How many dunks are in WNBA history? The number might surprise you

How many dunks are in WNBA history? The number might surprise you

Grace Waruguru
updated at June 22, 2023 at 5:56 PM

The question of how many dunks there are in WNBA history has garnered more interest. Dunks are common in men's games, owing to their height and willingness to take risks on the court. However, some female basketball players have gone on record for making such impressive shots. Discover the number of dunks in the Women's basketball league and the players who slammed them.

how many dunks in WNBA history
Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury shoots a free throw during the game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 25, 2023, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Kate Frese
Source: Getty Images

How many dunks have there ever been in the WNBA? The first dunk in professional basketball was in 1936 by Joe Fortenberry as he was preparing for the Berlin Olympics. Cardte Hicks was the first female player to dunk during a professional game in the Netherlands. So, how many dunks are in WNBA history? Keep scrolling to find out.

Dunks in WNBA history

The players in this list have a total of 33 dunks as of June 2023. The WNBA was formed in 1997, bringing together 12 teams to compete annually. Since its inception, only seven players have made these impressive shots. Some dunk types include Tomahawk, Windmill, Elbow hang, Reverse, and the Free Throw Line. Here are the details of the athletes and the number of scores:

1. Lisa Leslie (2)

how many dunks have there been in WNBA history
Lisa Leslie looks on during the third quarter in the 2023 NBA All-Star Ruffles Celebrity Game at Vivint Arena on February 17, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu
Source: Getty Images

Lisa is a former professional player who spent 12 seasons as a centre for the Los Angeles Sparks. She made history by scoring the first WNBA dunk on July 30, 2002, in a game against the Miami Sol. On July 9, 2005, she scored her second dunk against the same franchise. Leslie retired in 2009 and went into basketball coaching.

2. Michelle Snow (1)

how many dunks have happened in WNBA history
Michelle Snow of the Washington Mystics poses for a photo during 2013 Washington Mystics media day at the Verizon Center on May 9, 2013, in Washington D.C. Photo: Ned Dishman
Source: Getty Images

In 2006, Michelle Snow of the Los Angeles Sparks scored a reverse dunk during a WNBA All-Star game. The former centre joined the women's league in 2002 with the Houston Comets and later joined the San Antonio Silver Stars (2010), the Chicago Sky (2011), and the Washington Mystics (2012).

3. Candace Parker (2)

how many dunks have been made in WNBA history
Candace Parker of the Las Vegas Aces warms up before the game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 28, 2023, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: David Becker
Source: Getty Images

Candace Parker joined the WNBA in June 2008 with the Los Angeles Sparks. She made one dunk in the same year during the final seconds of a game against the Indiana Fever. Later that season, she made her second slam dunk, making her the first WNBA player to make two dunks in a single regulation game.

Before joining the WNBA, Parker had made history in the NCAA (National College Athletic Association) as the first woman to dunk in the league. She made two dunks that year.

4. Sylvia Fowles (2)

how many dunks have been in WNBA history
Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx smiles after the game against the Seattle Storm at Target Center on August 12, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: David Berding
Source: Getty Images

Sylvia is listed among the best female basketball players of all time. How many dunks in WNBA history has she made? Fowles made her first dunk during an All-Star game in 2009. More recently, Sylvia ended her WNBA career with an impressive slam dunk in a game against New York Liberty in July 2022.

5. Brittney Griner (23)

how many dunks have there been in the WNBA ‌
Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury walks on the court following the Mercury's loss to the Washington Mystics at Entertainment & Sports Arena on June 16, 2023, in Washington, DC. Photo: Rob Carr
Source: Getty Images

Brittney Griner could easily be known as the ''Queen of slam dunks,'' boasting the highest number in the WNBA. How many dunks has Brittney Griner made? Before joining the WNBA, she made 52 dunks as a high school senior.

How many dunks have happened in WNBA history courtesy of Griner? Since her induction in 2013, Brittney has made 23 dunks:

  • Regular season - 17
  • Playoffs - 1
  • All-Star Game - 5

6. Jonquel Jones (1)

how many dunks have there ever been in the WNBA
Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty looks on against the Atlanta Dream in the second half at the Barclays Center on June 13, 2023, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Photo: Mitchell Leff
Source: Getty Images

Jonquel is a Bahamian - Bosnian professional player drafted into the 2016 WNBA draft. During her first All-Star game the following year, Jones made her first one-handed dunk. She stands 6 feet and 6 inches tall and is one of the shortest female players who have shot a dunk.

Jonquel plays for the New York Liberty as a power forward and centre. She also plays for the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

7. Liz Cambage (2)

how many dunks in WNBA history
Liz Cambage attends the 2022 ESPYs at Dolby Theatre on July 20, 2022, in Hollywood, California. Photo: Leon Bennett
Source: Getty Images

Australian Liz Cambage was drafted into the 2011 WNBA draft with Tulsa Shock. She made her first dunk at the 2012 London Olympics, making her the first female basketball player to dunk in an Olympic game. She left her first team for five years before rejoining the league in 2018 with the Dallas Wings.

She shot her second dunk during the 2018 All-Star game against the Washington Mystics. Cambage played for the Los Angeles Aces between 2019 and 2021. She joined the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022 but is no longer part of the WNBA.

For netizens who have been wondering how many dunks have been made in WNBA history, these women have earned recognition for their notable skill on the court. More slam dunks by women in the league in the coming seasons are highly anticipated.

READ ALSO: Top 20 most attractive WNBA players in 2023

Sports Brief published an article featuring the top 20 most attractive WNBA players. Besides their skill on the court, these women boast attractive physical features that attract their fans' attention. Who are some of these women?

Lexie Brown, the Minnesota Lynx's point guard and shooting guard, is one of the most beautiful WNBA athletes. Tiffany Mitchell of the Indiana Fever is also among the most beautiful athletes. Others include Chelsea Dungee, Cheyenne Parker, and Monique Billings. Check out the above article for the complete list.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.