This article was originally published on September 6, 2023, and then updated on May 21, 2024 to reflect the latest information.
This is likely not a surprise to you, but WNBA players are taller than the average woman in the United States.
But what may amaze you is how significantly the heights of players in the W can vary. Yes, height is an advantage in basketball. But, as you’ll see as we dive into the data below, shorter players can and do find their way into those coveted roster spots.
We first broke down average WNBA player height data in 2023. Now we’re back with updated numbers to reflect the current active players as the 2024 season kicks off. To come up with the calculations below, we used 2024 height data provided by WNBA.com.
If you’re looking for the key takeaways, here you go:
- The average WNBA height of a player in 2024 is 6 feet 0.8 inches. This is 0.1 inches taller than the average WNBA height in 2023.
- As a group, WNBA players are over 8 inches taller than the average woman in the U.S. (5 feet 4 inches).
While intriguing on its own, these statistics also pave the way for a deeper dive into the WNBA player heights. Stay with us as we explore the tallest and shortest players in the WNBA, unveil how player heights break down by team and position, and touch on how height influences play in the WNBA today.
Average Height of Players in the WNBA
Okay, let’s start by tackling the question that brings us here: “How tall are WNBA players on average?”
After crunching the numbers using the height information from WNBA.com, it turns out the average height of a WNBA player in 2024 is 6 feet 0.8 inches.
As you would expect, WNBA professional basketball players are on average taller than the general population. They are more than 8 inches taller than the average adult woman in the United States (5 feet 4 inches).
Comparing WNBA to NBA players shows the major height differences between men and women professional basketball players. WNBA players stand roughly 6 inches shorter than the average NBA height of 6 feet 6.5 inches.
Learn more: Who is the oldest WNBA player?
Methodology: Collecting and Analyzing Data
To unveil an accurate analysis of average WNBA height, we reviewed each team’s up-to-date roster data provided by the WNBA website. The process provided a comprehensive representation of the league’s current landscape while also allowing us to examine average height by team and position.
We first recorded the height of each player in inches. We summated all recorded heights in inches for the league height average, and then divided these totals by the total number of active players. At the time of our analysis, on 5/21/24, there were 142 active WNBA players across the league’s 12 teams.
It’s important to acknowledge the inherent limitations of our analysis:
- The dynamic nature of WNBA rosters, characterized by player rotations due to injuries, personal circumstances, and team dynamics, introduces the potential for variability in the dataset. As a result, this analysis represents a snapshot in time.
- Also, roster sizes varied between 11 to 13 players, introducing an element of heterogeneity in the sample.
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The Tallest Player in the WNBA
Standing at a 6 feet 9 inches, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner is the tallest player in the WNBA in 2024.
Griner was selected by the Phoenix Mercury as the 1st overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. She helped lead the Mercury to a WNBA championship in 2014 and is a two-time WNBA scoring champion and eight-time WNBA blocks leader.
She is the all-time leader in WNBA dunks. In her very first WNBA game, she dunked twice to match Candace Parker’s WNBA dunk record.
The Shortest Players in the WNBA
Each standing at 5 feet 5 inches, three players tie for the shortest current players in the 2024 WNBA season: Dyaisha Fair, Olivia Époupa, and Crystal Dangerfield.
Drafted 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2020, Crystal Dangerfield earned Rookie of the Year and WNBA All-Rookie Team honors following her first season in the league. She also played for New York and Indiana before landing with Atlanta.
Olivia Époupa is an international player who went undrafted in 2016. After spending several years in the EuroLeague, she found a WNBA home in 2024 with the Minnesota Lynx.
Dyaisha Fair was selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2nd round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. She comes from Syracuse, where she became third place all-time in NCAA Division I women’s basketball career scoring.
Breaking Down Average Height by Team
The 12 teams in the 2024 WNBA season (see our WNBA teams map) are close when it comes to average height. But, the Dallas Wings are clearly the tallest this year. Let’s look at how average WNBA height stacks up at a team level.
Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream has a team average height of 6 feet 0.58 inches. Tina Charles, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, and Lorela Cubaj share the title of tallest, and each stands at 6 feet 4 inches. At 5 feet 5 inches, Crystal Dangerfield is the shortest on the team.
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky has a team average height of 6 feet 0.25 inches. Rookie Camilla Cardoso is the tallest on the team, at 6 feet 7 inches. The shortest is Dana Evans, at 5 feet 6 inches.
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun has a team average height of 6 feet 0.82 inches. Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aston Ndour-Fall are the tallest on the team at 6 feet 5 inches, while Moriah Jefferson is the shortest at 5 feet 6 inches.
Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings have a team average height of 6 feet 2.17 inches, giving them a strong height advantage over the rest of the league. Kalani Brown and Teaira McCowan, both at 6 feet 7 inches, are the tallest. Arike Ogunbowale, the shortest player on the squad, stands at 5 feet 8 inches.
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever has a team average height of 6 feet 0.85 inches. At 6 feet 5 inches, Aliyah Boston is the tallest on the team and brings an energetic and commanding presence. Erica Wheeler is the shortest at 5 feet 7 inches, counterbalancing the height profile.
Las Vegas Aces
The Las Vegas Aces have a team average height of 5 feet 11.75 inches, making them the shortest team in the league this year. A’ja Wilson and Megan Gustafson, each standing at 6 feet 4 inches, lead the charge as the team’s tallest players. On the shorter end of the spectrum, Dyaisha Fair is 5 feet 5 inches.
See more: Our list of top A’ja Wilson shirts.
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks have a team average height of 6 feet 0.92 inches. Li Yueru, towering at 6 feet 7 inches, is the tallest on the team. Aari McDonald is the shortest at 5 feet 6 inches.
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx has a team average height of 6 feet 0.31 inches. Dorka Juhász, at 6 feet 5 inches, stands tallest on the team. Olivia Époupa, at 5 feet 5 inches, is the shortest.
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty has a team average height of 6 feet 1.36 inches. Jonquel Jones, the tallest player on the team, stands at 6 feet 6 inches. Courtney Vanderssloot is 5 feet 8 inches and shortest on the team.
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury have a team average height of 6 feet 1.9 inches. Brittney Griner stands tallest for the Mercury at 6 feet 9 inches. Sug Sutton, at 5 feet 8 inches, is the shortest on the team.
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm have a team average height of 6 feet 0.64 inches. Mercedes Russell adds a height advantage at 6 feet 6 inches and is the tallest on the team. Kiana Williams is the shortest on the squad at 5 feet 7 inches.
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics have a team average height of 6 feet 0.25 inches. Tallest on the team are Shakira Austin and Stefanie Dolson, each standing at 6 feet 5 inches. Meanwhile, Julie Vanloo, at 5 feet 8 inches, is the shortest on the roster.
Average WNBA Height by Position
Let’s now delve into the heights that define each primary position in the WNBA – guards, forwards, and centers.
For athletes with multiple positions, such as Aliyah Boston, who is listed at both forward and center, their heights are included in the average calculations for both positions.
Average Height of a WNBA Guard
WNBA guards have an average height of 5 feet 10.19 inches. While standing a bit shorter, guards often stand tall in their ability to penetrate defenses, facilitate plays, shoot from outside, and bring the ball up the floor under pressure.
Average Height of a WNBA Forward
WNBA forwards have an average height of 6 feet 2.52 inches, bridging the gap between guards and centers. Players in this position often epitomize versatility, with the ability to drive to the hoop, take outside shots, post up, and defend the perimeter and the paint.
Average Height of a WNBA Center
With an average height of 6 feet 5.12 inches, WNBA centers tend to embody a commanding presence in the paint. You can often find them blocking shots, hauling in rebounds, and setting screens for their teammates.
Does Average WNBA Height Matter?
Height certainly offers valuable advantages for players in the WNBA. With a longer reach, tall WNBA players can pull down more rebounds, get into passing lanes and block shots, and score more efficiently. These genetic advantages make taller players more likely to earn a roster spot in the WNBA.
But, a player’s height alone doesn’t determine their success in the league.
Michael Cooper, former head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks who helped the team reach the WNBA playoffs for the first time, once said, “The fun part of the WNBA League is that your athletic ability and talent is not determined on height. Having talent and knowledge of the game is extremely important. As long as you have these entities, height requirements are considered somewhat irrelevant.”
Countless examples of shorter players have found success in the league. Think of former WNBA greats such as Becky Hammon (5’6”), and Briann January (5’8”).
Today, you’ve got shorter players like Arike Ogunbowale (5’8”), Crystal Dangerfield (5’5”), and Dana Evans (5’6”), who are making their mark. Sue Bird, at just 5’9”, is considered one of the best WNBA players ever.
Players in the WNBA have consistently shown that size doesn’t define skill or determine success.
More WNBA Player Facts
Looking for more interesting insights on the WNBA? Our comprehensive WNBA guide offers even more information about WNBA players, including who has won the most WNBA Championships.
