The WNBA continues to showcase extraordinary talent across all age groups, with veteran players demonstrating that experience and skill can outweigh the advantages of youth. 

As the 2025 WNBA season unfolds, several seasoned players continue to make significant contributions to their teams, bringing leadership, championship experience, and elite performance despite being in the latter stages of their careers. 

Take a look at the five oldest active players in the WNBA for this season who continue to leave their mark on the league.

5. Courtney Vandersloot

Courtney Vandersloot continues to set the standard for point guard play in the WNBA, returning to the Chicago Sky in 2025 after a two-season stint with the New York Liberty. Her court vision, playmaking ability, and basketball intelligence remain undiminished despite being one of the league’s older players.

Vandersloot’s career is distinguished by championship success and individual brilliance. She is a two-time WNBA Champion (2021, 2024), proving her ability to lead teams to the highest achievement in the sport. Her five selections to the WNBA All-Star team recognize her consistent excellence. Perhaps most impressive are her WNBA records for assists per game in a season and career, establishing her as possibly the greatest distributor in league history. Her collegiate career was equally impressive, as she became the first Division I player with 2,000 points and 1,000 assists in a career.

After helping the New York Liberty reach new heights, Vandersloot’s return to the Chicago Sky in 2025 brought veteran leadership to a team featuring young talents like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Her experience bridges generations and provides mentorship to the next wave of WNBA stars. Like many WNBA veterans, Vandersloot has enhanced her career through international play in countries like Turkey and Russia, allowing her to maintain high-level competition year-round and extend her prime years well into her thirties.

Curious about the most historic franchises in basketball? Check out our list of the longest-running NBA teams and see how the league has evolved.

4. Tina Charles

Tina Charles stands as one of the most accomplished centers in WNBA history, continuing to dominate the paint and provide interior presence for the Connecticut Sun in 2025. Her return to the team that originally drafted her represents a full-circle moment in a career defined by excellence and consistency.

Charles’ list of achievements is nothing short of extraordinary. She was named the 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player, recognizing her as the league’s premier talent. Her eight selections to the WNBA All-Star team reflect her sustained excellence over many seasons. Internationally, Charles has represented the United States with distinction, earning three Olympic Gold Medals and establishing herself as one of the finest American basketball players of her generation. Her professional excellence was evident from the beginning, as she claimed WNBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2010.

Charles’ return to the Connecticut Sun in 2025 was motivated by her desire to secure the one achievement that has eluded her: a WNBA championship. Beyond her on-court contributions, Charles has made significant impact through her philanthropic work. She founded the Hopey’s Heart Foundation, which focuses on distributing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to schools and funding education initiatives in Mali. This combination of athletic excellence and humanitarian commitment has made Charles one of the most respected figures in women’s basketball.

Check out our updated list of the NBA’s oldest players ever.

3. Sami Whitcomb

Sami Whitcomb’s journey to becoming one of the WNBA’s most respected veterans is a testament to persistence and continuous improvement. Now with the Phoenix Mercury, Whitcomb has developed into a reliable scoring threat and experienced winner who continues to impact games with her shooting and basketball IQ.

Whitcomb’s resume includes two WNBA Championships (2018, 2020), establishing her as a player who understands what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Her excellence extends beyond the WNBA, as evidenced by her WNBL Most Valuable Player and Grand Final MVP awards in 2025, demonstrating that she remains at the peak of her powers despite her age. Particularly noteworthy is her ranking as second in WNBA history for three-pointers made off the bench, highlighting her specialized role as an elite shooter who can change the momentum of games with her perimeter scoring.

In 2018, Whitcomb’s basketball journey took an international turn when she became an Australian citizen, subsequently representing the Australian national team (the Opals) with distinction. Her international career reached new heights when she contributed to Australia’s bronze medal performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Whitcomb’s global basketball experience, including stints in Germany, Turkey, and France, has enriched her game and allowed her to develop a unique perspective that benefits her WNBA team.

2. DeWanna Bonner

DeWanna Bonner continues to be one of the WNBA’s most versatile and productive forwards, bringing her wealth of experience to the Indiana Fever in 2025. With a career spanning well over a decade, Bonner has accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments that place her among the all-time greats in league history.

As a two-time WNBA Champion and six-time WNBA All-Star, Bonner’s excellence has been recognized consistently throughout her career. Remarkably, she ranks fourth all-time in WNBA scoring, demonstrating her offensive prowess and consistency. Perhaps most impressively, she stands as one of only two players in WNBA history with over 7,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists, showcasing her well-rounded game and ability to impact all aspects of play.

Bonner’s decision to join the Indiana Fever reunited her with Head Coach Stephanie White, with whom she shares a strong professional relationship. This move was strategically important for the Fever, as Bonner brings championship pedigree to a roster featuring young talents who benefit from her mentorship. Her positional flexibility allows coaches to deploy her in multiple roles, and her leadership qualities have made her an invaluable presence both on the court and in the locker room as she continues to perform at a high level despite being one of the league’s elder statesmen.

1. Alysha Clark

Alysha Clark has established herself as one of the most dependable veterans in the WNBA, continuing to contribute at an elite level well into her late thirties. Her return to the Seattle Storm, where she enjoyed significant success earlier in her career, has brought both championship experience and defensive prowess to a team looking to reclaim their position at the top of the league.

Clark’s professional journey is marked by remarkable consistency and achievement. As a three-time WNBA Champion (2018, 2020, 2023), she has proven herself in the league’s most pressure-filled moments. Her defensive abilities earned her a spot on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2020, highlighting her commitment to excellence on both ends of the court. Before her professional career took off, Clark dominated at the collegiate level, leading the NCAA in scoring during her college years.

What makes Clark’s longevity particularly impressive is her disciplined approach to preparation and genuine passion for basketball. She has often spoken about how maintaining a rigorous training regimen and focusing on recovery has allowed her to extend her playing career well beyond what many expected. Her international experience in countries like Israel, France, and Poland has not only expanded her game but also resulted in multiple championships abroad, further cementing her reputation as a winner wherever she plays.

Conclusion

As we take note of these remarkable veterans, they demonstrate that age is merely a number, giving tough competition to rising stars with their refined skills and basketball intelligence. Their continued excellence serves as an inspiration to younger players, pushing them to improve and making the sport even more exciting to watch and learn from.