WNBA All Decade Team

[Purple Reign]

WNBA.com has named 30 nominees for their 10th Anniversary All-Decade Team. You can only vote in 10.

http://www.wnba.com/history/alldecade_release_060427.html

Monarch fans, let's see your list. Let's see how objective we can be. My own personal criteria is the player has to fall into several of these catagories:

1. Won a Championship
2. Won major post season awards
3. Been in the league at least 5 of the 10 years
4. One of top 3, 4 or 5 in major career statistic
5. Played with only one team


PURPLE REIGNS' ALL DECADE TEAM

Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets
Hands down the greatest player in WNBA history. The league's first superstar and the best offensive player in the game. Won 4 WNBA Championships and was the MVP all four times.

Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets
The second greatest player in WNBA history and arguably the game's greatest defensive player. With Cooper won 4 WNBA titles and multiple MVP's and Defensive Player of the Year Awards

Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
The League's best big player (it pains me to say so). League's all time leading scorer and the winner of 2 WNBA Titles.

Tina Thompson, Houston Comets
The Scottie Pippen of the Houston Comets. The ultimate support player who also has won 4 WNBA Championships.

Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs
The anchor of one of the league's Original Six Teams. Ranks in the Top 10 in nine career statistics. 1999 WNBA MVP and has won 1 WNBA Championship and was the Finals MVP in 2005.

Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
The WNBA's greatest international player. 4-time WNBA All Star and three time First team All WNBA. Has won 1 WNBA Championship (2004)

Teresa Weatherspoon, New York Liberty/Los Angeles
An original member of the WNBA. At the center of the league's greatest moment when she made a half court shot with no time remaining to send the 1999 Finals to a third and deciding game against Houston Comets.

Jennifer Gilliom, Phoenix Mercury/Los Angeles
"Grandmama". One of the original elite players. A prolific scorer and the anchor of one of the "Original Six Teams".

Ticha Penichero, Sacramento Monarchs
The league's orginal "show"-woman. Has gone led the league in assists in six different seasons and enters 2006 as the all-time WNBA career assist leader. Won 1 WNBA Championship in 2005 and is a 2 time All WNBA First Team selection.

Sue Bird, Seattle Storm
Four Time All WNBA First Team Selection. One of the league's greatest passers and leaders. Won 1 WNBA Title in 2004. Has led the league or has been second in assists in each of her first four seasons.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

****ing WNBA.com stole my thunder...

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Reign, I think your list is gonna look an awful lot like the final awardees list. I'm trying to find a way to make a cogent argument for Andrea Stinson and Katie Smith to wedge their way into this group of 10. I've also seen a list or two that places Janeth Arcain in this group too, and it's hard not to give a nod to her too.

 

[StevenHW]

I do agree with MBF about Katie Smith. The only "problem" with her is that she has spent most of her WNBA career with mediocre Minnesota Lynx teams. Now that she's with the Detroit Shock, she has a greater chance at reaching Purple Reign's #1 and #2 criterion categories.

I'm suprised Mwadi Mabika was on that WNBA list. I had no idea she's been with the WNBA that long!

 

[Purple Reign]

Players that I am sure will be voted as part of the ten that I do not think deserves to be there:

Diana Taurasi
Tamika Catchings
Chamique Holdsclaw
Deana Nolan
Becky Hammon

None of these players have accomplish much yet, but because they are either extremely popular, live in a big market or both, you will see some of these names.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Holdsclaw is the only player I would consider, and I'd put her on my list ahead of Weatherspoon. If T-Spoon's shot had done anything but delay Houston's championship I could see that being an important part of the league's history.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Screw those guys; I'm going to publish our list, anyway... as soon as I finish writing the articles.

 

[6th]

Screw those guys; I'm going to publish our list, anyway... as soon as I finish writing the articles.

You go, Slim!