Tallest Female Basketball Players in History: Giants of the Game
The tallest female basketball players have used their extraordinary height as a dominant advantage at the highest levels of the sport, from the WNBA to international competition.
The tallest female basketball players bring a physical presence to the sport that fundamentally changes how games are played around them. At heights reaching 7 feet or beyond, these athletes are among the tallest women in the world, and their sport has given them an avenue to turn that extreme stature into a professional advantage.
What Extreme Height Means in Women’s Basketball
In women’s basketball, as in the men’s game, height provides natural advantages in three key areas: rebounding (tapping balls off the backboard before opponents can), shot-blocking (altering or rejecting shots near the basket), and interior scoring (shooting over smaller defenders or catching lobs closer to the rim).
The tallest players, however, face challenges too. Extreme height can come with reduced mobility and agility. The best tall players in history have worked around these limitations through technical development — improving footwork, developing reliable mid-range shots, and learning to use their body positioning as a tool rather than relying purely on size.
Among the Tallest Female Players on Record
| Player | Country | Height | Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malgorzata Dydek | Poland | 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) | Late 1990s–2000s |
| Clarissa Davis | USA | Approx. 6 ft 6 in | 1990s |
| Brittney Griner | USA | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 2013–present |
| Sylvia Fowles | USA | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 2008–2022 |
| Elena Delle Donne | USA | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 2013–present |
Malgorzata Dydek: The Tallest of All
The late Malgorzata Dydek holds the distinction of being the tallest player in WNBA history. The Polish center stood 7 feet 2 inches and was selected first overall in the 1998 WNBA Draft by the Utah Starzz. While her career was limited somewhat by health issues, she demonstrated that a player of that extreme stature could operate at a professional level. She passed away in 2011, but her legacy in women’s basketball history is secure.
Brittney Griner: The Modern Standard
Brittney Griner, standing 6 feet 9 inches, is among the most physically dominant players in WNBA history. A multiple-time All-Star and champion, Griner is also a prolific shot-blocker — one of the most valuable defensive assets the league has seen. Unlike some very tall players who rely almost purely on size, Griner developed her offensive repertoire extensively and can score from multiple areas around the basket.
Griner’s global profile extended well beyond the court when she was detained in Russia in 2022, an episode that drew widespread international attention and eventually ended with her return to the United States in a prisoner exchange.
Sylvia Fowles: Elite Production at Elite Height
Sylvia Fowles, at 6 feet 6 inches, had one of the most decorated careers in WNBA history. She won multiple championships, multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a Finals MVP. Fowles combined height and skill in a way that few centers at any level — men’s or women’s — manage: she was both physically imposing and technically refined.
International Tall Players
The WNBA has drawn tall players from across the world. Eastern European countries, particularly those in the former Soviet bloc with long traditions of developing big players, have contributed several of the tallest women to compete at the international level. International rosters at FIBA World Cups and the Olympics frequently feature centers who stand 6 feet 6 inches or taller.
Height and Long-Term Career Success
Interestingly, some of the tallest women in basketball history have had shorter careers than slightly shorter peers, partly due to health complications that can accompany extreme height. The sweet spot for combining height advantages with durability appears to be in the 6 feet 4 to 6 feet 7 inch range, where players are tall enough to dominate but still mobile and healthy across long careers.
Quick summary: Malgorzata Dydek, at 7 feet 2 inches, is the tallest female basketball player in WNBA history. In the modern era, Brittney Griner (6 ft 9 in) and Sylvia Fowles (6 ft 6 in) stand among the tallest and most accomplished players in women’s basketball, combining extraordinary size with elite skill to dominate at the professional level.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the tallest female basketball player ever?+
Malgorzata Dydek of Poland, who played in the WNBA in the early 2000s, is widely recognized as the tallest female player in WNBA history, standing 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m) tall.
What is the average height of a WNBA player?+
The average height of a WNBA player is roughly 6 feet (1.83 m), which is significantly taller than the average woman but well below the height of the sport's tallest competitors.
Do tall women have an advantage in basketball?+
Height provides significant advantages in rebounding, shot-blocking, and interior scoring. However, the most complete tall players also develop footwork, passing, and basketball IQ to maximize their physical gifts.