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Tallest WNBA player (current)

Tallest WNBA player (current)
Who
Han Xu
What
206 centimetre(s)
Where
China
When
10 April 2019

The tallest WNBA player (current) is Han Xu (China) of the New York Liberty, who measures 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in), as of 10 April 2019.

Xu was drafted in the second round (14th overall) by the Liberty in the 2019 WNBA Draft at the age of 19. She represented China at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.

Standing Above The Rest: How Height Impacts Performance in the WNBA

It's a well-known fact that the recruitment of taller players can greatly benefit professional basketball teams. In the WNBA specifically, with the average height being about 6 feet, taller-than-usual players can provide a competitive edge to teams. The biggest advantage of being tall in professional basketball is greater accessibility to the basket, which makes it easier to rack up points.  

The heights of each individual player can greatly influence playing positions and strategy. For example, tall players could simply utilize their height by standing near the basket and scoring two or three pointers relatively easily. However, tall players could also be a part of a broader defence strategy, where they could use their height to block other players and facilitate the scoring of baskets. 

In general, tall people can face many challenges — both physiological and psychological. However, tall basketball players have to deal with additional challenges specific to their sport. It is very common for taller than average people to experience back pain and hence be more susceptible to injuries. For tall basketball players specifically, this can impact their play time on court and also their endurance over time.

Background and Early Career of the Tallest WNBA Player 

Han Xu is from Shijiazhuang, China, and she did her schooling in Beijing. Han started playing basketball at a very young age. Both her parents were professional basketball players in China, and she would often go to her mother’s practices too. Han’s father played for the Chinese Basketball Association while her mother played at the National Games.

At 11, she moved to Beijing by herself to train for basketball professionally. She says in a documentary that she often had to interact with tough coaches. The majority of her schedule revolved around basketball — whether that was practicing drills or watching match videos for strategy. There was limited time to talk with family as well, and all of this took a toll on her self confidence.

Han made her mark when she was a part of the China team in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women’s World Cup in 2018. In the game against the USA, Han displayed her skills and received an overwhelming amount of appreciation from the audiences of both teams. She scored a team-high of 20 points in that game and people in China started recognizing her as an emerging star.

Han grew up looking up to Yao Ming, also a Chinese basketball player. In fact, she is also sometimes referred to as the WNBA’s next Yao Ming.

Notable Achievements and Career Highlights 

Han is also the first of many, which includes being the first player to graduate from the NBA Women’s Academy Program in China, which launched in 2018. In 2019, the New York Liberty drafted Han, who was the youngest in her draft class and became the second-tallest WNBA player.  

Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, she had to take a break and had to return home to China. Han re-joined the New York Liberty in 2022 and at Asia Cup 2023, she was named Tournament MVP and her team, China, beat Japan in the finals. 

Over the years, Han’s success has brought China at the forefront of basketball and helped the country develop its reputation in the sport.  

A basketball court in China. Image from Pexels.

Unique Characteristics Beyond Height 

Han has an efficient offensive game, with shooting being her core strength. When she was with the New York Liberty in 2022, she averaged at 8.5 points per game.  

Although English isn’t her first language, Han’s interactions with her teammates — both Chinese and American alike — reflect a positive team oriented mindset. However, she did have some adjusting to do in America. Soon after she joined the New York Liberty, she noticed that there was a greater emphasis on individual efforts in the US. 

“The focus [in China] is more on teamwork, playing together and also having a great discipline for Chinese basketball. But out here, the players are definitely more confident. Sometimes it can be less teamwork but more star power here,” Han said in an interview with Slam.  

Han’s impressive basketball skills have positively impacted the success of basketball viewership and engagement in China. Her influence on the New York Liberty is also significant. Her height obviously provides a great shooting advantage. This paired with an improved and more skilful defence is likely to make her an invaluable asset to the team.  

Famous Tallest Players in WNBA History 

The tallest WNBA player (ever) is Malgorzata (Margo) Dydek who is 7 ft 2 in tall. Margo is from Poland and retired in 2008. She has played for multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Sparks, Connecticut Sun and Utah Starzz. In 2019, Margo was inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame. 

The fact that the average height of WNBA players is around 6 feet is a notable statistic. The average height of male players in the NBA is not drastically higher, which is what would be expected because of the difference in genetic and physiological makeup of male and female players. In more recent news, the heights of players in the mock 2025 WNBA draft range anywhere from 5 ft 8 in to 6 ft 11 in, depending on the player’s position.  

In addition to Margo and Han, Brittney Griner (USA) and Kalani Brown (USA) are also notably tall players in the WNBA. Brittney is 6 ft 9 in while Kalani is 6 ft 7 in and they play for Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury respectively. 

In basketball, the height of players can determine strategy. Taller players can defend the basket while point and shooting guards.  

How Height Shapes the Future of Women's Basketball 

Teams that scout and develop professional or college level basketball study a lot of data about a player, like shooting efficiency and percentage. While height is a determinant that factors into the final decision, it is not the only one.  

That said, in the US, height is an important factor in college basketball recruitment. D1 schools — the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division that represents the highest level of college athletics — tend to have a higher height average, while D2 or D3 schools have lower averages.  

Coaches tailor their style to train each player as efficiently as possible. With taller players, it can be speculated that coaches take into account any mobility or endurance issues that come up, if any. Taller players are also factored into game day placement and strategy, for boosting points scores and maintain a strong defence. 

Cover image from Pexels. 

Words by Prakriti Panwar.