Women’s basketball has featured some remarkably tall athletes who have towered over their competition. In the WNBA and international leagues, height is even more of an advantage than in the men’s game, as the talent gap between tall and short players is magnified. Here are the ten tallest women to dominate the basketball court.
⚡ Quick Facts:
- The tallest women's basketball player ever is Margo Dydek at 7 ft 2 in (218 cm)
- This list covers the top 10 tallest women's basketball players of all time
- Heights are shown in both feet/inches and centimetres
Complete List: Top 10 Tallest Women's basketball Players
| Rank | Player | Height | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Margo Dydek | 7 ft 2 in (218 cm) | Poland |
| 2 | Zheng Haixia | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | China |
| 3 | Han Xu | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) | China |
| 4 | Brittney Griner | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) | United States |
| 5 | Maria Stepanova | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | Russia |
| 6 | Liz Cambage | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | Australia |
| 7 | Sylvia Fowles | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) | United States |
| 8 | Bernadett Hatar | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) | Hungary |
| 9 | Lisa Leslie | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | United States |
| 10 | Candace Parker | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | United States |
1. Margo Dydek — 7 ft 2 in (218 cm)
Country: Poland
Margo Dydek is the tallest player in WNBA history at 7 ft 2 in and holds the league all-time record for blocked shots with 877. The Polish centre played for the Utah Starzz, San Antonio Silver Stars, Connecticut Sun, and Los Angeles Sparks from 1998 to 2008. Dydek tragically passed away in 2011 at the age of 37.
2. Zheng Haixia — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: China
Zheng Haixia was one of the tallest and most dominant women’s basketball players in international history. The Chinese centre led China to the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and briefly played in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks in 1997. Zheng was renowned for her post moves and scoring ability.
3. Han Xu — 6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Country: China
Han Xu is one of the tallest active WNBA players, playing centre for the New York Liberty. The Chinese international was drafted 14th overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft and has represented China at multiple international competitions. Han Xu has shown continuous improvement in the WNBA with her shot-blocking and scoring.
4. Brittney Griner — 6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Country: United States
Brittney Griner is one of the most dominant players in WNBA history, winning two Olympic gold medals and a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. The American centre was the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and holds the record for most dunks in women’s college basketball. Griner is a nine-time WNBA All-Star.
5. Maria Stepanova — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: Russia
Maria Stepanova was one of the tallest and most accomplished women’s basketball players in European history. The Russian centre won the EuroBasket Women tournament multiple times and competed at several Olympic Games. Stepanova was known for her shot-blocking ability and dominance in the post for the Russian national team.
6. Liz Cambage — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: Australia
Liz Cambage is one of the most talented tall players in women’s basketball history. The Australian centre scored a record 53 points in a single WNBA game in 2018 and was a WNBA All-Star. Cambage also set the Olympic single-game scoring record with 36 points and has played for multiple WNBA teams.
7. Sylvia Fowles — 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Country: United States
Sylvia Fowles is the WNBA all-time leader in rebounds and won two WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx in 2017 and 2022. The American centre was a two-time WNBA MVP, four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and eight-time All-Star. Fowles also won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA.
8. Bernadett Hatar — 6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Country: Hungary
Bernadett Hatar is one of the tallest women to play professional basketball in Europe. The Hungarian centre played college basketball at Kentucky and has represented Hungary in international competition. Hatar has used her exceptional height and wingspan to become a formidable shot-blocker.
9. Lisa Leslie — 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Country: United States
Lisa Leslie was the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game and won four Olympic gold medals with Team USA, the most by any basketball player at the time. The American centre was a three-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion with the Los Angeles Sparks. Leslie was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
10. Candace Parker — 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Country: United States
Candace Parker was the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and won two WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky. The American forward was a two-time WNBA MVP and won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA. Parker was known for her all-around versatility, combining height with guard-like skills.
📏 Want to see how you compare?
Use our free Height Converter to convert your height, or try the Height Comparison Tool to visually compare yourself with these women's basketball giants. Browse our Celebrity Heights database or check out Average Height by Country for more data.
Final Thoughts
Height in women’s basketball provides an even greater relative advantage than in the men’s game, as fewer players at the highest level possess extreme height combined with skill. These towering athletes have not only dominated with their physical presence but have also inspired future generations of tall women to embrace basketball and use their height as a gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the tallest WNBA player ever?
Margo Dydek of Poland is the tallest player in WNBA history at 7 ft 2 in (218 cm). She played in the WNBA from 1998 to 2008 and holds the all-time record for blocked shots.
Who is the tallest active WNBA player?
Han Xu and Brittney Griner are among the tallest active players at 6 ft 9 in (206 cm). Both are dominant centres who use their height for shot-blocking and scoring.
What is the average height in the WNBA?
The average height of a WNBA player is approximately 5 ft 11 in (180 cm). Guards average around 5 ft 8 in while centres and power forwards average around 6 ft 3 in.