The Women's National Basketball Association's All-Decade Team were chosen in 2006 on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the WNBA from amongst 30 nominees compiled by the league by fan, media, coach, and player voting. The team was to comprise the 10 best and most influential players of the first decade of the WNBA, with consideration also accorded to sportsmanship, community service, leadership, and contribution to the growth of women's basketball; only players to have competed in the WNBA were eligible, but extra-league achievements were considered.
Nine of the first team selections won Olympic gold medals with Team USA, and eight won league championships, including three—Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson—who won four consecutive titles with the Houston Comets. Of the ten first-team honorees, only Cooper, who, having retired in 2000 to become head coach of the Phoenix Mercury, played four games during the 2003 season before finally ending her playing career, was not an active player when the team was announced. Swoopes, Thompson, and Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks) were the only three first team selections to have been drafted in 1997 and to have played in each of the ten seasons of the WNBA. Thompson and Leslie were among the six players who only played on one team their entire careers.
Players selected
^Denotes player who was still active in the WNBA at time of award~Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
All-Decade Team Note: all information only pertains to the first ten seasons of the league's existence.
PlayerNationalityPositionTeam(s) played forCollege(s) attendedOlympic medalsLeague titlesLeague awardsAll-Star GamesSue Bird^ PG Seattle Storm (2002–2022) Connecticut 2004 gold 2004 None 2002–2006 Tamika Catchings^ SF Indiana Fever (2002–2016) Tennessee 2004 gold None DPOY (2005, 2006) ROY (2002) 2002–2006Cynthia Cooper-Dyke SG Houston Comets (1997–2000, 2003) USC 1988 gold 1992 bronze 1997–2000 MVP (1997, 1998) Finals MVP (1997–2000) 1999, 2000, 2003 Yolanda Griffith^ C Sacramento Monarchs (1999–2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Indiana Fever (2009) Florida Atlantic 2000 gold 2004 gold 2005 MVP (1999)DPOY (1999) 1999–2001, 2003–2006Lauren Jackson^ C Seattle Storm (2001–2012) N/A 2000 silver 2004 silver 2004 MVP (2003) 2001–2003, 2005, 2006Lisa Leslie^ C Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2009) USC 1996 gold 2000 gold 2004 gold 2001, 2002 MVP (2001, 2004) DPOY (2004) Finals MVP (2001, 2002) ASG MVP (1999, 2001, 2002) 1999–2006Katie Smith^ SF Minnesota Lynx (1999–2005) Detroit Shock (2006–2009) Washington Mystics (2010) Seattle Storm (2011-2012) New York Liberty (2013) Ohio State 2000 gold 2004 gold 2006 None 2000–2006Dawn Staley^ PG Charlotte Sting (1999–2005) Houston Comets (2005–2006) Virginia 1996 gold 2000 gold 2004 gold None KPSA (1999, 2006) 2002–2006Sheryl Swoopes^ F Houston Comets (1997–2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Tulsa Shock (2011) Texas Tech 1996 gold 2000 gold 2004 gold 1997–2000 MVP (2000, 2002, 2005) DPOY (2000, 2002, 2003) ASG MVP (2005) 1999, 2000, 2002–2006Tina Thompson^ F Houston Comets (1997–2008) Los Angeles Sparks (2009-2011) Seattle Storm (2012-2013) USC 2004 gold 1997–2000 ASG MVP (2000) 1999–2004, 2006
Honorable mention PlayerNationalityPositionTeam(s) played forCollege(s) attendedOlympic medalsLeague titlesLeague awardsAll-Star GamesRuthie Bolton SG Sacramento Monarchs (1997–2004) Auburn 1996 gold 2000 gold None None 1999, 2001Chamique Holdsclaw^ F Washington Mystics (1999–2004) Los Angeles Sparks (2005–2007) Atlanta Dream (2009) San Antonio Silver Stars (2010) Tennessee 2000 gold None ROY (1999) 1999–2003, 2005Ticha Penicheiro^ PG Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009) Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011) Chicago Sky (2012) Old Dominion None 2005 None 1999–2002Diana Taurasi^ SG Phoenix Mercury (2004–) Connecticut 2004 gold None ROY (2004) 2004–2006Teresa Weatherspoon PG New York Liberty (1997–2003) Los Angeles Sparks (2004) Louisiana Tech 1988 gold 1992 bronze None DPOY (1997, 1998) 1999–2003
Each woman, save Lauren Jackson (Australia), won her Olympic medal(s) competing for the United States. The inaugural WNBA All-Star Game took place during the 1999 season, and the game has been contested yearly since, although the 2004 edition was supplanted by a game between WNBA players from both conferences and the 2004 United States Olympic team. Appearances in the 2004 game are still considered All-Star appearances. Players who were voted to start in all-star games but were unable to play due to injury are nevertheless considered to have been starters; players voted as reserves who started in place of other injured players are nevertheless considered to have been reserves.
Other finalists
Janeth Arcain Swin Cash Tamecka Dixon Jennifer Gillom1 Becky Hammon
Shannon Johnson Vickie Johnson Rebecca Lobo1 Mwadi Mabika Taj McWilliams-Franklin
DeLisha Milton-Jones Deanna Nolan Nykesha Sales Andrea Stinson Natalie Williams1
1 Retired at time of All-Decade Team announcement.
References
External links All-Decade Team announcement from the WNBA