By When we think about athletes in general, many of us expect them to have strong physiques and someone taller and bigger than most average human beings, especially when it comes to basketball, it’s mainly a battle of heights. But do you know that some basketball players defy these stigmas and let their skills execute rather than height?
Here are the Top 5 shortest WNBA players.
- Shannon Bobbitt 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Born on December 6, 1985, Shannon Bobbit is an American professional basketball player and is probably the shortest WNBA basketball player in history standing at a height of just 5 ft 2 in (1.57m). She recently played for the women’s squad the Washington Mystics. She started playing at a very young age and sharpened her skills on the community project courts of Harlem. Her career skyrocketed as she was part of the college team at just 5 ft 2. Bobbitt also won two national titles when she was a part of the University of Tennessee for Division 1. She then chose to play for the WNBA and started her professional basketball career as a point guard for the LA Sparks. Although short, her skills are impressive on the court.
- Debbie Black
Debbie Black is an American former professional basketball player and is currently a coach. Even though she was just 5 ft 2.5 in (1.59 m), she’s had a successful career.
During her career, Black took part in the Women’s National Basketball League in Australia, American Basketball, and the WNBA. However, in 2005, Black decided to retire from WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. She also coached for Ohio State University before being declared the chief coach of the Eastern Illinois University Women’s Basketball squad on May 16, 2013, which she went on to coach until 2017.
- Temeka Johnson 5 ft 3 (1.60 m)
Standing at a height of 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m), Temeka Johnson was born on September 6, 1982, and is a retired American professional basketball player. She played as a point guard. Johnson has many achievements under her belt, most notably, the WNBA champion in 2009, was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2005, winner of the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2005, winner of the Elizur Cup in 2010, winner of the EuroCup in 2012, and an award winner of Nancy Leiberman in 2004.
- Leilani Mitchell
Leilani Mitchell was born on June 15, 1985, and is an American-Australian professional basketball player whose height is 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m). As of now, she is a free agent. She was a part of the Australian Women’s basketball squad the Opals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, the Opals were eliminated in the quarterfinals after they were defeated by the USA. Some of her amazing achievements include being, the winner of MW Player of the Year in 2008, two-time WNBA Most Improved Player in 2010 and 2019, three-time WNBL champion in 2017, 2019, and 2020, two-time WNBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player in 2017 and 2020, and there time WNBL All-Star Five in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
- Crystal Dangerfield
Born on May 11, 1998, Crystal Dangerfield, is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the WNBA. Her career took off as she played for her high school team and was considered the country’s top-ranked point guard. The 24-year-old stands at a height of 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) and boasts plenty of achievements under her belt such as being named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2020, WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2020, winning First-Team All-AAC in 2019 and 2020, Third-Team All-AAC in 2018, AAC All-Freshman Team in 2017, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year in 2016, and McDonald’s All-American in 2016.
