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Best WNBA Teams of All Time: 2023 Edition

best WNBA team

Which teams are the best WNBA teams of all time? There are 12 WNBA teams in the league that started in 1997 with 8 teams.

Best WNBA Teams of All Time

We take a look at the WNBA teams with the most championship rings to determine which teams are the best in the Women’s National Basketball Association. 

10. Chicago Sky (1 WNBA title)

The Chicago Sky played their first WNBA season in 2006 and didn’t make the playoffs until 2013 on the back of Elena Delle Donne.

After struggling initially as a franchise, the Sky slowly developed and have had star power over the years including Sylvia Fowles, Candice Dupree and Courtney Vandersloot. 

During the 2021 season they qualified for the playoffs with a 16-16 record and won their first WNBA championship by defeating the Phoenix Mercury finals with Kahleah Copper turning in an MVP performance.  

9. Washington Mystics (1 WNBA title)

Originally drafted by the Chicago Sky, Elena Delle Donne moved to the Washington Mystics in 2017 and had an MVP season, helping the Mystics win their first WNBA title in franchise history in 2019.

The 2019 Mystics offense was one of the best offensive units in WNBA history and destroyed teams with their three-point shooting, spacing and passing, with Ariel Atkins and Kristi Toliver starring alongside Delle Donne.

In 2022 the Mystics then had the best defense in the league, holding opponents to a lowly 97.8 points per 100 possessions. The Mystics are a formidable team on the rise looking to add to their single WNBA title. 

8. Las Vegas Aces (1 WNBA title)

The Aces have had a turbulent history. Originally founded as the Utah Starzz in the inaugural WNBA season in 1997, the franchise moved to San Antonio in 2003, changed its name to the Silver Stars before the name change to the Stars.

In 2018 the franchise moved to Las Vegas, becoming one of three teams – along with the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun – that are in a city without an NBA team. 

The Las Vegas Aces won their first WNBA championship in 2022 with their best player in Aces’ history A’ja Wilson starring, alongside finals MVP Chelsea Gray, and stars Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum. 

7. Indiana Fever (1 WNBA title) 

Indiana Fever are one of the best WNBA teams and were founded in 2000. They had a poor inaugural season posting a 9–23 record. Drafting Tamika Catchings third overall in the 2001 WNBA Draft changed the direction of the franchise. 

The second best WNBA player of all time, Catchings is considered to be one of the best all-around players in league history. She spent her entire 15-year career with the Fever.

Catchings won Defensive Player of the Year five times, was selected to seven All-WNBA First Teams, was MVP in 2011, and Finals MVP in 2012, after helping to guide the Fever to their first and only WNBA title. 

6. Dallas Wings (3 WNBA titles)

Founded as the Detroit Shock in 1998, the franchise relocated to Oklahoma and became known as the Tulsa Shock, before moving to Dallas in 2016 and becoming known as the Wings.

Before the move to Oklahoma, the franchise won all three of its championships while in Detroit. Deanna Nolan and Cheryl Ford were a part of the 2003, 2006 and 2008 teams that won WNBA titles.

The 2003 championship season was particularly impressive, with the Shock becoming the first team in WNBA history to go from last place the season prior, to champions the next.

5. Phoenix Mercury (3 WNBA titles)

Some of the greatest players have played for the Phoenix Mercury including Brittney Griner and Cappie Pondexter. It’s the best WNBA player of all time Diana Taurasi who’s had the greatest impact of all.

The face of the franchise throughout her entire career, she’s the league’s all time scorer, was MVP in 2009, is a ten-time All-Star and has earned two Finals MVP honors.

One of the league’s original franchises and one of the best WNBA teams, the Phoenix Mercury have consistently made the playoffs and they won WNBA championships in 2007, 2009 and 2014. 

4. Los Angeles Sparks (3 WNBA titles)

The Los Angeles Sparks were one of the original founding members of the WNBA and have qualified for the playoffs more times than any other franchise making them one of the best WNBA teams.

On the back of Lisa Leslie, the LA Sparks won back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002. Leslie was Finals MVP on both occasions and she earned three NBA MVP awards during her career.

The Sparks won another title in 2016 with the help of some of the franchises best players in their history – Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, and Chelsea Gray. 

3. Houston Comets (4 WNBA titles) 

The Houston Comets were one of eight foundation WNBA teams. They quickly went on to establish themselves as a dominant force in the WNBA led by Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes.

Houston won the first four WNBA championships. So good were the Comets, they finished the 1998 season with a 27-3 record and a .900 winning percentage – a WNBA record that stands to this day.

Unfortunately the Houston Comets disbanded in 2008 due to financial difficulties but they’ll always be remembered for being the WNBA’s first dynasty.

2. Minnesota Lynx (4 WNBA titles)

Founded in 1999, the Lynx started horribly as an organisation and qualified for the playoffs just twice in their first 12 seasons.

Everything changed in 2010 with the hiring of head coach Cheryl Reeve and the winning seasons have continued to pile up.

In 2011 they drafted superstar Maya Moore, won the WNBA championship and they made the WNBA Finals in six of the next seven seasons.

Other stars that have featured for the Lynx Have been Sylvia Fowles, Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whalen. 

1. Seattle Storm (4 WBA titles)

The Seattle Storm were founded in 2000 and are the best WNBA team of all time and have won four championships.

Following a 6–26 record in their debut season, they drafted Australian center Lauren Jackson. In the 2002 draft they selected Sue Bird, and the pair changed the course of the franchise.

Seattle have never lost a WNBA Finals and are one of the most consistent performers in the league.

Although the Seattle Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma, the Storm stayed in the city and they went on to win four WNBA championships in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020.

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