5-time WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart once said, “You have to love your sport. Your passion and dedication can’t be some-time, part-time, or spare-time. It has to be all-time.”
That quote embodies the Women’s National Basketball Association. Since its founding in 1996, the league and its players have earned respect and national attention because of their commitment to growing the sport.
Viewership has trended upward in recent years because of the exciting athletes on the court. But how tall do you need to be to reach the top level of women’s basketball?
According to official data from WNBA.com, out of 179 active players, the average height of a WNBA player is 6 feet 0.79 inches (184.89 centimeters), marking a slight +0.1% increase since 2023.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the average WNBA height by position – plus a bonus for undersized ballers seeking inspiration.
- Average Height of a WNBA Center
- Average Height of a WNBA Forward
- Average Height of a WNBA Guard
- What About Undersized Players?
- WNBA Height FAQs
Average Height of a WNBA Center
The average height of a WNBA center is 6 feet 4.92 inches (195.38 centimeters), marking a +12.6% increase over the past two seasons.
As the tallest position on the team, the center’s job is to protect the rim and snatch rebounds. But while there are plenty of tall centers in the WNBA, we’re also seeing shorter players make an impact.
At 6’9″, Brittney Griner is the tallest center (and player) in the WNBA today. The 2013 first overall pick is a full 6 inches taller than 6’3″ center Kiah Stokes.
Average Height of a WNBA Forward
The average height of a WNBA forward is 6 feet 2.45 inches (189.09 centimeters), which is up +20% since 2023.
Of course, there’s overlap between small forwards who also play the 2, which explains the lower average height than you’d expect.
Listed at 6’6″, Azurá Stevens is the tallest forward in the WNBA. The former first-round draft pick is an entire 7 inches taller than 5’11” forwards Alysha Clark and Gabby Williams.
RELATED: Breaking Down The Average Height of NBA Players (By Position)
Average Height of a WNBA Guard
The average height of a WNBA guard is 5 feet 10.01 inches (177.82 centimeters). This is actually down -3% from the 2023 season, where the average height was a hair over 6 feet.
5’4″ guard Mai Yamamoto is the shortest guard in the league, measuring 10 inches shorter than 6’2″ guard Rhyne Howard. Despite the height difference, both guards share the same professional court.
Guard remains the league’s shortest position group by far – featuring 57 players listed under 6 feet tall.
What About Undersized Players?
There are a total of 59 players listed under 6 feet tall in the WNBA. That’s more than 33% of the entire league!
So yes, if you’re on the shorter side, you can still reach the sport’s highest level. If you can ball, you can ball.
As the legend Elena Delle Donne once said, “You cannot achieve unless you believe in yourself. You are more capable than you think.”
WNBA Height FAQs
NBA players are, on average, 5.79 inches taller than WNBA players. The average NBA player is 6 feet 6.58 inches compared to the average WNBA player, who stands 6 feet 0.79 inches.
The Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream are tied for the biggest height disparity in the league.
For the Wings, there is a 15-inch height difference between 5’4″ guard Mai Yamamot and 6’7″ center Teaira McCowan. It’s the same for the Dream, with 6’9″ Brittney Griner and her teammate 5’6″ Jordin Canada.
The median height of all WNBA players is 6’1″ (185.42) centimeters. As a reminder, the median is the middle value in a set of data.
The WNBA obviously skews to the taller side of women’s sports. However, you might be surprised to learn that the average women’s volleyball player is about 2.42 inches taller than the average WNBA player.
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