Youngest and Oldest WNBA Players in History and 2024

The WNBA is a dynamic mix of young, recent college graduates and seasoned veterans, each of whom has contributed to the league.

Because it usually comes with experience, age is a plus in the WNBA. Players need some time to get adjusted to such a drastic shift from college to the pros, no matter how unfair expectations have been placed upon several of the rookies this year. However, it’s not just college that they are coming from to the WNBA. This year, Rebekah Gardner of the Chicago Sky debuted against the New York Liberty at the age of 31 years. She ended her collegiate career back in 2012 at UCLA. However, she chose to play overseas across different countries like Spain, Turkey, etc.

As per the claims from Across The Timeline, Gardner has been the oldest rookie to make a debut since the year 2003. It truly breaks the usual norms of the WNBA where players usually debut at the age of 22 years. The margin can extend up to 26 years. However, year by year, the WNBA league is quite progressive when it comes to the oldest and youngest players in the league.

Young players like Caitlin Clark are definitely the face of the league, but the veterans form the backbone of the league. Younger players bring renewed energy, athleticism, and new skills to the league, but most of them arrive in the league at a draft age-usually early 20s-and, therefore, can hopefully be entrenched at the pro level pretty quickly, bright-eyed and ready from day one.
On the other hand, veterans come carrying a great deal of experience, leadership, and tactical know-how, partly because they are usually in their late 30s. Let’s take a look at such players from the WNBA who are excelling on the court, whether they are young or old.

List of Youngest WNBA Players in 2024

Washington Mystics player Jade Melbourne was the youngest WNBA player in 2024. She is 21, and on August 18, she turned 22 years of age.

Two other players are following her on the list; there’s Aaliyah Edwards, 21 years of age, who turned 22 on July 9. Then there is Sika Koné, who is also 21 years old and turned 22 on July 13.

Jade Melbourne is the youngest WNBA player who officially scored in 2024. She is in her second year playing in the WNBA. Currently, she is a member of the Washington Mystics of this season as a 5’11” Australian guard. She is the product of the 2022 Draft Class as the 33rd overall pick who started her WNBA stint with the Seattle Storm. There, she averaged 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for the Storm last season.

Also Read: List of Most WNBA Champions Teams and Players

Meanwhile, Sika Koné is a 6’3″ forward/center for the Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Sky. She was drafted 29th by the New York Liberty in 2022. She signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Sky for the 2023 season. Sika averaged 3.6 points and 3 rebounds per game in 2023.

Finally, in 2024, Aaliyah Edwards will start her rookie WNBA season with the Washington Mystics, who took her as the 6th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Edwards comes into the league after a very remarkable collegiate career at UCONN. In her final year, she took the All-America laurels as a WBCA Coaches’ All-American and an AP Honorable Mention All-American.

Active Oldest Player in the WNBA 2024

Diana Taurasi, at 41 years of age, is the oldest player in the WNBA for this season; that is how much talent and skills can surpass the general age of WNBA players. Diana is still a key player for the Phoenix Mercury team, where she started playing as soon as she was drafted first in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She owes that to her healthier lifestyle.

Here is a list of some of the active oldest players in wnba 2024 and their details:

Also Read: Top 5 WNBA Players Who Won Rookie of the Year Awards

It would be incomplete to talk about today’s high-paid WNBA players without mentioning Diana, including numerous awards, such as WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2004 and three WNBA championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014. It’s rumored that because of her epic career, she is the inspiration for the current WNBA logo’s silhouette.

As for experience, no one in the WNBA can compare with Taurasi. Her averages for her career are 19.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Obviously, a player of her caliber is a huge asset to Mercury. The experience that she has as a senior player and leader also provides insight and leadership to several other younger teammates that guarantee great performance on the floor.

Top 10 Oldest Players in WNBA History

• Suzie McConnell-Serio retired in 2000 at the age of 39. McConnell-Serio was an extremely busy point guard and also one of the most prolific passing WNBA players. She played for the Cleveland Rockers.

• Taj McWilliams-Franklin retired in 2012 aged 41 years. McWilliams-Franklin played in the WNBA for 15 seasons. A strong, flexible player who was keen on guidance, she made six All-Star appearances.
• Tamika Catchings retired in 2016 at the age of 37. Catchings is a Hall of Famer who spent her entire WNBA career with the Indiana Fever, during which she was regarded as the jack-of-all-trades talent all about defense.
• Diana Taurasi ranks among the greatest shooters ever in basketball lore. As of 2024, when this is being written, Taurasi plays professionally at the age of 42 years old for the Phoenix Mercury.
• Yolanda Griffith retired in 2009 at age 39. Griffith was a stout post who showed tenacious rebounding and was a reliable defender. She was a key member of teams such as the Sacramento Monarchs.
• Sheryl Swoopes announced that she would retire at age 40 in 2011. A three-time MVP who had been one of the first players the WNBA had ever drafted, Swoopes was also an original member of the Houston Comets but later played for the Seattle Storm.
• Rebekkah Brunson retired in 2018 at 37 years of age. Brunson played key defensive positions in the Minnesota Lynx, and with her solid rebounding abilities, she led her team to multiple championship titles.
• Katie Smith retired in 2013 at the age of 39. Smith was one of the best guards and had played versatile roles for teams like the Detroit Shock and Seattle Storm; it was because of her accurate shooting and leadership skills.
• DeLisha Milton-Jones retired in 2015 at the age of 41. Milton Jones was a multifaceted forward who played a long and respectable career with her defensive skills and her ability to score in many ways.

• Sue Bird retired at age 41 after a remarkable career that spanned over 20 years. For 20 consecutive years, Bird supported the Seattle Storm to many championships and several All-Star selections. For most analysts, probably no one possesses comparable leadership skills, passing skills, and general basketball sense in league history.

Understanding the WNBA Age Limit Rules

The great desire among most women is to play in the WNBA. Indeed, there is a great need for strength, speed, and lots of skills. However, age plays an important role in determining admission into the league. The rules for the eligibility ages of the player apply to the WNBA league.

These are taken to ensure that players have the necessary basketball skills and personal background to navigate well in the professional environment.

Age Limitations in the WNBA

1. The age limit for U.S. players in the WNBA is well-defined. For instance, local athletes need to reach the age of 22 during the year of the draft. A player under 22 from the U.S. (like the WNBA’s current youngest players) may enter the league after completing a four-year college program. Alternatively, if they have been out of high school for four years. 
2. It’s a bit different for talents from overseas. Players who are 20 years old in the year of the draft meet the eligibility criteria.
3. In addition to satisfying the age rule, any player must have fully served at least a four-year course in a university or is likely to graduate at the time of the draft in the same year. They may also be qualified if they have already graduated from their class but not with their degree yet.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is no maximum age limit to join the WNBA. In 2022, for example, Rebekah Gardner became a WNBA rookie at 32 after a decade of trying to earn a roster spot. She helped the Chicago Sky make it to the WNBA playoffs in her second season.

Also Read: Breanna Stewart Net Worth, Salary, Family & Career Stats

Conclusion

The WNBA marshals youthful vigor and experience for a lively atmosphere that offers all the best women’s basketball has in store. Going forward into 2024, the league will surely have every reason to be excellent, with new superstars like Caitlin Clark on the floor to sprinkle their magic while veterans like Diana Taurasi continue to defy age and bloom even at 40. As the league expands, so does the trend of the requirement of new skills merged with seasoned leadership to forward the league’s future success.

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