline. Business savvy as well, Stewart has made appearances on ESPN’s series The Boardroom, which features athletes who are also investors.
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- Elena Delle Donne is a leader on and off the court. The Washington Mystics forward is a former MVP, five-time All-Star and two-time recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. Delle Donne grooms tomorrow’s young stars via her children’s book series about a young basketball player named Elle Deluca. The Delaware native is a Global Ambassador with the Special Olympics and includes Special Olympics participants in her De11e Donne Skills Academy camps. Finally, Delle Donne is the owner of DelleDonneDesigns, a custom furniture business.
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- Sue Bird has a long list of accomplishments, but she isn’t done yet. The Seattle Storm point guard is a three-time WNBA champion, the league’s all-time assists leader and a record 11-time All-Star. Let’s not forget Bird also has four Olympic gold medals. She also made history as one half of the first gay couple to be on the cover of ESPN’s The Body Issue. After joining the Denver Nuggets’ front office during the offseason as a basketball operations associate, she’s one of several active WNBA players serving in NBA-related roles. As for the Seattle community, Bird is heavily involved with several youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of King County.
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- Tina Charles is a six-time All-Star, former MVP and two-time Olympian. One could say she’s been busy with her basketball career, but that hasn’t stopped her from finding purpose elsewhere. Charles has been a huge advocate for raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest through Hopey’s Heart, the charity she created in honor of her late aunt. The New York Liberty center has been recognized for her charitable efforts by ESPN, as a 2016 finalist for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, and by the Naismith Hall of Fame, as the female winner of the 2018 Mannie Jackson human spirit award.
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- Rebekkah Brunson is the only player in WNBA history with five Championship rings. Read that again. The Minnesota forward also took over the WNBA’s lead for career rebounds. Brunson recently launched Sweet Gypsy Waffle, a food truck business that gives back to the community with donations to charities. Adding to the balance, Brunson is a mother to her newborn son, Graham, and an analyst for select Timberwolves games with FOX Sports North.
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- Chiney Ogwumike isn’t just a two-time All-Star and Olympian. Along with her sister, Nneka, Chiney forms half of the dynamic duo of the WNBA’s Ogwumikes. Last year, the Connecticut Sun forward signed a multi-year agreement with ESPN to share her basketball expertise as a multi-platform commentator and analyst for ESPN’s NBA, WNBA and women’s college basketball coverage. However, Ogwumike’s off-court efforts don’t end there. She additionally has participated in fundraising efforts for Africa through UNICEF and helped kick off the Basketball Development Pilot Program in Abuja, Nigeria.
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- Essence Carson will be joining the Phoenix Mercury this season as a former All-Star who has reached the playoffs in eight of her 11 seasons. What fans may not know is Carson has another unique career, as a full-time manager at Priority Records, a record label owned by Capitol Records in Los Angeles. Under the moniker PR3PE, the forward has also released an album and mixtape.
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- Though new to the league, A’ja Wilson hasn’t made any less of an impact. In 2018, the Las Vegas Aces forward was named an All-Star and Rookie of the Year, but her work off the court has been just as hard-hitting. With her parents, A’ja founded The A’ja Wilson Foundation to prevent bullying through mentoring and education, as well as serve as a resource for children who struggle with dyslexia.
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- Kristi Toliver works on both sides of the court, as a player and as a coach. The Washington Mystics guard is a former WNBA champion, two-time All-Star and Most Improved Player. Toliver is lending her basketball knowledge to the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach for the 2018-19 season after assisting the team during 2018 NBA Summer League and training camp.
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- Candice Dupree has made WNBA history. The forward is the fourth player ever to represent the Indiana Fever with more than 5,000 points during a WNBA career. She became the ninth player in league history with 6,000 career points. In addition to leading a historic career, Dupree is raising her twin daughters with the help of her wife, fellow WNBA star DeWanna Bonner. Dupree can add entrepreneur to her resume, as the co-owner of an Apricot Lane Boutique in Florida, and philanthropist, due to her involvement in helping start the Sideline Service Members program for the military community.
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- Kayla McBride is a two-time All-Star and Las Vegas Aces guard. McBride is adamant about helping grow the game and has been known to mentor young players by hosting all-girl basketball camps in her community. She also has a passion for cooking and has future plans to turn her passion into a business.
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- Fans may have seen Renee Montgomery on the big screen during the offseason in Amazon Prime’s “Not My Favorite Christmas,” or in the independent film Penny, Piper & Fiona. The Atlanta Dream guard lives a multi-faceted life as a two-time champion, actress and TV commentator.
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- Azurá Stevens logged 43 FG% and 32% 3P% during her rookie season with the Dallas Wings in 2018. In addition to preparing for her second season, Stevens coaches budding basketball players — her sister, Da’Shena, is a college coach.
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- Stefanie Dolson is a former WNBA All-Star and now a Chicago Sky staple. The forward has an eye for fashion, as a former intern of Chicago-based fashion company Model Atelier and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Dolson is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community as she hopes to inspire and encourage others just by being herself.
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