WNBA Top 20@20 Blog: All You Need to Read About Tuesday's Announcement


On Tuesday — the 19th anniversary of the inaugural WNBA game — the WNBA unveiled the Top 20@20 presented by Verizon, a team of the 20 greatest and most influential players in the league’s history.

Keep up with the latest reactions from players and social media throughout the day:

Must-Read/Watch Material

Missed Tuesday’s big announcement? WNBA.com’s got you covered:

See the Full WNBA Top 20@20 List

The Video Vault: Career Retrospectives on All 20 Players

A Photo View: The Most Memorable Images

Inside The W: Voter Michelle Smith Reveals Her Ballot

Next Up: Who Else Could Have Made the List?

Catchings Not Taking Honor for Granted

Tamika Catchings, a member of the 15 Greatest Players list five years ago, shares her thoughts on being selected as a 20@20 player:

“I’m super excited. You never expect or take something like this for granted. For me personally, I’m just ecstatic, knowing the league has been around for 20 years and you can only pick 20 players out of those 20 years. … The majority of them I got the opportunity to play against. Between the younger players and the older players, for all of us it’s truly an honor to be looked at like that and to have an opportunity to join a list that will never be forgotten. All of the championships and the individual accolades that people get, that’s cool, but being on a list like this is definitely prestigious and something that people will remember forever.”

Around the Web: #WNBA20at20

Maya Moore, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie among WNBA’s 20@20 – Mechelle Voepel, ESPN

Heavy UConn Presence – Bird, Taurasi, Moore, Cash – On WNBA’s List Of Best Ever – Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

WNBA announces 20 greatest and most influential players of all time – Howard Megdal, USAT

WNBA Unveils ‘Top 20@20’ – Max Resetar, SLAM

Three current Lynx players among 20 greatest in WNBA history – Michael Rand, Minnesota Star Tribune

Penny Taylor, Delisha Milton-Jones Deserved To Be In WNBA’s Top 20 – Mechelle Voepel, ESPN

Augustus, Parker React After MIN-LA Round 1

Excuse Seimone Augustus and Candace Parker if they were busy on Tuesday afternoon for the WNBA Top 20@20 unveiling; they had a game to play.

After the Lynx edged the Sparks in a thriller, the two shared their thoughts on the news.

Seimone Augustus: “Having three on our team means a lot. I’m the longest-tenured Lynx; I’ve been here when we weren’t too good. So to be able to have this moment with three players on the top 20 team, it says a lot about the coaching staff, the GMs and how they wanted to make this team special and then the fact that I stuck around because some people don’t have the patience to deal with a losing situation and wait to see it flourish. I’m thankful, man.”

Candace Parker: “It means a lot. It means a lot to be named to that and I’m very humbled and I’m very honored to have played with a couple of the top 20 players. I think its just something when your career is over to look back at and it will be very special.”

Catching Up With… Sue Bird

How did you react to be named to the list?

I actually wasn’t around to answer the call but I heard the news on my voicemail and with any honor like this it’s great news to hear and I’m very grateful to be on the list.

Were you curious to see who was on the list after being named to the 15 greatest players list five years ago?

Yeah, I think whenever lists are coming out they’re fun to look out. It’s exciting to see who else made it with you and there’s that fun time afterwards when you’re going to have discussions about it or maybe even arguments about it. But, at the end of the day whenever you’re talking about the league it’s a good thing. People being on social media and debating is always good for the league. Lists like this can always bring about good conversations.

Who do you think could be on the Top 25@25 list in five years, joining the current players there now?

I think Elena Delle Donne will 100% enter that conversation. People who are in the conversation now are players like Tina Charles, Penny Taylor, Angel McCoughtry. These are players that have done a lot for this league. Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd, Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins are names to look out for, the list goes on and on. Some people just haven’t had enough time in the five years to make it.

Are we going to see Breanna and Jewell on the 25@25 or 30@30?

Yeah, I think that the sky’s the limit for those kids. I have a lot of confidence in them making a lot of noise in the future.

Catching Up With… Teresa Weatherspoon

What was your initial reaction when you got that call?

Truly shocked. I had no idea what’s going on. I’m a person who’s about where I am and what I’m doing and in that moment. I had no clue what was going on. It was a tremendous shock for me. Just a moment of joy. … This is a game that I love so very much, and it’s a great feeling when you love something so much it loves you back. This is a great day and I’m humbled and I’m honored.

Who are some of the toughest of the 20 to play against?

When you see Cynthia Cooper’s name, that’s a heck of a basketball player there. When you say Yolanda Griffith, this young lady could out-rebound an entire team. It’s just an amazing, amazing list. And the girls I had a chance to play with, Swoopes and Thompson, such an amazing group of women.

And when you take a look at Deanna Nolan, and who she was to the game as well. Just an amazing freak athlete. And of course I played with Becky Hammon, who built herself to become a great basketball player. Could really shoot the ball coming into the league, but stayed in the gym night in, night out to make herself better in all aspects of the game.

In five years when they make the 25@25 list, which players who aren’t on the list are gonna make it?

The first name I’m gonna tell you is Tina Charles. I’ll stop there. Tina Charles is just playing tremendous basketball. She’s really completed her game, completing herself as a basketball player. Everybody knows that she can score the ball. But you see the passes that she’s making, the way she’s rebounding the basketball, the way she’s defending. She’s doing a really great job putting herself at the top of the list.

Tina Charles would definitely be a name that comes to the forefront. Of course Delle Donne, she’s gonna be on the list, that’s just a given. Those two are just amazing basketball players. Those are two that pop out to me immediately.

Maya “Very Grateful” for Top 20 Honor

https://www.instagram.com/p/BG7bVCjC3b6/?taken-by=wnba

WNBA.com caught up with Maya Moore on the STAPLES Center floor before the Lynx tipped off the Battle of the Unbeatens against the Sparks.

On being named to the WNBA Top 20@20 team:

“It’s definitely an honor. It’s kind of hard to put into words, something of that magnitude, right now while I’m still playing. It’s kind of mind-boggling. It’s not something I was really thinking about or anticipating, but it shows the quality of people I’ve been able to play with. Even though I’m only in my sixth year, I’ve been able to play with some great players that have allowed me to excel and to be successful so it really speaks more to the people I’ve been around for these past five years.”

On having two teammates (Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen) on the list with her:

“Not bad at all! I’m very grateful; it’s no secret to why I’ve been able be successful is because I have successful people around me.”

Watch the Top 20@20 Video Essay

Social Reaction to Tuesday’s Announcement

https://www.instagram.com/p/BG68IjjhavV/

Catching Up With… Lauren Jackson

When Lauren Jackson announced her retirement in March, the women’s basketball world celebrated one of its all-time greats — emphasis on world, as Jackson was equally brilliant in the WNBA, her native Australia and in international competition.

Here’s what the three-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion had to say about her latest honor:

What’s the proudest moment of your career?

“My WNBA career was awesome. Every year was a great experience. I think 2004 and 2010 were both remarkable for different reasons. Now that I’m retired, I think it’s fair to say the friendships with my teammates. From that 2010 team, like Ashley Robinson, Swin Cash, Camille Little, etc., we have a group chat — we speak in every day. I feel like those relationships, teammates who meant so much to me, were easy to take for granted when you’re in it. But that was the best part for me.”

What’s your favorite memory of that 2010 season?

“We worked so hard to reach that point. We felt we were going to win from training camp, as though the stars aligned that year. It was a powerful rush from the beginning, kind of magical really.”

How have you seen the WNBA evolve over the last 20 years?

“The game has definitely evolved. Since I’ve come in and retired, the players are getting bigger, stronger and much more athletic. It’s really exciting to watch. Basketball and women’s sports are really growing. It’s fun being over here (in Australia) and watching it on ESPN, because I feel like I’ve been out of it so long that I feel like it’s a bit of a privilege to watch, understand the way the game’s evolving, how the players are getting better. Watching players like Maya Moore and Candace Parker, it’s such a beautiful game and so awesome to watch and be part of it.”

What are your thoughts on Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd taking the league by storm?

“Those two are going to develop and grow into leaders of the franchise. They’re both very talented obviously, with huge futures ahead of them. Hopefully they can learn from Sue [Bird] as a leader and how she brings the team together. I think as they mature as players, they will take that club to great heights again.”

Catching Up With… Cappie Pondexter

When the WNBA announced its 15 Greatest Players five years ago, Cappie Pondexter was a 28-year-old New York City star. Now she’s the veteran voice of the Chicago Sky, who the franchise brought in to blaze a championship path.

The same month she passed Lauren Jackson for sixth all-time in scoring, Cappie told WNBA.com about remaining in the elite class.

What are your memories from being named one of the top 15 WNBA players of all time and what does it mean to remain on this list?

“It really didn’t hit me until later. I didn’t think about the wonderful names that were around me and already established with such good careers, but there were lots of young ladies that I looked up to growing up as a basketball player wanting to be a professional player, so to be mentioned with the all-time WNBA greats, it was overwhelming.

I still have the same feeling, because you work hard as a professional, especially for me. It’s been 11 seasons and I’ve put a lot of time and energy and sweat and tears to be at an elite level so [it’s] definitely an honor.”

Which specific players are you honored to share the list with?

“Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson — they really paved the way for us starting with the ’96 Olympics in Atlanta and the ‘We Got Next’ campaign. That was when I would look around and I’m amongst them, so it’s just great company to be mentioned and be a part of.”

Catching Up With…Yolanda Griffith

What does it mean to you to be selected?

“I’m just thankful for all the sisters that I competed with on a daily basis that helped me become who I am. My name keeps popping up, so I must be doing something right – playing the game the right way to be recognized. I just love the game so much, I have so much passion for it and love to compete. There was never a day off; I always competed to work on my craft in order to be one of the top players.”

What was it like to become an instant star, winning MVP during your rookie season? Which veteran(s) did you lean on?

“When I was growing up playing, Cheryl Miller was one of my idols that I looked at. When I got to Sacramento, I was a young one, but I had experience because I played overseas. Ruthie [Bolton] took me under her wing, I played so many years with Ticha [Penicheiro], so I had a great group of teammates that helped me when I first got into the WNBA.”

How do you think the league has evolved in the last 20 years?

“It’s a lot about the fans, but the players have been developing — it’s not like when we first started. Every year [there’s] a great group of talented women that is playing in the league and carrying on the torch. I think it goes hand in hand with the fans and the players. The talent level has blossomed.”

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