List of Every Triple Double in WNBA History
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1 June 2021
By: Paulina Vairo
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The WNBA has seen many talented players in its young 24 years of the league’s existence. One of the biggest milestones to accomplish in the WNBA is completing a triple double, which only nine players have done so far. Here are the list of every triple double in the WNBA since the league was formed back in 1997:
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Sheryl Swoops- Houston Comets vs. Detroit Shock (July 27th, 1999)
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Sheryl Swoops is an WNBA hall of famer. She is a 3x WNBA Champion, 3x WNBA MVP, 3x Defensive player of the year, 5x All WNBA first team, and a 3x Olympic Gold Medalist. On July 27th 1999 Swoops made history as she became the first woman in WNBA history to complete a triple double as she put up 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Detroit Shock. Swoops was one of the most iconic WNBA players at the time, leading the Houston Comets to four straight WNBA titles between 1997-2020. Swoopes retired from the WNBA in 2011 and continued to stay in the game as she landed coaching gigs with Loyola Chicago and Texas Tech. In 2016 Swoopes was inducted to the WNBA Hall of Fame, making her one of the greatest players in WNBA history.
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2. Margo Dydek- Utah Starzz vs Orlando Miracle (June 7th, 2001)
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Margo Dydek was the tallest WNBA player in history at 7’2. She completed her first triple double and the second ever triple double in WNBA history on June 7th 2001 against the Orlando Miracle. She finished the game with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 blocks as the Utah Starzzz took the win 82-79. From Warsaw Poland, Dydek was known for being one of the best blockers in WNBA history as she is an 8x WNBA Blocks leader and a 2x WNBA Allstar. Dydek passed away unexpectedly in 2011 due to a cardiac arrest, however she will still be known as one of the greatest blockers in WNBA history and the first and only foregin player to record a triple double.
3. Lisa Leslie- Los Angeles Sparks vs. Detroit Shock (September 9th, 2004)
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Lisa Leslie is another icon who has had a lot of success during her 12 year career in the WNBA. She spent her entire career with the Los Angeles Spark and has won two championships during her career. She made history on September 9th 2004 when she recorded 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 blocks against the Detroit Shock. She was the third player to record a triple double and holds the lead for the most points scored in a triple double in WNBA history. She is a 3x WNBA MVP, 8x WNBA All star , 2x WNBA Defensive player of the year, 4x Gold Medalist, and her jersey #9 was retired by the Spark. Leslie continues to work in the sports industry as she has commentated for several sports channels including NBC, ABC, and Fox Sports.
4. Deanna Nolan- Detroit Shock vs. Connecticut Sun (May 21st, 2005)
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Getty Images
Deanna Nolan is an icon to the Detroit Shock organization. She won three titles with the Shock and also won WNBA Finals MVP in 2006. On May 21st 2005 Nolan had a special moment as she recorded a triple double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Connecticut Sun for the fourth triple double in WNBA history. This defeat was extra special as the Sun were one of the best teams in the league that year as the team made it to the WNBA finals in 2005. A 5x WNBA All Star and a 2x WNBA All First Team, Nolan will always be known as one of the best players to play for the Shock and is the only player in franchise history to record a triple double.
5. Sheryl Swoops- Houston Comets vs. Seattle Storm (September 3rd, 2005)
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Swoops already made the record for being the first player in WNBA history to score a triple double. She also is the only player in WNBA history to not only record two triple doubles, but she is the only one to record one in a playoff game. The Comets played against the Seattle Storm and recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. This triple double and victory was especially important as the Comets eliminated the Storm from the playoffs, who were not only the favorites to win it all that year, but had home court advantage during the series. This is just one of the many reasons why Swoops was inducted to the Hall of Fame and why she will be known as a legend in the WNBA and in basketball history.
6. Temeka Johnson- Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty (July 24th, 2014)
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It was a special moment for Johnson as she was the first player to record a triple double in the WNBA in almost 9 years and the first in the 2010’s. She recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against the New York Liberty to become the first player in Storm history to record a triple double. Johnson is also one of the shortest WNBA players the league has seen at 5’3. Johnson was originally not supposed to start the game however teammate Sue Bird was a late scratch in the lineup due to a neck injury and that gave Johnson the opportunity to start and create history. Though Johnson does not hold many titles in her career she did win an WNBA Championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2009 and is the shortest player ever to record a triple double.
7. Candace Parker- Los Angeles Spark vs. San Antonio Stars (July 28th, 2017)
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Candace Parker is one of the most well-known WNBA players for not only her achievements on the court but for her popularity outside of basketball. Parker began her career with Los Angeles and has been a huge part for the Spark organization. She won a championship with Los Angeles and won WNBA Champion MVP in 2016. She is also a 5x WNBA Allstar, a 6x WNBA All first team, a 3x WNBA Rebound leader and won Rookie of the year in 2008. Parker became the second Spark player in history to put up a triple double when she recorded 11 points, 17 rebounds, and 11 assists against the San Antonio Stars on July 28th 2017. Parker continues to play in the WNBA at the age of 35 as she left the Spark earlier this year and is currently with the Chicago Sky.
8. Courtney Vandersloot- Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings (July 20th, 2018)
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Courtney Vandersloot was selected by the Chicago Sky as the third overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft and since then has been their franchise player. On July 20th 2018 . Vandersloot broke multiple records. She finished the game with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Wings, making her the eight player in WNBA history to record a triple double. Vandersloot recorded the most amount of assist in a triple double in history with 15 and made a Sky franchise record with the most assists in the first half with 10. Vandersloot so far in her career is a 2x WNBA all star, a 2x WNBA All first team, a 5x assists leader, and a 5x WNBA Peak performer. She has not yet won a title with the Sky, but hopes to win one before she retires.
9. Chelsea Gray- Los Angeles Spark vs. Washington Mystics (July 7th, 2019)
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The Los Angeles Spark currently holds the record for the most players to score triple doubles in their franchise. Chelsea Gray recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists against the Washington Mystics on July 7th 2019 to make her the ninth player in WNBA history to record a triple double. Just two years prior teammate Canadce Parker recorded a triple double. She was also on the team along with Parker that won the WNBA Championship in 2016. Gray currently plays for the Las Vegas Acres and so far is a 3x WNBA All Star.
10. Sabrina Ionescu- New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx (May 18th, 2021)
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Sabrina Ionescu is the latest player to record a triple double when she put up 26 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds against the Minnesota Lynx in the beginning of the season. She also became the youngest player to record a triple double at the age of 23 years old. In her first official season in the WNBA, Ionescu has already made a big impact to the Liberty. With seven games already played, the Liberty are second in the Eastern
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Conference and third overall in the WNBA. Ionescu was the number one overall pick in 2020 as she is the NCAA all time leader with triple doubles with 26, the first NCAA player with career 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds, and was a 3x pac-12 player of the year with Oregan. Ionescu’s triple double was the first in New York Liberty history as she has the potential for more in the future.
