A’ja Wilson has only been in the WNBA for six years and has already accomplished so much with the Las Vegas Aces, but there was one thing she had yet to accomplish – a 40-point game. She came close in 2019 when she scored 39 points and added 11 rebounds in an overtime win against the Indiana Fever.
Of course, that all changed on August 11 when her Aces matched up against the Washington Mystics. Wilson finished the game with 40 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block in 31 minutes of action. Her strong performance was a big reason why the Aces ended up beating the Mystics 113-89.
We’ve seen A’ja Wilson go off before – I mean, we’re talking about a 27-year-old who already has nine 30-point games and seven 30-point double-doubles – but we’ve never seen her go off like this. Not only did she score 40 points for the first time in her career, but she did so without making a three-pointer.
WNBA Players Who Had 40+ Points and 10+ Rebounds in Single Game
A’ja Wilson’s 40-point, 12-rebound game was impressive on the surface, but it was even more impressive when you consider the historical aspect of it. For example, there have only been 32 instances where a player scored at least 40 points in a game – the record currently stands at 53 points (Liz Cambage).
Not only that, but it was just the 10th time in WNBA history that a player finished with at least 40 points and at least 10 rebounds in the same game – three of which came during the 2023 season. A’ja became just the eighth player in WNBA history to achieve it and it came just three days after her 27th birthday.
It’s nights like August 11 that remind us just how dominant A’ja is when on the floor – she leaves it all out there and it’s a big reason why the Aces are the best team in the WNBA. To honor her accomplishment and those that came before her, let’s break down all 10 40+ point, 10+ rebound games in WNBA history.
1. Lisa Leslie – 41 points, 13 rebounds (June 25, 2006)
On June 25, 2006, Lisa Leslie – a center for the Los Angeles Sparks – had 41 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in 35 minutes of action. Her performance was a large reason why her Sparks defeated the San Antonio Silver Stars 105-80 – improving the team’s record to 11-3 on the year.
It marked the first time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game. She shot 16 of 23 (70%) from the field, 2 of 2 (100%) from beyond the three-point line, and 7 of 9 (78%) from the charity stripe. Her 41 points were more than half of what the entire Silver Stars’ had.
Lisa Leslie was no stranger to big games. She scored at least 20 points in 126 games and at least 30 points in 14 games, but her 41 points on June 25, 2006 were a career-high. She also had an impressive 32-point, 7-rebound performance against the Connecticut Sun on June 17, 2006 – just one week prior.
Leslie spent her entire 12-year career with the Sparks and averaged 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks in 32.0 minutes per game (363 games played). The Hall of Fame center was a three-time MVP, three-time All-Star MVP, two-time WNBA champion, and 8-time All-Star.
2. Lauren Jackson – 47 points, 14 rebounds (July 24, 2007)
On July 24, 2007, Lauren Jackson – a forward-center for the Seattle Storm – had 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 1 assist in 42 minutes of action. It was quite the performance, considering only five players in WNBA history have scored at least 47 points in a game – only two of those players had 10+ rebounds.
It marked the second time a WNBA player scored 40+ points and grabbed 10+ rebounds in a single game. She shot 18 of 28 (64%) from the floor, 2 of 4 (50%) from the three-point line, and 9 of 11 (82%) from the charity stripe. Her team lost 96-97 in overtime and she nearly outscored the rest of her team.
Lauren Jackson was drafted by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft and went on to spend her entire 12-year career with the team. She averaged 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 32.0 minutes per game (317 games played) in her legendary career.
She retired after the 2012 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021. She was a three-time MVP (2003, 2007, 2010), 7-time All-Star, and two-time WNBA champion (2004, 2010) with the Storm. The 6-foot-6 forward-center was also the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year and the Finals MVP in 2010.
3. Candace Parker – 40 points, 16 rebounds (July 9, 2008)
On July 9, 2008, Candace Parker – a forward-center for the Los Angeles Sparks – had 40 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks in 42 minutes of action. Her performance was a large reason why the Sparks defeated the Houston Comets 82-74 – improving the team’s record to 12-6 on the year.
It marked the third time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game. She shot 15 of 23 (65%) from the field, 1 of 2 (50%) from beyond the three-point line, and 9 of 12 (75%) from the charity stripe. She nearly outscored the rest of her own team with her 40 points.
While it was the only 40-point game of Candace Parker’s career, she was no stranger to big games – scoring at least 20 points in 127 games in her career and at least 30 points in 18 games in her career. She also had at least 10 rebounds in 101 games and at least 10 assists in three games in her career.
Parker is currently playing in her 16th season in the WNBA – 13 of which with the Los Angeles Sparks – and is averaging 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game (410 games played). She’s a two-time MVP, 7-time All-Star, and two-time WNBA champion.
4. Maya Moore – 48 points, 10 rebounds (July 22, 2014)
On July 22, 2014, Maya Moore – a forward for the Minnesota Lynx – went off for 48 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 46 minutes of action. Her performance was a large reason why the Lynx defeated the Atlanta Dream 112-108 in two overtime periods – improving the team’s record to 18-6.
It marked the fourth time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game. She shot 16 of 30 (53%) from the field, 7 of 9 (78%) from beyond the three-point line, and 9 of 11 (82%) from the charity stripe. Her 48 points are the third-most in a game in WNBA history.
Believe it or not, this wasn’t the only 40-point performance for Moore. She had a 40-point, 5-rebound game on August 2, 2014 (nearly two weeks after her 48-point game) and had a 40-point, 8-rebound game on July 7, 2016. She came close to joining this list twice with 38 points and 13 rebounds on May 23, 2014.
Moore ended up playing eight years in the WNBA (all with the Lynx) before retiring after the 2018 season. She averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game (271 games played). She was a 6-time All-Star, 4-time WNBA champion, and was named MVP in 2014.
5. Elena Delle Donne – 45 points, 11 rebounds (June 24, 2015)
On June 24, 2015, Elena Delle Donne – a forward for the Chicago Sky – had 45 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 6 blocks in 44 minutes of action. Her impressive performance was a large reason why the Sky defeated the Atlanta Dream 100-96 in overtime – improving the team’s record to 4-3 on the season.
It marked the fifth time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game. She shot 12 of 20 (60%) from the field, 2 of 4 (50%) from beyond the three-point line, and a perfect 19 of 19 (100%) from the charity stripe. She’s one of just eight players to score at least 45 points.
This wasn’t the only 40-point game of Delle Donne’s career. In fact, she was just one rebound away from being on this list twice – she had 40 points and 9 rebounds in a 93-101 loss to the Tulsa Shock on June 6, 2015 (18 days before her 45-point game). She also had 38 points and 10 rebounds on July 5, 2016.
Delle Donne is currently playing in her 10th season in the WNBA and is averaging 19.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game (233 games played). She’s a two-time MVP, 7-time All-Star, 2019 WNBA champion, and was named Rookie of the Year in 2013.
6. Liz Cambage – 53 points, 10 rebounds (July 17, 2018)
On July 17, 2018, Liz Cambage – a center for the Dallas Wings – went off for 53 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 5 blocks in 37 minutes of action. Her historical performance was a large reason why the Wings defeated the New York Liberty 104-87 – improving the team’s record to 13-9 on the season.
It not only marked the sixth time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game, but it also set a new record for most points scored in a single game – no other WNBA player has ever hit the 50-point mark. Who knows when we’ll see someone do it again.
Cambage shot 17 of 22 (77%) from the field, 4 of 5 (80%) from beyond the three-point line, and 15 of 16 (94%) from the charity stripe. Her performance was that much more special because it came during a season that saw her make a return to the WNBA after playing five years of pro basketball overseas.
She was drafted by the Tulsa Shock with the No. 2 overall pick in 2011 and spent the next two years with the team before heading to China. She returned in 2018 and last played in 2022. Throughout her career, she averaged 15.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game.
7. Liz Cambage – 43 points, 13 rebounds (August 17, 2018)
On August 17, 2018, Liz Cambage – a center for the Dallas Wings – went off for 43 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists in 34 minutes of action. It came exactly one month after her historical 53-point game and in the same year she made her return to the WNBA – it was her way of showing the league she’s back.
Not only was it the seventh time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game, but it was the first time in WNBA history that a player did it twice in their career – let alone one month from one another. I don’t know about you, but that’s what I call dominance.
Cambage shot 14 of 20 (70%) from the floor, 2 of 2 (100%) from the three-point line, and 13 of 16 (81%) from the charity stripe. She came close to being on this list a third time with 37 points and 10 rebounds on July 3, 2018, and a fourth time with 37 points and 9 rebounds on August 2, 2018 – all in the same season.
She finished that 2018 season with 23.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks in 29.5 minutes per game (32 games played). She scored at least 25 points in 12 of those games – which is crazy to think about, considering she has only scored at least 25 points in 16 games during her career.
8. Breanna Stewart – 45 points, 12 rebounds (May 21, 2023)
On May 21, 2023, Breanna Stewart – a forward for the New York Liberty – went off for 45 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in 30 minutes of action. It was just her second game in a Liberty uniform and came during her home debut with the team – she signed with the Liberty in the offseason.
It marked the eighth time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game, but the first time in nearly five years. She shot 15 of 21 (71%) from the floor, 6 of 9 (67%) from beyond the three-point line, and a perfect 9 of 9 (100%) from the charity stripe in the 90-73 win.
She opened the game with 19 points and 4 rebounds in the first quarter and added another 10 points and 3 rebounds in the second quarter. She exploded yet again with 16 points and 3 rebounds in the third quarter and could’ve added to her total even more, but she only played two minutes in the fourth quarter.
Stewart was drafted by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 and spent six years with the team – she’s currently in her first season with the Liberty. Throughout her career, she’s averaging 20.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 32.7 minutes per game (213 games).
9. Breanna Stewart – 43 points, 12 rebounds (July 5, 2023)
On July 5, 2023, Breanna Stewart – a forward for the New York Liberty – went off for 43 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in 38 minutes of action. Her performance helped lead the Liberty to a 99-95 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, despite being outscored 21-26 in the final quarter.
It not only marked the ninth time a WNBA player scored at least 40 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in the same game, but it marked the second time a WNBA player did so twice – let alone in the same season. Her two impressive performances came less than two months away from one another.
Stewart shot 13 of 20 (65%) from the floor, 3 of 4 (75%) from beyond the three-point line, and 14 of 16 (88%) from the charity stripe. She had just 19 points and 5 rebounds at halftime, but turned it up a notch in the second half with 7 points in the third quarter, and 17 points and 5 rebounds in the fourth quarter.
She’s no stranger to big games, having scored at least 20 points in 120 of her 213 games (more than half) and at least 30 points in 21 of those games. More recently, she almost made this list a third time when she scored 42 points and 6 rebounds on August 13 in a 100-89 win against the Indiana Fever.
10. A’ja Wilson – 40 points, 12 rebounds (August 11, 2023)
On August 11, 2023, A’ja Wilson – a forward for the Las Vegas Aces – had 40 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block in 31 minutes of action. It was her first 40-point game and helped lead her Aces to an impressive 113-89 victory over the Washington Mystics – improving their record to 26-3.
She shot 17 of 25 (68%) from the floor, 0 for 1 (0%) from beyond the three-point line, and 6 of 7 (86%) from the charity stripe. She was a woman on a mission in the first half, scoring 24 points and grabbing 7 rebounds before adding another 16 points and 5 rebounds in the second half. There was no stopping her.
It not only marked the 10th time a WNBA player scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the same game, but it marked the first 40-point game of Wilson’s career. Through 179 games in her career, she has scored at least 20 points in 95 of those games and scored at least 30 points in nine of those games.
Wilson was drafted by the Aces with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and is now playing in her sixth season in the league. She’s averaging 19.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game (179 games played). She’s a two-time MVP, 5-time All-Star, and 2022 champion.
WNBA Players Who Are Bound to Join This List Soon
Scoring at least 40 points and grabbing at least 10 rebounds in the same game is a rare feat in the WNBA, but it’s something we’ll likely see a lot more of in the near future. With players scoring at an impressive rate in recent years, the list above will continue to grow – which is exciting to think about.
While we can expect A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart to do it again at some point, there are several others who we should keep our eye on. Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, Rhyne Howard, DeWanna Bonner, and Arike Ogunbowale have all scored 40+ points in a game, but not with 10+ rebounds.
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Other players to keep an eye on include Nneka Ogwumike, Satou Sabally, Aliyah Boston, Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Napheesa Collier, NaLyssa Smith, Cheyenne Parker, and Ezi Magbegor – all of whom have proven themselves both as scorers and rebounders. Who do you think is next up?
Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson Become First WNBA Players to Score 900+ Points in a Season — Can You Name the 16 Other Players to Score 700+ Points in a Season?
Prior to the start of the 2023 regular season, the WNBA had never seen a player score more than 860 points in a single season – a record that was set by none other than Diana Taurasi in 2006. With the league expanding the 2023 season to 40 games, several WNBA players were expected to eclipse that.
And that’s exactly what happened. Jewell Loyd (939 points), Breanna Stewart (919 points), and A’ja Wilson (912 points) all broke the previous record for most points in a single season. It’s no surprise that those three players are the leading MVP candidates for the 2023 season – they were nearly unstoppable.
From a scoring perspective, Loyd was the most impressive. She outscored both Stewart and Wilson, despite playing in two games less than them. She finished the season with 24.7 points per game, which was just 0.58 points per game away from breaking Taurasi’s 2006 record of 25.29 points per game.
WNBA Players Who Scored 700+ Points in a Single Season
The 2023 regular season was one for the record books. We saw Diana Taurasi become the first player to ever score 10,000 career points, A’ja Wilson tie the record for most points in a single game with her 53-point masterpiece on August 22, and the Las Vegas Aces become the first team to win 30+ games.
We also saw 10 WNBA players score more than 700 points this season – which is a notable stat because it’s something that has only been done 17 other times in the history of the league. A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum were among those who had done it in the past, but they did it again in 2023.
All in all, 19 WNBA players have scored 700+ points in a single season since the league’s inception and six of those players have done it more than once – three of whom did it three times. To honor those who have wow-ed us with their impressive scoring over the years, let’s meet those coveted 19 WNBA players.
19. Jackie Young – 704 points (2023)
Jackie Young finished the 2023 season with 704 points in 40 games played (17.6 points per game) for the Las Vegas Aces. She has now set a career-high in points scored in each of her first five seasons in the WNBA – she had 542 points in 34 games last season. The two-time All-Star just keeps getting better!
She scored at least 20 points in 15 of her 40 games played last season and scored a season-high 30 points against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 25th – a game that saw her shoot 12 of 18 from the floor, 4 of 7 from beyond the three-point line, and 2 of 4 from the charity stripe. Shooters are gonna shoot!
18. Satou Sabally – 707 points (2023)
Satou Sabally finished the 2023 season with 707 points in 38 games played (18.6 points per game) for the Dallas Wings. For someone who had only played in 44 games over the previous three seasons due to injuries, Sabally came back in a major way in 2023 – despite missing two games due to an ankle injury.
Sabally scored at least 20 points in 16 of her 38 games played and at least 25 points in nine of those games. She had a season-high 40 points against the Indiana Fever on September 1st, which saw her shoot 13 of 19 from the floor, 7 of 10 from beyond the three-point line, and 7 of 7 from the charity stripe.
17. Kahleah Copper – 710 points (2023)
Kahleah Copper finished the 2023 season with 710 points in 38 games played (18.7 points per game) for the Chicago Sky. The three-time All-Star has set a career-high in points scored in each of the past five seasons – she had 227 points in 2019, 327 points in 2020, 462 points in 2021, and 488 points in 2022.
Copper scored at least 20 points in 17 of her 38 games played and had at least 25 points in seven of those games. She had a season-high 37 points against the Las Vegas Aces on July 25th, which saw her shoot 12 of 18 from the floor, 4 of 7 from beyond the three-point line, and 9 of 11 from the charity stripe.
16. Angel McCoughtry – 716 points (2010)
Angel McCoughtry scored at least 700 points in three of her 13 seasons in the league before retiring at the end of last season. She had a career-high 716 points in 2010, 712 points the following year in 2011, and 711 points in 2013. She almost did it twice more with 685 points in 2015 and 643 points in 2016.
Let’s take a look at that impressive 2010 season – her second year in the league. She scored at least 20 points in 21 of her 34 games played, had at least 25 points in 11 of those games, and even eclipsed the 30-point mark on five occasions – including a 32-piece on May 21st, May 30th, and again on July 7th.
15. Elena Delle Donne – 725 points (2015)
Elena Delle Donne finished the 2015 season with 725 points in 31 games played (23.4 points per game) for the Chicago Sky. She has scored at least 600 points in two other seasons – including 601 points in 28 games played in 2016 and 606 points in 31 games played in 2019. She also had 599 points in 2018.
Let’s take a look at that impressive 2015 season, though. Delle Donne scored at least 20 points in 21 of her 31 games played, had at least 25 points in 13 of those games, eclipsed the 30-point mark in five of those games, and had 40+ points twice – including a 40-piece on June 6th and a 45-piece on June 24.
14. Kelsey Plum – 728 points (2023)
Kelsey Plum finished the 2023 season with 728 points in 39 games played (18.7 points per game) for the Las Vegas Aces. It comes just one year after her breakout season in 2022, which saw the 2-time All-Star score a career-high 726 points in 36 games (20.2 points per game) – she beat that by 2 points in 2023.
Plum scored at least 20 points in 16 of her 39 games played this past season, but it was her 30-piece against the Phoenix Mercury on September 10th and her 40-piece against the Minnesota Lynx on July 9th that caught our attention – a game that saw her shoot 14 of 18 from the floor and 6 of 9 from long range.
13. Kelsey Mitchell – 728 points (2023)
Kelsey Mitchell finished the 2023 season with 728 points in 40 games played (18.2 points per game) for the Indiana Fever. She has been one of the league’s best scorers for several years now, putting up 569 points in each of the past two seasons – 17.8 points per game in 2021 and 18.4 points per game in 2022.
Mitchell scored at least 20 points in 16 of her 40 games played last season and had at least 25 points in six of those games. She eclipsed the 30-point mark on two occasions – including 30 points against the Dallas Wings on September 3rd and a season-high 36 points against the Seattle Storm on August 24th.
12. Cappie Pondexter – 729 points (2010)
Cappie Pondexter finished the 2010 season with 729 points in 34 games played (21.4 points per game) for the New York Liberty. The 7-time All-Star and 2-time champion came close to doing it several other times – including 695 points in 2012, 679 points in 2008, 648 points in 2009, and 624 points in 2006.
Let’s take a closer look at that 2010 season, though. She scored at least 20 points in 20 of her 34 games played, had at least 25 points in nine of those games, and surpassed the 30-point mark five times – including a season-high 40-point masterpiece in a home game against the Indiana Fever on July 18th.
11. Liz Cambage – 737 points (2018)
Liz Cambage finished the 2018 season with 737 points in 32 games played (23.0 points per game) for the Dallas Wings. She spent the previous five years playing overseas, but was making her return to the WNBA and did so in a major way – her 737 points was more than double the 326 points she had in 2013.
Cambage scored at least 20 points in 19 of her 32 games played, had at least 25 points in 12 of those games, and eclipsed the 30-point mark six times. Of course, it was her 43-piece against the Aces on August 17th and her record-breaking 53 points against the Liberty on July 17th that had us impressed.
10. Lauren Jackson – 739 points (2007)
Lauren Jackson finished the 2007 season with 739 points in 31 games played (23.8 points per game) for the Seattle Storm. One of the league’s greatest scorers of all time, she came close to that 700-mark on three other occasions – including her 698 points in 2003, 656 points in 2010, and 634 points in 2004.
Let’s talk about that 2007 season, though. The 3-time MVP scored at least 20 points in 20 of her 31 games played, at least 25 points in 13 of those games, at least 30 points on nine occasions, and had a masterful performance against the Washington Mystics on July 24 when she had a whopping 47 points.
9. Katie Smith – 739 points (2001)
Katie Smith finished the 2001 season with 739 points in 32 games played (23.1 points per game) for the Minnesota Lynx. One of the WNBA’s all-time greats, Smith scored at least 600 points on two other occasions – including 646 points in 32 games played in 2000 and 620 points in 34 games played in 2003.
Let’s talk about that 2001 campaign, though. The 2-time WNBA champion scored at least 20 points in 22 of her 32 games played, had at least 25 points in 13 of those games, eclipsed the 30-point mark five times, and had two 40-point masterpieces – a 40-point game on June 17 and a 47-point gem on July 8.
8. Seimone Augustus – 769 points (2007)
Seimone Augustus scored more than 700 points in two of her 15 seasons in the league. She first did it as a rookie in 2006 when she finished the season with 744 points in 34 games played (21.9 points per game). She scored at least 20 points in 20 of those 34 games and 30+ points in six of those games.
Augustus achieved the feat once more the following season when she scored a career-high 769 points in 34 games played (22.6 points per game) in 2007. At just 23 years old, she scored at least 20 points in 23 of those 34 games and at least 30 points three times – including a season-high 39 points on July 29th.
7. Napheesa Collier – 796 points (2023)
Napheesa Collier finished the 2023 season with 796 points in 37 games played (21.5 points per game) for the Minnesota Lynx. It was quite the comeback season for Collier, who only played in four games last season after giving birth to her daughter, Mila in May 2022 – she returned to the team two months later.
Collier scored at least 20 points in 22 of her 37 games played last season and had at least 25 points in 13 of those games. She eclipsed the 30-point mark five times – including 30 points on June 1st, 31 points on June 29, 32 points on July 5, 33 points on June 27, and a season-high 35 points vs. Atlanta on July 18.
6. Maya Moore – 812 points (2014)
Maya Moore finished the 2014 season with 812 points in 34 games played (23.9 points per game) for the Minnesota Lynx – becoming just the second player to score at least 800 points in a season, at the time. She scored at least 600 points in 5 of her 8 seasons in the WNBA, including 681 points the following year.
Moore scored at least 20 points in 22 of her 34 games played in 2014 and had at least 25 points in 16 of those games. She miraculously scored 30+ points on 12 occasions and eclipsed the 40-point mark twice – she scored 40 points against the Shock on August 2 and had 48 points against the Dream on July 22.
5. Arike Ogunbowale – 849 points (2023)
Arike Ogunbowale finished the 2023 season with 849 points in 40 games played (21.2 points per game) for the Dallas Wings. She has come close to that 700-point mark in years past – including 630 points in 33 games during her rookie year, 599 points in 32 games in 2021, and 590 points in 30 games last year.
Ogunbowale scored at least 20 points in 22 of her 40 games played this season, at least 25 points in 15 of those games, and at least 30 points on four occasions – including a season-high 41 points against the Storm on June 17th that saw her shoot 13 of 24 from the floor and 7 of 14 from beyond the 3-point line.
4. Diana Taurasi – 860 points (2008)
Diana Taurasi is the only WNBA player to ever score at least 800 points in a single season… twice. She first did so in 2006 when she scored a career-high 860 points in 34 games played for the Phoenix Mercury. Her 25.3 points per game is the highest points per game average in a season in WNBA history.
Taurasi also scored 820 points in 34 games played during the 2006 season, where she averaged 24.1 points per game and scored at least 20 points in 26 of her 34 games played. Of course, we can’t forget about Taurasi’s 702 points in 2010, 692 points in 2011, 682 points in 2018, and 651 points in 2013.
3. A’ja Wilson – 912 points (2023)
A’ja Wilson finished the 2023 season with 912 points in 40 games played (22.8 points per game) for the Las Vegas Aces. It’s her second time scoring at least 700 points in a season – she also did it in 2022 with 703 points in 36 games (19.5 points per game) and came close with 682 points as a rookie in 2018.
Let’s talk about her 2023 campaign. She scored at least 20 points in 29 of the 40 games she played in, had at least 25 points in 12 of those games, and eclipsed the 30-point mark on six occasions. Of course, we can’t forget about her record-tying 53-point masterful performance against the Dream on August 22.
2. Breanna Stewart – 919 points (2023)
Breanna Stewart is one of three WNBA players who have scored at least 700 points in a season on three occasions. She first did it in 2018 when she scored 742 points in 34 games played (21.8 points per game) and did it again in 2022 when she scored 741 points in 34 games played (21.8 points per game).
Of course, that’s nothing compared to the 919 points she scored in 40 games played (23.0 points per game) during the 2023 season. She scored at least 20 points in 26 of the 40 games she played in, had at least 30 points on seven occasions, and eclipsed the 40-point mark four times – count it, four times!
1. Jewell Loyd – 939 points (2023)
Jewell Loyd had quite the breakout performance in 2023 – which is what the Seattle Storm needed with Breanna Stewart taking her talents to New York City. Loyd finished the season with a record 939 points in 38 games (24.7 points per game) – it’s a whopping 337 points more than her previous personal best.
Loyd scored at least 20 points in 25 of the 38 games she played in, had at least 25 points in 21 of those games, eclipsed the 30-point mark on 12 occasions, and had a career-high 41 points against the Minnesota Lynx on June 29 – where she shot 15 of 35 from the field and 4 of 9 from the three-point line.
WNBA Players Who Will Join This List in the Future
There were 10 WNBA players who scored at least 700 points during the 2023 season, which is by far the most in any one season – largely due to the increase from 36 to 40 regular season games. With that said, we’ll likely see plenty more women join this list in the future and see several players do it multiple times.
For example, three WNBA players came within 20 points of joining this list in 2023 – Rhyne Howard (681 points), Nneka Ogwumike (689 points), and DeWanna Bonner (697 points). I wouldn’t be surprised if all three of them surpass that coveted 700 mark in 2024 – especially Ogwumike, who only played 36 games.
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Others to keep an eye on include Allisha Gray, Natasha Howard, Brittney Sykes, Alyssa Thomas, Chelsea Gray, and Sabrina Ionescu – all of whom can score at will when they want/need to. And with expansion being a real possibility in the WNBA, 700 points could become the new normal very soon.
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At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.