A'ja Wilson tops ESPN ranking of WNBA's clutch greats
A'ja Wilson leads ESPN's ranking of the 15 most clutch WNBA players of all time, ahead of Cynthia Cooper, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Sheryl Swoopes as the league celebrates its 30th anniversary. Every player on the list has won at least one championship, and all but two were league or Finals MVPs.
ESPN published the all-time clutch list as the WNBA marks three decades of play and Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne prepare for Women's Basketball Hall of Fame induction in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wilson's case rests on titles and trophies: four MVPs, two Finals MVPs, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, two scoring titles and five blocks crowns — all before age 30.
She has three championships with the Las Vegas Aces, another Finals appearance, and semifinal-or-better finishes every year but her rookie season. ESPN calls her clutch on both ends. Only three active players made the list: Wilson, Breanna Stewart (No. 10) and Chelsea Gray (No. 14).
Key Takeaways
- A'ja Wilson is ESPN's No. 1 clutch WNBA player ever, topping a 15-name list tied to the league's 30th anniversary.
- Every ranked player won at least one WNBA title; all but two were league or Finals MVPs.
- Wilson ranks third in 2026 All-Star fan voting with 659,057 votes, behind Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.
- All-Star starters are set July 25 at Chicago's United Center; fan ballots count for 50% of starter votes.
- Candace Parker (No. 9) and Elena Delle Donne (No. 12) headline hall-of-fame weekend while Cheryl Reeve coached two Lynx list members.
Who completes ESPN's top 15 clutch WNBA players?
After Wilson, ESPN ranked Cynthia Cooper second, Maya Moore third, Sylvia Fowles fourth and Sheryl Swoopes fifth. Lauren Jackson (6), Diana Taurasi (7) and Lisa Leslie (8) fill out the upper tier before Parker, Stewart, Tamika Catchings (11), Delle Donne, Sue Bird (13), Gray and Nneka Ogwumike (15).
Reeve, a 2026 WBHOF inductee, coached two names on the list with the Minnesota Lynx. For more trending coverage, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.
How is Wilson performing in 2026 WNBA All-Star fan voting?
Indiana Fever teammates Aliyah Boston (683,996 votes) and Caitlin Clark (670,510) lead after the second fan returns in WNBA All-Star Voting 2026 presented by Ally, the league announced Wednesday. Wilson sits third at 659,057 despite leading the league in scoring (25.1 PPG) and blocks (2.1 BPG).
Paige Bueckers (640,026) and Breanna Stewart (566,161) round out the top five. Boston averages 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds; Clark ranks third in scoring (21.3 PPG) and second in assists (8.2 APG). Fans account for 50% of starter votes, with players and media each at 25%.
Why does the clutch list land during the WNBA's 30th season?
ESPN framed the ranking around the league's anniversary and a hall-of-fame weekend featuring Parker and Delle Donne — two former MVPs ESPN called among the most clutch in history. Wilson's sustained playoff success, detailed in the full ESPN breakdown, separates her from peers still building legacies.
The July 25 All-Star Game at United Center (ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET) offers a live stage where today's stars — including fan-vote leaders and clutch-list alumni Stewart and Gray — continue the debate.