(Editor's Note: This is part 1 of a five-part series, featuring the top five rookie campaigns from each decade over the first 30 years of the WNBA)
As we take a deep breath and gear up for the final stretch into the WNBA All-Star Break after a competitive showdown in this year's Commissioners' Cup, can we all agree we're witnessing plenty of impressive professional debuts by the 2026 rookie class?
Nobody has stood out more than Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles, who's played more like a seasoned veteran while running the point for the Lynx. And while she leads all rookies with 18.7 points and 5.7 assists per game, it's been her no-fear approach that has many wondering if she's slowly etching her name into a list of all-time W rookie greats.
She currently ranks 10th all-time in rookie scoring, while her assists rank seventh, with 25 games left in the season.
It got us thinking, which players were the best of the best from each decade during their rookie campaigns? Thus, over the next five Wednesdays, beginning today, we're going to rank the top five rookies from each decade. For the fifth week, we will release the top five rookie campaigns of all time.
Week 1: THE 1990s
With the league turning 30 this season, we were only able to analyze three 1990s campaigns. And keep in mind, during the early 90s, there was nowhere to play domestically. And as upstart professional leagues came and went, younger players drafted to the now-defunct alphabet leagues went overseas rather than compete with established players who were grown women and had already honed their skills abroad.
That being said, we still found a way to rank the first three seasons:
1. TINA THOMPSON, Houston Comets (1997)
There might not have been a Rookie of the Year named during the WNBA's inaugural season, but there was no better player fresh out of college than Thompson, the first-ever draft pick 30 years ago. As the new league was off and running, Thompson met the moment, proving she was clearly ready fresh out of USC. Thompson wasn’t just good, she was one of the most complete, pro-ready players the women’s game had seen at the time. She could score from anywhere on the floor, with her signature smooth mid-range jumper, a face-up game before it became a standard for forwards in the WNBA, her swift ability to attack off the dribble, and being a strong finisher through contact. Her efficiency and poise translated instantly to the pros. Thompson, who helped the Comets win the league's first four championships, was a nine-time All-Star and the 2000 All-Star MVP. The WNBA couldn't have asked for a better ambassador as the league's first-ever draft pick.
Legends in the building 👑
Sue Bird, Tina Thompson, and Ticha Penicheiro linked up at the WNBA Draft!#WNBADraft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY pic.twitter.com/5pPdlP1J2J
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 13, 2026
2. TICHA PENICHEIRO, Sacramento Monarchs (1998)
Penicheiro wasn't named Rookie of the Year, nor was she selected No. 1 overall. But she might have been the most special rookie in 1998, as she became the first player who was a distinct comp to the men's game. Analysts talked about her passes the same way they did Magic Johnson's dimes. The spin on her bounce passes was something nobody had seen yet, truly a pure magician with the basketball. Nobody thought her rookie season assist record could ever be beaten, mainly because of how she could deliver the basketball. The record lasted 26 years, until Caitlin Clark served 232 in 2024. Penicheiro won her lone WNBA title with the Monarchs in 2005.
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention two others:
No. 1 overall pick, Margo Dydek, also didn't win Rookie of the Year, or Defensive Player of the Year, but for a 7-footer, she let you know where the game was going. It was getting bigger, it was getting taller, and rim protection was going to be a big part of the game moving forward. She made a pivotal statement for the women's game in that regard, not just in the WNBA, but at all levels.
And finally, because her all-around game opened eyelids, and maybe name recognition from her days at North Carolina, it was Tracy Reid who won the Rookie of the Year award. Looking at the criteria, she met the moment for the Charlotte Sting and impressed voters enough to give her the edge in voting over Detroit Shock guard Korie Hlede.
3. CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW, Washington Mystics (1999)
One of the most dynamic players anyone has ever seen to this day, Holdsclaw was put on planet Earth to hoop. Her game never wavered, as no one could match how slick she played until the day she put her jersey away for good. Unfortunately, her struggles with mental health overshadowed what she did on the court because people didn't know how to discuss it or talk about it 27 years ago. Close to being the unanimous winner for Rookie of the Year, Holdsclaw was the overwhelming choice with 48 of 51 possible votes after debuting with a bang, averaging 16.9 points per game, which was sixth highest in the league among all players. Holdsclaw, who was the No. 1 overall pick that season, also grabbed 7.9 rebounds while helping the Mystics to a 12-20 record, a major improvement from 3-27 in 1998. The three-time NCAA champion out of Tennessee went on to earn six All-Star nominations and was the WNBA scoring champion in 2002.
NEXT WEEK: The 2000s
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
