• Bernadett Hatar is the tallest WNBA player at 6’10

  • Former first overall pick Brittney Griner is the second-tallest active WNBA player

  • Read below for the complete list of the tallest female basketball players


The WNBA is growing in prominence. At the centre of basketball odds and a focal point of coverage of the sport as a whole, the best players in The W are big-time stars, earning mega endorsement contracts and high-profile media appearances.

It’s no secret that size matters in basketball. You don’t need to be a betting guru to know that. Being tall isn’t a guarantee of success in the WNBA, but it certainly helps if you can physically dominate your opponents.

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While there are plenty of perimeter stars around 6’0 in The W, some of the league’s most impactful players have the natural advantage of height.

We’ve taken a look at the tallest players in the league right now, featuring several high draft picks and All-Star calibre talents.

Amanda Zahui B – 6’5

Selected second overall by the Tulsa Shock in 2015, Amanda Zahui B is a Swedish centre who has posted impressive numbers on both sides of that Atlantic.

Zahui B scored just under 19 per game during her second college campaign for Minnesota, and while that scoring has yet to translate to the pros, she has become an established starter over the last three seasons for the Liberty and Sparks.

Playing in Hungary, China and now Turkey, Zahui B has experienced various basketball cultures before turning 30.

Sylvia Fowles – 6’6

Like Zahui B, Sylvia Fowles was picked second overall. It was the Chicago Sky who took Fowles in 2008, and while she has enjoyed a decorated career, the Sky must be regretting how it’s worked out.

Fowles’ size makes her a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the floor.

The all-time leader in career rebounds and an elite defender, the Miami-born centre has amassed seven All-Star selections, but only three of those came during her time in Chicago.

Turning down a contract extension from the Sky in 2014 resulted in a trade to the Minnesota Lynx a few months later.

Fowles went on to win two titles and two MVPs with the Lynx, joining four Olympic gold medals in a packed trophy cabinet.

Mercedes Russell – 6’6

Despite being drafted by the New York Liberty back in 2018, Mercedes Russell has spent the majority of her professional career with the Seattle Storm.

New York waived Russell soon after the draft, enabling Russell to switch coasts and team up with Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.

It’s a decision the 6’6 centre can look back fondly on – she won two WNBA titles with the Storm in 2018 and 2020.

Jonquel Jones – 6’6

One of the young stars of the WNBA, Jonquel Jones was named league MVP in 2021, following All-WNBA Second Team selections in 2017 and 2019.

Jones set a WNBA record for a season-long rebounding average in her sophomore campaign. She’s won Sixth Woman, Most Improved, and thrice been named an All-Star.

Standing at 6’6, the Bahamas-born forward makes the most of her height at both ends of the floor.

Azura Stevens – 6’6

Since going sixth overall to the Dallas Wings in 2018, Azura Stevens is yet to live up to expectations in the WNBA.

Stevens made the All-Rookie team, but she was traded to the Chicago Sky in 2020.

While that resulted in a WNBA title in 2021, Stevens had to settle for a bench role, starting just 11 of her 30 games that season.

Teaira McCowan – 6’7

Teaira McCowan was a force to be reckoned with in college. Representing Mississippi State, McCowan earned First Team All-American honours, leading to speculation she could go first overall in the 2019 draft.

The 6’7 centre slipped to third and the Indiana Fever, however, and made it to the WNBA All-Rookie team.

McCowan is yet to replicate her college supremacy in the big leagues, but there’s reason for optimism in Indianapolis with year-on-year improvement and records beginning to tumble.

Watch out for McCowan to become a bigger factor in basketball tips today in the coming seasons.

Kalani Brown – 6’7

Initially selected by the Sparks, Kalani Brown was traded to the Atlanta Dream just a few months later.

The daughter of former NBA player P.J. Brown, Kalani has been limited to a minor bench role in the WNBA to date.

She boasts an array of accolades from her college days with Baylor, but it remains to be seen if she can establish herself as a rotation player in The W.

Liz Cambage – 6’8

A four-time All-Star and twice named to All-WNBA, Liz Cambage is one of the best Australian basketball players of all-time.

Making full use of her 6’8 frame, Cambage overpowers defenders, combining muscle with finesse. She’s an efficient scorer, capable of bullying opponents and bamboozling them in the same sequence.

Outspoken on and off the court, Cambage brings charisma and skill in equal measure to the hardwood.

Brittney Griner – 6’9

Edging towards becoming the highest paid WNBA player, Brittney Griner is one of the best two-way players in the league.

It takes a transcendent talent to compete for scoring titles and Defensive Player of the Year; Griner has won both awards twice.

The list of accolades is long for the Mercury star. Griner has enjoyed a near-textbook career from first overall pick to champion, seven-time All-Star, six-time All-WNBA and eight-time blocks leader.

There’s a couple of gold medals to add to that collection along with four EuroLeague titles and a place on the W25.

Bernadett Hatar – 6’10

Many of the greatest NBA players would be left looking up at Bernadett Hatar.

The Hungarian embarked on her first WNBA campaign with Indiana in 2021. She only appeared in seven games, though, with injury cutting short her season short.


*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

May 22, 2024
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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

Sam Cox
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  • Four NBA teams don’t have official mascots in the 2021-22 season

  • Seven NBA mascots have been inducted into the Hall of Fame

  • Read below for our ranking of the current NBA mascots


Home advantage is important when weighing up NBA odds. There are plenty of factors that impact homecourt from travel time to altitude.

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A particularly raucous crowd can be significant too, and NBA mascots are charged with getting the home crowd going. We’ve ranked all of the NBA mascots in 2021-22…

Chuck The Condor – Clippers

Meant to be a symbol of the Clippers’ resurgence under Steve Ballmer, this Condor brings a bit of colour to Clippers home games.

G-Man & G-Wiz – Wizards

There are bonus points for having two mascots here. G-Man is a large blue man, and G-Wiz is a whopping bright blue bird-type thing.

Albeit random and colourful, these aren’t our favourites.

Burnie – Heat

Recognisable, although not always for the right reasons. Burnie has got the Miami Heat in trouble with the law on multiple occasions.

Blaze The Trail Cat – Trail Blazers

Blaze is a two-tone silver-coloured mountain lion. He’s also absolutely haunting.

Going viral a few times keeps Portland’s mascot off the bottom of this list.

Moondog and Sir CC – Cavaliers

Once again, we’ve got two mascots.

Moondog appeared on the scene in the early 2000s and was joined by the pirate Sir CC in 2010. Entertaining enough.

Pierre The Pelican – Pelicans

The original would be dead last, because that thing was straight out of a house of horrors.

The new look leads to fewer nightmares, which is nice.

NBA mascot Pelican

Rumble The Bison – Thunder

Named Mascot of the Year in his first season in Oklahoma City, Rumble might win the award for being the hairiest of the mascots in the NBA.

Any followers of online betting will know OKC are going through a rough few years. They need every bit of extra entertainment they can get.

MavsMan and Champ – Mavericks

We like getting good value for our money with two mascots – the Dallas Mavericks provide just that with MavsMan and Champ.

Dallas was the victors in one of the best NBA draft classes in 2018. Mavs fans will hope to see Champ and MavsMan cheering on Luka Doncic for the next decade-plus.

Franklin – 76ers

Not many crowds adore their mascot as much as Philly and Franklin.

One of the newer faces on the scene, Franklin is active throughout Sixers home games at Wells Fargo Center.

Crunch The Wolf – Timberwolves

Minnesota fittingly has a Wolf mascot.

Crunch is one of the more devious on the mascot circuit, and infamously injured Karl-Anthony Towns’ father a few years ago.

Harry The Hawk – Hawks

Making his debut in the 1980s, there are extra points on offer for longevity.

Harry The Hawk isn’t as athletically gifted as many of his NBA peers, but he’s seen plenty from the days of Dominique Wilkins through to Trae Young.

The Coyote – Spurs

Another who first appeared in the 80s, San Antonio’s Coyote has made it to the Hall and twice won Mascot of the Year.

The green eyes are a bit freaky, but we admire his dancing.

Slamson the Lion – Kings

We can get the link between lions and kings, and Slamson is widely adored in north California.

He’s high energy and does well to excite the Sacramento crowd through their painful postseason drought.

Hooper – Pistons

Mascots who dunk are a thumbs up from us.

Hooper joins the Detroit Pistons Flight Crew at half-time to hop on the trampolines for some slams and flips.

Jazz Bear – Jazz

We had to give some respect to a Hall of Famer.

Jazz Bear isn’t the most recognisable of NBA mascots, but with three Mascot of the Year awards are various wear and tear throughout his career, Utah’s crowd-pleaser needed to break into the top half.

Lucky the Leprechaun – Celtics

An acknowledgement of the team’s Irish heritage, Lucky was at the centre of controversy when Kyrie Irving stepped on his logo in 2021.

While Lucky has been associated with the organisation for half a century, he only became an official mascot in 2003.

GO the Gorilla – Suns

One of the first three mascots inducted to the Hall of Fame, GO the Gorilla even has his own endorsement deal.

His slapstick routines still liven up the crowd 40 years after his debut.

Rocky The Mountain Lion – Nuggets

Appearing for other teams in Denver and featuring at All-Star games, Rocky the Mountain Lion is one of the most hard-working mascots in the country.

Don’t be surprised to see Rocky interacting with the players as you check in on the latest Nuggets basketball betting event.

NBA Mascot

Grizz – Grizzlies

Yes, we’ve got a mascot with a link to the team’s name. Perhaps it’s being pedantic to want such coordination, but it’s one of our criteria here.

Grizz is a bear (as you might expect), and one of the leaders of the NBA mascot community, having first appeared on the scene when the Grizzlies were based in Vancouver in the nineties.

Memphis is an up-and-coming team in NBA predictions – we’re bound to see plenty of Grizz in the postseason throughout the 2020s.

Bango the Buck – Bucks

First of all – that’s a great name. Bango is one of the more adventurous mascots in the league and isn’t afraid to interact with the players.

Brook Lopez and Bango have developed a strong relationship over the last few seasons.

Hugo the Hornet – Hornets

Unquestionably one of the best designed mascots in the Association, Hugo the Hornet looks exactly how you’d expect Charlotte’s mascot to look.

The style points earn a strong placing in our rankings.

Clutch – Rockets

The name alone warrants a strong placing. Houston was named ‘Clutch City’ after their first title in the mid-nineties, and Clutch was introduced in 1995.

He’s a Hall of Famer and three-time Mascot of the Year.

Boomer – Pacers

No, not that type of ‘boomer’.

Indiana’s mascot is a Hall of Famer, a showtime dunker and flamboyant dancer. Having been around since the nineties, Boomer has history on his side to earn a high ranking here.

Benny The Bull – Bulls

Another of our Hall of Famers and a former Mascot of the Year, Benny The Bull is a star in their own right.

There’s often popcorn flying across the arena. Sometimes there are flips and dunks.

Wherever he is, it’s worth keeping an eye on Benny, because he’s bound to find a way to entertain himself and others, even if it involves dancing to Beyonce in front of Jay-Z.

Stuff The Magic Dragon – Magic

One of the best mascots in all of sport, you can’t miss Orlando’s enormous, green good luck charm. He’s elegantly named Stuff The Magic Dragon.

Twice winner of the NBA’s Mascot of the Year, Stuff was a lock to make the top five with us.

The Raptor – Raptors

Some find Toronto’s Raptor annoying; others find him entertaining, and maybe even lovable. One thing’s for sure: The Raptor is one of the best mascots in the NBA.

Whether he’s dancing with the cheerleaders or provoking opposition players, The Raptor adds to the game night experience north of the border.


*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

November 18, 2021
Body

Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

Sam Cox
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