Top WNBA Shot Blocks Leaders of All Time in History

Shot blocking is one of the key assets in the sport of basketball, where a player blocks the ball from going into the basket, the skill Bill Russell was known for. It is a prowess that is mandatory for the defense in basketball, and the level of defensive place is high once one enters the world of shot blocking in pro basketball such as the WNBA. It is a crucial strategy in the bowling world because it not only stops the scoring but also impacts the opponent in a psychological way.

Coming to the basketball world, the shot-blocking is a part of the NBA as well, naturally. However, first, we will check out how shot blocking plays a pivotal role in the hooping world. Here are some key pointers that shot blocks result in during the basketball games.

• Scoring Inability– the most direct impact of shot blocking during a basketball game is the scoreboard deficit for the opponent team. By blocking the offensive players of the rival team, the defenders not only stop them from scoring but also maintain the lead that their offensive end has maintained.
• Compelling opponents to change shots- The defenders not only block the shots but also put pressure on the offensive forward of the opponent team. Ultimately, it compels the opponent to change the shot in the heat of the moment, and sometimes, it results in a missed shot.
• Putting the Offense off their game- Defenders in a basketball game also showcase psychological impact on the opponent. For example, if an offensive forward on the court faces continuous dejection of his shots or the defenders block his shots, it reduces the morale of the attacking team. In the game of basketball, usually, the offense of the attacking team sets up on the offensive rhythm. The shot blocks from the defenders disrupt this flow and eventually shatter the offensive hopes of a team.
• Setting up the Defensive Rhythm- It’s not only the offensive rhythm that matters on a basketball court. Along with the scoring end, if the defenders get their pace, it eventually results in a defensive streak. The opponent team usually gets panicked in this situation and mistakenly guest turnovers or misses passes to the team that is dominating on the defensive end.

some of the legendary WNBA shot blockers have also blessed the court with their presence over time. there have been many elite leaders in the world of WNBA shot blocks who not only secured victory for the teams but also elevated the level of female basketball with their skill and court presence. The 6’8″ center Brittney Griner has been the epitome of the defensive prowess that is etched in the history of the WNBA. Moving ahead, we will discuss some of these elite WNBA shot blockers who have greatly impacted the game with their defensive instincts.

All-Time WNBA Blocks Leaders: The Elite Shot Blockers

WNBA Players	Shot Blocks
Margo Dydek	877
Lisa Leslie	822
Brittney Griner	812
Sylvia Fowles	721
Candace Parker	619
Lauren Jackson	586

Margo Dydek

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Margo Dydek was a feared name in the WNBA due to her impeccable frame and defending abilities. She is the WNBA shit blocks leader, torch-bearing the path with her 877 career shot blocks. She achieved this feat by playing 323 games across various teams like Utah Starzz, San Antonio Silver Stars, Connecticut Sun, and the Los Angeles Sparks. Unfortunately, in 2011, she died on May 27, 2011, after a medically induced coma during complications of her third pregnancy.

Also Read: WNBA All-Star Game: Top Performances, Stats, and Fan Engagement

Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie, who played 12 seasons in the WNBA, was one of the greatest shot blockers in the league. The Los Angeles Sparks center had a work ethic like Kobe Bryant, due to which she would attend court 2 hours before Kobe and other men’s basketball players would come to practice. Due to her intense hard work and consistent training, Lisa Leslie surpassed everyone in terms of blocking the shots. It is evident with her stat count that represents 822 blocks, the most number of blocks any female basketball player has ever achieved in her career. Leslie’s dedication to the sport and the skill eventually earned her two Defensive Player Of The Year awards in her career.

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner was a defender from the heart and she displayed her defensive instincts during her stint at the college itself. She spent about five years of her life from 2009 to 2013 at Baylor University and established herself as one of the greatest defenders of the game there itself. She also earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2014 and 2015.

And it is not just the accolades. Her stat number in terms of shot blocks spoke much more, as she blocked about 812 shots in her career. Due to her unfortunate imprisonment in Russia, she missed about a year of basketball in WNBA. However, the 6’9″ center is expected to deliver and surpass Leslie’s record of shot blocks.

Sylvia Fowles

Amid the legends like Lisa Leslie and Brittney Griner, the 6’6″ center Sylvia Fowles made her separate legacy. She was an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker from the start. Even during her college career with Louisiana State University, she dished out 10.3 boards per game while recording the highest 12.6 rebounds per game during her sophomore year at LSU. She carried on this legacy to the WNBA while playing for the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky. She retired from the league in 2022, however, she put up 721 blocks on the stat chart before hanging the boots.

Candace Parker

The modern age of WNBA basketball witnessed another great defender in the form of Candace Parker. In 2020, while playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, Candace Parker led the league in terms of rebound per game for the third time. She averaged about 9.7 boards that year and ultimately won the Defensive Player Of The Year accolade. Candace blocked about 619 shots in her career, cementing her legacy as a prominent defender. However, she can’t move ahead with the account because months ago, in April 2024, she announced her retirement from the league.

Lauren Jackson

Lauren Jackson was one of the greatest WNBA players to ever step on the court. the 6’5″ guard was not only versatile enough to shoot from the three-point line but also able to stand her ground while protecting the rim. eventually, it enabled her to block the shots from the offense of the other team and record about 586 career blocks till her retirement in 2016. She was a number one pick from the 2001 WNBA draft class. Even her retirement was an unexpected case that was the byproduct of a torn ACL injury that prevented her from moving ahead with her 16th season.

Most Blocks In a Single WNBA Season

Brittney Griner

After being selected as a round-one pick from the 2013 WNBA draft, Brittney Griner left no stone unturned to get the status of one of the best defensive players to bless the WNBA court. and when it comes to shot blocking, she improved her stats during her sophomore year in the league recording 129 blocks in a single season while playing for Phoenix Mercury. One of the most prominent defensive showcases that the 6’9″ center put up was on June 29, 2014, where she set a WNBA record of 11 blocks in a regular season game against Tulsa Shock.

Also Read: 2025 WNBA All Star Game Players to Watch

The defensive streak from Grinder continued in the upcoming years as well as she led the league in terms of shot blocks in 2015 and 2016 as well. She made it hell for the offense from the other teams to score and recorded about 105 and 107 blocks in a season, respectively. As Griner became a veteran in the league, she continued to dominate as in the year 2018, she again was the pioneer in the shot blocks stat making about 87 blocks in a regular season. Over her career, Griner has led the league 8 times in the field of shot-blocking.

Year	Brittney Griner’s Shot Blocks
2013	81
2014	129
2015	105
2016	107
2017	65
2018	87
2019	62 (Jonquel Jones had 68, but rebounds per game were the same for Griner and Jones)
2021	58

Margo Dydek

The 7’2″ inch giant from Poland in the WNBA was Margi Dydek, who rivaled the legacy and skill of Brittney Griner. The first overall pick from the 1998 WNBA Draft class, Dydek dominated the league nine times when it came to the total blocks in a single season. From 1998 to 2003 and then from 2005 to 2007, Margo Dydek did not let anyone slide in for the title of having the most blocks in a single season.

Year	Margo Dydek’s Shot Blocks
1998	114
1999	77
2000	96
2001	113
2002	107
2003	100
2005	71
2006	85
2007	66

A’ja Wilson

After veterans, modern-day star A’ja Wilson has been dominating the world of defense with her shot blocks on the court. With just six years in the league, A’ja has led the league four times in terms of shot blocks. The 6’4″ center for the Las Vegas Aces ruled the defense with her blocks in the year 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The count is expected to increase as Wilson advances ahead in her career, honing her basketball skills.

Year	A’ja Wilson’s Shot Blocks
2021	44
2022	70
2023	89
2024	98

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