In a male-dominated sport, these professional basketball players stand out despite all odds stacked against them. Their ball skills and talent don't go unnoticed, but what are they like in their day-to-day lives? These WNBA stars may know how to work a court, but there's so much more to them than meets the eye. Keep scrolling if you're ready to see how they go from beasts balling out to making an impact off the court.
Liz Cambage
The Los Angeles Sparks' star Liz Cambage is known for scoring buckets. She currently holds the record for the most points scored in a single WNBA game, with fifty-three points on the scoreboard from her alone. She's a WNBA favorite and has made her mark on the game. Along with her successful basketball career, she's an entrepreneur. She owns a vitamin store and even spends her free time making music.
Liz models and has performed at several music festivals as a DJ. She is a jack of all trades and continues to make a name for herself.
Lexie Brown
Lexie Brown previously played as a guard for the Chicago Skys before she made her way over to the Los Angeles Sparks. She values her athleticism highly and is passionate about staying fit. A healthy and balanced lifestyle is what she advocates. This is why she's pursuing a license to become a professional personal trainer when she's not playing basketball. She's proud of her skills and wants to share her tips and tricks with others.
Lexie goes hard on the court, not afraid of any game. And in her free time, she replaces that uniform with fashionable outfits and heels. She wants to look and feel her best at all times.
Candace Parker
Candace Parker is a versatile player, dominating forward and center positions for the Chicago Sky team. She boasts two MVP awards, two WNBA titles, and two Olympic gold medals! WNBA fans all know her name and excitedly share about how unreal her b-ball skills are. Today she also shares her expertise about the sport as an NBA Analyst for NBA TV. Candace remains ambitious with some plans to get involved in another sport.
Chelsea is currently looking to get involved and take part ownership of the group behind the National Women's Soccer League club Angel City. Soon making a name for herself in soccer.
Alanna Smith
Alanna Smith has had quite the journey playing basketball. She last played for the Indiana Fever in the United States, then spent a season abroad in South Korea. Recently she returned to her home country of Australia and signed with the Adelaide Lightning. Though she's a beast on the court, she tunes in with a different side of her off the court. When she's not traveling the world for her favorite sport, she loves to spend her free time living it up with friends.
Alanna becomes revitalized by spending her days at the beach and going out with her best friends. She likes to take time to relax, especially after a challenging season.
Dearica Hamby
Dearica Hamby has always been around basketball, coming from a family obsessed with the sport. She quickly rose to fame as a successful player for the Las Vegas Aces. Although she recently sat out for some time due to a knee injury, she's more than ready to get back out there. Her skills are undoubtedly strong as she won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award two years in a row.
Even when she's not playing basketball herself, she is courtside supporting. Her husband and sister-in-law both play, so there is never a lack of games to attend!
Kristine Anigwe
Kristine Anigwe is relatively new to the WBNA and has already been traded from the Dallas Wings to the Los Angeles Sparks and, lastly, to the Phoenix Mercury team. During the offseason, she keeps herself busy by playing professionally in Turkey. She remains dedicated to staying in shape and ready to jump back in the game at any moment. She's only twenty five years old and has a long career ahead of her.
Kristine's other passion has always been fashion. She decided to pursue another life-long dream of hers by founding her own luxury clothing brand.
Satou Sabally
Satou Sabally's basketball skills are unmatched. She played ball at her university but knew in her heart she wanted more. She officially went professional before she even finished college. She became a hot commodity fast as the second overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft! Satou currently plays for the Dallas Wings and even played abroad in Turkey as well. Though she's incredibly talented at basketball, she's also gifted in one more area.
Satou is passionate about social justice and helping others! She is a part of the WNBA Social Justice Council and is an avid supporter of UNICEF.
A’Ja Wilson
A'Ja Wilson is a strong and talented basketball player that is well known. She'll be starting her fifth season playing in the Women's National Basketball Association which is a big deal. She's even amounted up quite the stack of accolades. Everything from multiple All-Star appearances, being the first overall pick in 2018 and being named 2020's MVP. She currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces and isn't planning on slowing down any time soon. But she has another side most people don't know.
She's a proud creator of the A'ja Wilson Foundation. It's entirely dedicated to helping kids who struggle with dyslexia. Something that is close to her heart because she's struggled with it for years.
Te’a Cooper
Te'a Cooper played for the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks, but her career was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in her becoming a free agent in the WNBA. This means she is currently waiting and searching for another team to join. The stress of being signed to a team and then cut, again and again, can take a toll on someone. But she's not ready to give up on her dream.
Te’a Cooper likes to spend her free time modeling and surrounded by fashion. She may be a beast on the court, but she still prioritizes dressing up and taking care of her looks.
Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Plum has spent her time playing on the Las Vegas Aces team. She entered the league only a few years ago but has already made a significant impact. People can't help but watch her story closely as she quickly rises to the top. Especially considering the recent 2022 Tokyo Olympics, where she played in the 3x3 basketball category for Team USA. Her skills blew people's minds, and what she earned next would make her name known.
After the Tokyo Olympics, Kelsey dribbled away with a gold medal. Excited and proud of her accomplishments, that gold medal will be displayed for all her visitors.
Kiara Leslie
Kiara Leslie played college basketball before transitioning into the professional league. She most recently joined the Washington Mystics and is known for her killer defense skills. Basketball has always been essential to her life, but she attributes her success to her supportive family and religion. Kiara is confident to share that faith in herself and God is what has always pushed her to the best of her abilities. Despite having a few hiccups along the way.
Very early on in her career, Kiara, unfortunately, experienced some major ankle and knee injuries. Though she never let that stop her from staying focused and passionate about her sport.
Sue Bird
Most WNBA players move around throughout their career but Sue has stayed faithful. She's played and received many accolades all while on the same team, Seattle Storm. Some of her many accomplishments have included a record four WNBA titles and 12 All-Star nods. At the same time, she was also a part of the Olympic team in the USA and won five gold medals. Not many athletes have done this, so she is definitely a star.
Sue recently retired earlier this year but is not saying goodbye to basketball forever. She currently serves as the basketball operations associate for the Denver Nuggets.
Glory Johnson
Glory Johnson played basketball all throughout college and like many other WNBA stars, was also on a Turkish club team. In her primetime, she was a powerful forward and always had impressive stats at the end of her games. Nowadays, she plays less but is still wrapped up in the game. She often coaches and mentors younger players by lending her advice and expertise to them. Although now she spends her time with a few very special people.
Glory is a mother to two girls under ten years old, so her hands are full. But she enjoys being a mother and dedicates her free time to them.
Jordin Canada
Since she started her career, Jordin Canada has been heavily watched and favored by WNBA fans. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and made her dream come true when she was drafted for the Los Angeles Sparks. Though she's a beast on the basketball court, she doesn't take herself too seriously off the court. She prefers relaxing and binge-watching lighthearted TV shows like The Office and Shark Tank in her free time.
But don't let this star slip your mind. She was UCLA's second all-time leading scorer and is sure on her way to doing the same for the Sparks.
Betnijah Laney
Betnijah Laney is a known leader on the New York Liberty team. She's been playing ball for years and is skilled in what she does, dominating the courts. Though she shared she didn't always love playing, she even despised it at one point. She has been recently spending a lot of time on the bench due to a knee injury. Although it upset her, she still supported her team at every game.
When she's not thinking about dribbling a ball, she finds herself styling outfits and playing around with different looks since fashion is another one of her passions.
Katie Lou Samuelson
Katie Lou Samuelson has had a successful career playing basketball. She has had her fair share of experiences, playing for the Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, and finally, as of 2022, the Los Angeles Sparks. Traveling the world and playing basketball sounds like a dream, but Katie has opened up about her struggle with mental health. Though she enjoys being active and playing a sport, the pressure can take a toll.
Katie has publically spoken about how hard it can be to overcome depression and anxiety. By advocating for therapy and focusing on your mental health, she is helping break harsh stigmas.
Kaila Charles
Kaila Charles has olympian athleticism in her blood. Her mother happens to be Ruperta Charles, an incredibly talented Olympic sprinter. The skills were undoubtedly passed down because Kaila is soaring in the basketball world. Although she's relatively new to pro ball, she's already made her mark. She's a guard for the Atlanta Dream and has big aspirations to keep pushing herself. Though she has another hobby, some people don't know about it.
Kaila is an avid vlogger with a successful YouTube channel. She enjoy showing a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of WNBA players.
Arike Ogunbowale
Arike Ogunbowale is a beast under pressure and her basketball skills are unmatched. She is known for hitting a game-winning shot to secure an NCAA title for Notre Dame when she played ball in college. Now she brings her skills to the court in the WNBA for the Dallas Wings. However, some people don't know that she is also incredibly talented in something completely different. From the basketball floor to the dance floor, Arike excels beyond expectations.
Arike competed in the twenty-sixth season of Dancing with the Stars. She even finished seventh place, proving she is talented at many things.
Natalie Achonwa
Natalie Achonwa currently plays for the Minnesota Lynx and, during the offseason, balls it up in Italy. When she's not spending her days filled with hoops and drills, she's passionate about advocating for women in sports. She knows how difficult it can be for women to get the same level of respect and benefits as men in the same positions, so she's dedicated to bringing awareness to the cause in hopes things will change one day.
She consistently uses her platform to help female athletes talk about their struggles and bring empowerment to each other. She wants to create a better environment for future WNBA players.
Bria Hartley
Bria Hartley is a woman of many talents. She currently showcases her athletic abilities on the Connecticut Sun team. Though in the past, she played for the Phoenix Mercury team and overseas. But sports aren't her only forte. She is also the creator of the apparel company All Hart Clothing! She designs all of the clothing and even models for the line. And if that wasn't enough, she's a mother to a young kid!
Bria can really do it all! Never underestimate a driven and ambitious woman just like this WNBA star.
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne plays for the Washington Mystics. She has established herself as one of the best in the game. She's not afraid to push herself to the limits and ball out for her team. She has received two WNBA MVP awards and six All-Star nods. However, scoring points and winning games isn't all she does. Elena has a woodworking studio called Deldon Design. This allows her to express herself creatively when she's not running up and down the court.
Elena's woodworking studio also makes custom wood basketball hoops and basketball-related wall art, an ode to the sport that consumes her life.
Amanda Zahui
Amanda Zahui grew up in Sweden and started playing basketball when she was ten years old. Though she always dreamt of playing in The United States! So when she was older, she moved and attended college in Minnesota. Fast forward years after all of the hard work and dedication, she began playing for the iconic team, the Los Angeles Sparks. Amanda followed her dream and ended up exactly where she envisioned herself.
When Amanda isn't playing ball, she finds herself lost in her favorite pastime, playing video games. So not only is she skilled at playing in real life, but she can probably beat you in a game of NBA 2K or FIFA.
Chelsea Gray
The Las Vegas Aces player Chelsea Gray has dominated the courts since she began playing basketball. She has been named an All-Star four times ever since going pro. She was also a part of the U.S. Olympic team that won gold solidifying her place as an amazing guard. While on the court, her ball skills are undoubtedly strong; she finds herself also busy by dedicating herself to another heartfelt cause.
Chelsea is an avid activist for LGBTQ+ rights and serves as a mentor to youth who struggle with their identity. She is passionate about educating people on inclusion and being your authentic self.
Nneka Ogwumike
Nneka is a professional player for the famous Los Angeles Sparks and, like most WNBA stars, spends her off-season abroad, playing in Russia. She's been incredibly successful, even landing an endorsement deal with Nike and Adidas. She's even racked up impressive accolades like WNBA Most Valuable Player and WNBA All-Star. She also serves as the president of The Women's National Basketball Players Association, which mainly advocates the need for fair salaries.
Most female athletes deal with disproportionate salaries compared to their counter-male athletes; Nneka is a strong voice for equality.
Kia Nurse
Kia Nurse previously played for a Canadian team before joining the WNBA American team, Phoenix Mercury. Along with playing the game, she is also a basketball commentator on The Sports Network. Her passion for the sport is evident; she even dedicates her free time to mentoring young players. She has her basketball academy in Canada that aims to give young girls the opportunity to gain expertise and feel confident in their skills.
It's inspirational that Kia invests so much of herself into an organization to help other young girls fulfill their dreams and hopefully reach the position she is in today.
Jewell Loyd
Jewell Loyd entered the league as Seattle Storm's number one pick and blew people away. She immediately led the team to two WNBA championships proving her hooping skills were unbeatable. But it didn't stop there; she picked up three All-Star nods since her debut in a relatively short time. Though basketball is her main focus, she also dedicates her time to helping people with learning difficulties like dyslexia, something she has struggled with.
She supports organizations like The Dyslexic Advantage and Eye to Eye and wants to make a difference in people's lives, encouraging and offering support despite their struggles.
Stefanie Dolson
Stefanie Dolson looks at her basketball career with pride and excitement. Not only is she a two-time NCAA champion, but she's also won a WNBA title and has two All-Star appearances. She has made her mark on the New York Liberty team. Her skills and admiration for the game are obvious, but there are a few other things she looks at with such awe. She fills her social media pages with images of a special someone who inspires her every day.
That special someone happens to be her cute puppy named Theodore. Stefanie has shared that she spends all her free time with him and is in love with her furry friend.
Kayla McBride
A professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx, Kayla McBride has a deep love for this sport. She has even jet-setted her way across the world, landing in Turkey to play for a Super League. She's so passionate about the game that she can't go a day without it. Even saying if she didn't get paid, she would still play. But what is she up to when there's no dribbling and buzzers?
Kayla is very close to her family. So on her days off, she could be found hanging with them! She frequently shares that you need to watch out for and care for those closest to you.
Napheesa Collier
Professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx, Napheesa Collier, quickly rose to fame when she became the Rookie of the Year in 2019. When she's not busy playing basketball, she's at home. She got engaged to a fellow lover of basketball, Alex Bazzell, who happens to be a basketball skills coach. Shortly after, they announced they were expecting their first child, a baby girl. A quick six months later, their baby girl arrived.
Along with raising their baby, the couple created a basketball app called Through the Lens. It's intended to help aspiring basketball players by giving them various lessons, tips, and advice.
Kalani Brown
Kalani Brown has been around basketball her entire life. And the skills have been passed down because her father is P. J. Brown. He was known for dominating in defense while playing for the NBA team, the Boston Celtics. It's no surprise that she chose to follow in his footsteps. It came naturally to her, and she quickly picked up the game. She currently spends her days in Turkey playing professional basketball there.
Though sports are comfortable for her, she has another side. Her latest obsession is anime, and she loves sharing all about it on social media. Who doesn't love a versatile woman?
Monique Billings
The Atlanta Dream power forward, Monique Billings, managed to carve her place in the WNBA. She was a monster back in her college days at UCLA before drafting. Ever since she started playing professionally, she has only become more successful. Though she has another side that she's ready to show the world. Monique recently published her first book about wellness and how important it is to find balance in your life.
She's passionate about teaching athletes and non-athletes how to listen to their body and their minds. She's shared the greatest investment one can make is in themselves.
Tiffany Mitchell
Tiffany Mitchell has played for the same WNBA team since she was drafted, the Indiana Fever. Despite having that stability in the states, her career overseas has been different. She also played for Russia, Turkey, Israel, and Australia teams. Though she moved around a lot, she thoroughly enjoyed each phase of her life. As long as she is playing basketball, she is happy. And who wouldn't want the opportunity to travel the world while doing what you love?
She also keeps an organization close to her heart called, Athlete to Advocate. It's a program that advocates for single-parent families and raises social awareness about various issues.
Kahleah Copper
Kahleah Copper is a guard for the Chicago Sky and has already been turning heads with her moves. She helped the Chicago Sky team win their first WNBA championship and simultaneously received MVP honors in the process. She is an avid supporter of all things basketball and even spends her free time working as an assistant coach for Purdue University Northwest's women's basketball team! She just can't seem to get enough of the game.
While serious and dedicated on the court, she has a fun and girly side to her. When she doesn't have to throw on her basketball sneakers, she enjoys getting dressed up and going out with her girlfriends.
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles is on the older side of most women who are grabbing people's attention in the WNBA. She has played a miraculous fourteen seasons in the WNBA and accomplished everything she could have imagined. She is currently the reigning WNBA career rebound leader. She has solidified her place as one of the top WNBA players. And she has no plans to stop any time soon either, as she is still balling out on the Minnesota Lynx.
It's surprising to think Sylvia does anything besides play basketball, but she actually fills her free time with various hobbies, including knitting.
Sabrina Ionescu
Sabrina has had quite a bumpy experience. Early in her WNBA career, she had several injuries that set her back. Only a year ago was she finally recovered and ready to jump back in the game with the New York Liberty team. She is well on becoming a familiar face in the league! She became the youngest WNBA player to get a triple-double and has a bright future in front of her.
While Sabrina has been working on her basketball career, she has also established herself as a businesswoman. She recently became an ambassador for the companies Thirty-Five Ventures and Boardroom.