When Houston Comets superstar Tina Thompson put her mind to winning a game, there wasn’t much that could get in her way, not the WNBA’s No. 1 ranked defense, not a one-point deficit with four seconds remaining, not even a fractured finger that required medical help mid-game. With the game down to one possession, Thompson finds a way to overcome all three obstacles at once, finding a crevice of space on an inbound pass before pulling up and draining the game-winning shot to fuel an 82-81 victory. The superstar contributed 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal to knock off the San Antonio Silver Stars on June 24, 2008.

Tina Thompson

Tina Thompson buries game-winning baseline jumper vs. Silver Stars

On either end of the floor, Indiana Fever superstar Tamika Catchings possessed the ability to turn any play into a breaktaking highlight. Battling an elite Detroit Shock defense that knocked her Indiana Fever out of the postseason in back-to-back years, Catchings digs deep into her bag of tricks, maneuvering past a defender with a silky-smooth behind-the-back dribble, then regains her balance on the way to an and-one bucket. Catchings was sensational in the win-or-go-home matchup, pouring on 27 points, 10 rebounds, three triples and three assists, anchoring the 89-82 win on September 21, 2008.

Tamika Catchings

Tamika Catchings staves off elimination in 2008 Playoffs

For Los Angeles Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones, all it took was a little bit of airspace to find the bottom of the net. Unable to locate an open teammate in a June 24, 2008 contest, Milton-Jones takes it upon herself, changing direction with a quick crossover against tight defense before raising up for a smooth midrange jumper. The two-time All-Star was on her game with 19 points, six rebounds and two steals in a 76-62 win over the Seattle Storm.

DeLisha Milton-Jones

DeLisha Milton-Jones pulls up for mid-range jumper over defender

With a smooth handle and the multifaceted offensive game to match it, there weren’t many defenses two-time All-Star Ivory Latta couldn’t get a handle on. Faking a pick-and-roll against the Washington Mystics, Latta takes a defender for a ride, pumping the breaks with a nifty between-the-lesg dribble and then calmly sinking a three-pointer. Latta, then in Year 2 with the Atlanta Dream, put together an efficient 11-point performance along with three triples and two steals on July 25, 2008.

Ivory Latta

Ivory Latta clears space with a crossover then pulls up for three

Through her all-encompassing court vision and keen eye for a flashy play, Ticha Penicheiro had highlight potential every time she touched the ball. A must-watch player, Penicheiro provides a Los Angeles Sparks defender with a custom floor seat, breaking down the defense with a behind-the-back dribble before stringing a strong gather into a finger roll. The four-time All-Star kept the highlights coming with eight points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal on June 14, 2008.

Ticha Penicheiro

Ticha Penicheiro floors defender while slashing to the hoop

From the moment she arrived in the WNBA, Candice Wiggins sent a clear message: rookie or not, she can put the ball in the net against anyone. Matching up against a red-hot Connecticut Sun team, the Minnesota Lynx guard shows the offensive poise and patience of a veteran, freezing a defender with an in-and-out dribble and then calmly floating through contact to finish an and-one at the rim. Wiggins, who went on to become an All-Rookie First Teamer and Sixth Woman of the Year in 2008, had a game-high 22 points off the bench, including five rebounds, two three-pointers, two assists, a steal and a block on June 10, 2008.

Candice Wiggins

Candice Wiggins slips through multiple defenders for tough bucket in the paint

With five WNBA Finals appearances to her name, few bigs were built to handle the mental and physical grind of the biggest stage the way Taj McWilliams-Franklin was. With the Detroit Shock one win away from a championship, and struggling to create distance against the San Antonio Silver Stars, McWilliams-Franklin sneaks into the lane with a well-timed cut, steadying herself through traffic on the way to a crucial and-one finish in the third quarter. McWilliams-Franklin did a little bit of everything, with 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in the championship-clinching October 5, 2008 victory.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin

Taj McWilliams-Franklin sinks layup through contact in 2008 Finals

Known predominantly as one of the WNBA’s all-time greatest defenders, Alana Beard could also score with the best of them when the time arrived. Taking a great outlet pass from a teammate in stride, Beard roams to the basket without fear, finishing at the rim in heavy traffic against the Chicago Sky defense. Guiding the Washington Mystics to a 64-57 win on June 13, 2008, the four-time All-Star went into full takeover mode with 22 points, including 13 in the fourth, five rebounds, three assists and two triples.

Alana Beard

Alana Beard takes ball to the rack for transition bucket

A matchup with Swin Cash on either side of the low block was among the last things a defense wanted to see. Checked by one Connecticut Sun defender with another in her airspace, the Seattle Storm forward showcases her patented mix of physicality and finesse, ripping through the middle of the defense and sweeping through for a bank shot in the lane. Cash chipped in 16 points as a reserve, including four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a triple on August 31, 2008.

Swin Cash

Swin Cash slips past defender for bucket in the low post

Long before winning title after title in the 2010s decade, superstar guard Lindsay Whalen was making championship-caliber plays with the Connecticut Sun. Calling her own number on a coast-to-coast drive, Whalen weaves her way in between multiple San Antonio Silver Stars defenders before banking in an off-balanced and-one finish. In a duel against the team with the WNBA’s No. 1 record, Whalen stepped up with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals on September 7, 2008.

Lindsay Whalen

Lindsay Whalen gets bucket to drop and draws a foul

Six years after her star teammate Lisa Leslie completed the first dunk in WNBA history, it was only fitting that Los Angeles Sparks rookie Candace Parker flew in to make history of her own on June 22, 2008. Looking to become the second to accomplish the feat, the Sparks big runs the length of the court, calling her own number with a smooth one-handed jam in transition. Parker, who went on to become both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 2008, had fingerprints all over the 77-63 win, with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

Candace Parker

Candace Parker becomes second in history to dunk in a WNBA game

With the shot clock winding down and your team in need of a bucket, few players have proven more ready for the moment than Diana Taurasi. Battling in a tough Western Conference matchup, Taurasi shows off her one-of-a-kind shooting ability, sneaking up the middle of the lane, draining a three-pointer from nearly the logo to help the Mercury cut into the Los Angeles Sparks’ lead before halftime. Taurasi did a little bit of everything in the come-from-behind 99-92 win on July 17, 2008, with 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks.

Diana Taurasi

Diana Taurasi beats buzzer with quick-release triple from the logo

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