Basketball players, both male and female, are known for their height. Although it doesn’t guarantee success, being a tall player has its advantages, regardless of the position on the court.
So, who are the tallest women in the WNBA, and who is the tallest WNBA player in the world?
Let’s find out.
Top 10 Tallest WNBA Players
The tallest WNBA players are not only famous because of their height but are also the most exciting players in the league to watch.
Małgorzata Dydek
- Height: 2.18m (7ft 2in)
- Weight: 101kg
- Age: Died at 37 on 27 May 2011
- Nationality: Polish
- Position: Centre
The legendary Malgorzata Dydek, also known as Margo, is the tallest WNBA player in history at 2.18m.
The Polish professional basketball player became a part of the NBA family in 1998 when she was drafted by the Utah Starzz and stayed there for 11 years.
She played a total of 323 WNBA matches throughout her career, including for teams like the Los Angeles Sparks, San Antonio Silver Stars, and Connecticut Sun.
Dyde retired in 2008 and was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2019.
Han Xu
- Height: 2.08m (6ft 8in)
- Weight: 87.5 kg
- Age: 22 years
- Nationality: Chinese
- Position: Centre
Hax Xu joined the WNBA at the age of 20 in 2019, becoming the first Chinese player to be drafted into the league in 22 years. She was drafted by the New York Liberty and was the youngest player in the draft class.
Han had to sit out the 2020 season due to the pandemic, which forced her to stay in China.
Standing at 2.08m, Han was the tallest female basketball player in the league in the season and the second-tallest in the history of the WNBA.
Bernadett Határ
- Height: 2.08m (6ft 8in)
- Weight: 94 kg
- Age: 27 years
- Nationality: Hungarian
- Position: Centre
Bernadett Hatrar made it into the WNBA league thanks to her remarkable playing style.
She was initially signed by the Indiana Fever in 2020, but her contract was suspended before the season had begun. Hatrar later signed a training camp contract with the team and officially joined the WNBA in 2021. However, her contract was suspended again after she sustained a knee injury a month later.
During her time in the WNBA (she appeared in 7 games), Hatrar played 15.1 minutes per contest and averaged 4.9 points.
Brittney Griner
- Height: 2.06 m (6ft 7in)
- Weight: 93kg
- Age: 31 years
- Nationality: American
- Position: Centre
Brittney Griner is one of the most awarded WNBA tallest player in US history and is also one of the highest-paid players in the league.
She is one of the 11 women to win a FIBA World cup gold, an NCAA Championship, a WNBA Championship, and receive an Olympic gold medal. Griner is also the only player in the NCAA league to both block 500 shots and score 2,000 points.
Griner is currently in custody in Russia. She was detained in February 2020 for carrying hashish oil in her luggage. The US State Department believes that Griener was wrongfully detained, but the WNBA is still set to start the season without the Phoenix Mercury star.
Zheng Haixia
- Height: 2.03m (6ft 6in)
- Weight: 104kg
- Age: 55 years
- Nationality: Chinese
- Position: Centre
Zheng Haicia started playing in the WNBA after she retired from the Chinese national team, where she won two Olympic Games medals, one bronze, and one silver.
Zheng played with the Los Angeles Sparks for two seasons. During this time, she received the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award and became the first Asian woman and international player to win an award in the WNBA.
She then returned to China to coach with the women’s army.
Maria Alexandrovna Stepanova
- Height: 2.03m (6ft 6in)
- Weight: 85kg
- Age: 43 years
- Nationality: Russian
- Position: Centre
Maria Alexandrovna Stepanova was drafted 8th overall in the WNBA, where she played centre for the Phoenix Mercury team.
Stepanova spent her entire WNBA career with the team and has said in an interview that she prefers European over American-style basketball.
Outside of the league, she has received the FIBA Europe Women’s Player of the Year, Russian Player of the Year, and two bronze medals at the Olympic Games.
Elizabeth Cambage
- Height: 2.03 m (6ft 6in)
- Weight: 98kg
- Age: 30 years
- Nationality: Australian
- Position: Centre
Elizabeth Cambage started her basketball career in 2007 and joined the WNBA in 2011 when the Tulsa Shock selected her.
During her time in the league, the basketball star has played with a couple of teams, including the Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, Southside Flyers, and the Los Angeles Sparks.
Apart from being one of the most talented players on the hardwood, Cambage also currently holds the WNBA record for the most points in a single game (53).
Lindsay Corine Taylor
- Height: 2.03m (6ft 6in)
- Weight: 91kg
- Age: 40 years
- Nationality: American
- Position: Centre
Lindsay Cornie Taylor is a retired American professional basketball player who is one of the WNBA tallest players in history.
Her beginnings in the WNBA league were with Houston Comets, but Taylor also played with the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics.
Outside of the WNBA and the US, the Santa Barbara star enjoyed great success in Asia and Europe, where she played in the Polish Women’s League and the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.
After retiring, she joined Hamilton High School as an assistant basketball coach.
Katharen Ruth Mattera
- Height: 2.02m (6ft 6in)
- Weight: 109kg
- Age: 39 years
- Nationality: American
- Position: Centre
Katharen Ruth Mattera, one of the two players in NCAA history to lead field-goal percentage in back-to-back seasons, joined the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun in 2005. Shortly after, she transferred to the San Antonio Silver Stars and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team that same year.
Mattera later played for the Detroit Shock, Atlanta Dream, and Chicago Sky. After putting an end to her professional career, Materra became an assistant coach at Liberty University and a head coach at Cornerstone University.
Kara Wolters Drinan
- Height: 2.01m (6ft 5in)
- Weight: 103kg
- Age: 46 years
- Nationality:
- Position: Centre
Kara Wolters Drinan’s basketball skills were recognised at the 1999 NBA draft by the Houston Comets, who became the WNBA Champions that same year.
Like Brittney Griner, she is also one of the 11 women that have won an NCAA national championship, an Olympic championship, a WNBA championship, and a FIBA world championship.
Following retirement, Drinan worked as a radio colour commentator on WTIC and later as an in-studio analyst on SNY.
Bottom Line
Height plays a key role in most sports, especially in the world of basketball.
Although the tallest WNBA player to ever set foot on the hardwood was Malgorzata Dydek at a staggering 2.18m, which is way higher than some of the tallest football players.
You may also be interested in: