The WNBA is a league known for its athleticism, strategy, and sheer grit, featuring some of the most talented and athletic players in the world.
In this arena, towering giants walk the court, their presence commanding attention and influencing the game in ways that leave fans awestruck.
But who are the tallest WNBA players ever? And how does height affect their performance on the court?
In this article, we will explore the tallest WNBA players ever and how their height has influenced their performance on the court.
Based on their official heights listed on the WNBA website, here are some of the tallest WNBA players of all time:
10. Olga Firsova – 6’8″
Olga Firsova is a Russian-born player who played for the New York Liberty in the 2000 season.
She was drafted by the Liberty in the second round of the 2000 WNBA Draft, after playing college basketball at Kansas State University.
During her sole WNBA season, Firsova averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game across 28 games.
In addition to her WNBA career, she represented Russia in the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she won a silver medal.
She became a United States citizen on July 25, 2008.
9. Lindsay Taylor – 6’8″
Lindsay Taylor is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the WNBA, WKBL, LFB, Polish Women’s League, WCBA, and Angola Women’s Basketball League.
She has played professionally abroad in 13 basketball seasons and is an experienced player.
Taylor usually played the center position and stands at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall. She is the all-time leading scorer, blocker, and rebounder for the Cal Santa Barbara basketball team.
Taylor was awarded a Silver Medal as a member of the 2003 Pan American Games basketball team and was regarded as the best player on the team.
From 2001 to 2004, she played a decisive role in ensuring the Gauchos four straight Big West Conference women’s Championships victories and took the team to the 2004 Sweet Sixteen, the highest position the team ever held in the NCAA tournament.
Taylor had great success in Europe and Asia, especially in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) and the Polish Women’s League, in addition to her WNBA career.
After retiring from professional basketball in 2015, Taylor served as an assistant basketball coach and is currently in her sixth season with Hamilton High School.
8. Katie Feenstra-Mattera – 6’8″
Katie Mattera, born Katharen Ruth Feenstra on November 17, 1982, is an American college basketball coach and retired tall WNBA player.
She played center and was known for her impressive height, standing at 6 feet 7.5 inches (2.02 meters) tall.
Mattera was drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the 2005 WNBA Draft but was quickly traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for Margo Dydek.
On April 16, 2005, during the 2005 WNBA draft, Mattera was by Connecticut Sun but was quickly traded to San Antonio Silver Sun in exchange for Margo Dydek, the Silver Stars’ player.
She was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team, traded for Ruth Riley to the Detroit Shock, and was selected in the expansion draft by the Atlanta Dream.
7. Maria Stepanova – 6’8″
Maria Stepanova is a Russian player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1998 to 2005.
She was drafted by the Mercury in the first round of the 1998 WNBA Draft, after playing professionally in Russia.
Standing at 6’8″, Stepanova was one of the tallest players in the league and used her height to her advantage, averaging 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in her WNBA career, appearing in 121 games.
She was an All-Star in 2001 and 2002, and a member of the All-WNBA Second Team in 2001.
Stepanova also represented Russia in four Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in 2000 and bronze medals in 2004 and 2008.
At 6’8″, Stepanova towered over most opponents from a young age and developed her game accordingly.
6. Zheng Haixia – 6’8″
Zheng Haixia is a Chinese female basketball player who played for the Chinese National Women’s Basketball Team and the Women’s National Basketball Association.
Zheng left the Chinese national team in 1997 and joined the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA, becoming the first Chinese player to do so.
In 1984, at 17 and standing 6’7″, she became China’s youngest and tallest woman to compete in the Olympics, where the Chinese team won their first bronze medal.
Over the next few years, Zheng continued to play in multiple Olympic Games and World Championship competitions, earning numerous medals and accolades.
The Chinese tall female basketball player was a formidable force with her presence on the court.
However, Zheng was so uncomfortable due to one back injury that she could hardly manage the court for ten minutes at the 1992 Barcelona Games when China won the silver medal.
5. Liz Cambage – 6’9″
Liz Cambage is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces.
She was drafted by the Tulsa Shock in the first round of the 2011 WNBA Draft, after playing professionally in Australia.
Standing at 6’9″ and weighing 216 lbs, Cambage is currently one of the tallest and most dominant players.
Cambage has had a successful career in the WNBA, averaging 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in her WNBA career, appearing in 127 games. She was an All-Star in 2011, 2018, 2019, and 2021 and a member of the All-WNBA First Team in 2018 and 2019.
She also holds the record for the most points scored in a single WNBA game, with 53 points against the New York Liberty in 2018.
In addition to her WNBA career, Cambage has represented Australia in three Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 2012. She has also played professionally in Australia, including for the Dandenong Rangers and the Southside Flyers.
Cambage’s height has been a defining factor in her career, and she has used it to her advantage to become one of the best players in the world.
4. Brittney Griner – 6’9″
Brittney Griner is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury.
She was drafted by the Mercury in the first round of the 2013 WNBA Draft, after playing college basketball at Baylor University.
Standing at 6’9″ and weighing 205 lbs, Griner has had a successful career in the WNBA, averaging 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in her WNBA career, appearing in 213 games.
She was an All-Star in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019 and a member of the All-WNBA First Team in 2014, 2018, and 2019.
She also holds the record for the most blocks in a single WNBA game, with 11 blocks against the Tulsa Shock in 2014.
In addition to her WNBA career, Griner represented the USA in two Olympic Games, winning gold medals in 2016 and 2020.
She has also played college basketball at Baylor University, where she was a two-time All-American and led the team to the 2012 Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament championship.
3. Han Xu – 6’10”
The tallest player in the WNBA right now is Han Xu, who currently plays for the New York Liberty and the Chinese National Team.
The Liberty drafted Xu in the second round (14th overall) of the 2019 WNBA Draft.
At the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women, the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, and the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
In her draft class, she was the youngest player.
In May 2020, Han Xu was unable to play in the 2020 WNBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remained in China.
2. Bernadett Határ – 6’10”
Bernadett Hatar is a Hungarian professional basketball player who plays for the Indiana Fever.
She was signed by the Fever as a free agent in 2020, after playing professionally in Hungary.
Hatar averaged 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in her WNBA career, appearing in 22 games.
Hatar has also represented Hungary in international competitions, including the 2019 EuroBasket Women, where she averaged 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
In her first season with the Indiana Fever in 2021, Hatar started two games and appeared in seven games before having her season cut short due to an injury.
She averaged 4.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 15.1 minutes per contest while shooting better than 48 percent from the floor.
Hatar has set career highs in points, rebounds, and efficiency in WNBA games, including scoring 12 points in a game against the Atlanta Dream in May 2021.
1. Margo Dydek – 7’2″
Margo Dydek, a Polish center, holds the record for being the tallest player in WNBA history at 7 feet 2 inches.
Born on May 20, 1970, in Warsaw, Poland, Dydek used her rare height to become a star in Europe before coming to America to play in the WNBA.
In her WNBA career, she averaged a double-double in rebounds and blocks, showcasing her ability to control the paint.
Dydek was also skilled for her size, showing the ability to face up and hit mid-range jumpers.
Despite her talent, injuries cut her career short, but she proved just how dominant the tallest women’s basketball players could be with the right skills, work ethic, and health.
Dydek remains the tallest player to compete in the WNBA and one of the most remarkable big women in basketball history due to her incredible stature.
We have seen the top 10 tallest WNBA players ever, ranging from 6 feet 8 inches to a whopping 7 feet 2 inches.
We have learned about their backgrounds, careers, skills, and accolades.
We have also discovered how their height has helped them dominate the paint, block shots, and rebound, but also how it has challenged them with mobility, agility, and endurance.
These players are not only remarkable for their physical stature, but also for their contributions to the game of basketball and the advancement of women’s sports. They have inspired many young girls and boys to pursue their dreams, regardless of their size or gender.
