The WNBA has always been a league built on perseverance. Seasons are short, injuries hit hard, and every player carries the weight of proving the league’s value all over again. That pressure makes comebacks more than personal victories — they become shared triumphs.
From Breanna Stewart’s injury recovery to the Chicago Sky’s record-breaking rally, these are the stories where players and teams refused to quit. Each comeback shifted the league’s pulse and reminded everyone watching what true toughness looks like.
Context
The WNBA’s compressed schedule makes every injury, every losing streak, heavier. There’s less time to reset and fewer chances to hide. That’s why comebacks hit harder here.
They’re not just about recovery — they’re about rediscovery. Every name on this list turned setbacks into statements.
Methodology
Selections were based on verified injury returns, playoff rallies, season turnarounds, or individual resurgence stories supported by league statistics and media reporting. Each was chosen for its measurable impact on team results, legacy, or fan sentiment.
The Comebacks That Defined the League
1. Breanna Stewart – Achilles to Champion (2019–2020)
After tearing her Achilles in 2019, Stewart missed an entire season and rehabbed in silence. When she came back in 2020, she didn’t ease in — she led the Seattle Storm to another championship, averaging nearly 19 points per game in the regular season and 25 per game in the Finals.
It wasn’t just a return. It was a reminder that greatness doesn’t fade with time off. Her bounce-back set the new gold standard for post-injury recovery in women’s basketball.
2. Phoenix Mercury – 2007 Finals Comeback
Down 2–1 in the Finals against the Detroit Shock, the Mercury were on the edge. Then they flipped the switch. They won back-to-back games, including a Game 5 blowout on the road, becoming the first team to clinch a WNBA title away from home.
That series wasn’t just about offense. It was belief versus fatigue. And belief won.
3. Chicago Sky – Rebuild to Contenders (2019)
After multiple losing seasons and roster turmoil, the Sky entered 2019 under new leadership. They went from 13–21 the year before to 20–14, led by Courtney Vandersloot’s league-best assist numbers and Allie Quigley’s shooting.
The turnaround brought Chicago back to playoff relevance. Fans saw a team that didn’t just rebuild — it revived its identity.
4. Chicago Sky – 28-Point Rally Against the Aces (2022)
June 21, 2022. The Sky trailed Las Vegas by 28 points. Then came one of the wildest runs ever seen in a WNBA game. Chicago outscored the Aces 59–25 in the second half and won 104–95.
It remains the biggest comeback in league history. Players called it “pure energy.” For fans, it was living proof that no game is done until the final horn.
5. Penny Taylor – The 2009 Return
After ankle surgery sidelined her for almost an entire year, Taylor returned to the Mercury mid-2009. She didn’t just fill a role; she changed everything. Her steady scoring and defense helped stabilize Phoenix’s playoff push and championship run.
Her recovery symbolized the mental grind behind elite sport. For teammates, it was more than numbers — it was a heartbeat returning.
6. Lisa Leslie – 2004 Injury and Redemption
Leslie missed most of the 2004 season with a knee injury that could’ve ended her prime. She came back the next year, averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds, and led the Sparks to 20-plus wins again.
Her return was pure professionalism. Even late in her career, she made it clear: superstars can still evolve.
7. Seimone Augustus – The ACL Recovery (2010–2011)
Augustus tore her ACL in 2009, missed most of that season, and returned to lead the Lynx’s offense again within a year. By 2011 she was Finals MVP.
She didn’t just heal. She rewrote how ACL recoveries are viewed in the women’s game. Teammates later said her calm leadership through that rehab season shaped the franchise’s future.
8. Washington Mystics – Title After Heartbreak (2019)
In 2018, the Mystics were swept in the Finals by Seattle. A year later, they came back with the same core and a new edge. They won 26 games, set the best offensive rating in league history, and captured their first championship.
Elena Delle Donne played through back pain in the Finals, grinding out each possession. It was redemption through resolve.
9. Indiana Fever – 2012 Finals Push
After years of playoff disappointments, the Fever went all the way in 2012. Tamika Catchings — at 33 — led them past the Lynx in a stunning 3–1 Finals win.
She averaged over 22 points in the series and finally earned her long-awaited ring. For her, it wasn’t about numbers. It was closure.
10. Los Angeles Sparks – Redemption in 2016
In 2015 the Sparks missed the playoffs entirely. A year later they brought in a new coach, reset the system, and won it all — capped by Nneka Ogwumike’s buzzer-beating dagger in Game 5 of the Finals.
It was one of the greatest single-season rebounds in WNBA history.
11. Connecticut Sun – Late-Season Surge (2023)
The Sun battled injuries and fatigue early in 2023. Then Alyssa Thomas started recording triple-doubles, and the team caught fire. They closed the regular season with one of the league’s best records and made another deep playoff run.
Sometimes a comeback isn’t about one game. It’s about refusing to fade.
12. Sylvia Fowles – 2017 Injury and Reinvention
After battling a torn labrum, Fowles came back in 2017 and dominated, winning both regular-season MVP and Finals MVP. Her return reinforced her legacy as one of the league’s most complete centers.
Her recovery was meticulous, her mindset unshakable. She showed what professionalism looks like when pain could’ve been an excuse.
13. Detroit Shock – From Bottom to Top (2002–2003)
In 2002, Detroit finished with the worst record in the league. One year later, they won the championship under Bill Laimbeer — a jump from last place to first.
That season remains the greatest one-year turnaround in WNBA history.
14. Sheryl Swoopes – Post-Pregnancy MVP (2000)
Swoopes missed the 1999 season after giving birth. In 2000, she came back to average 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists — and won MVP.
Her return shattered assumptions about what motherhood meant for athletes. It became one of the league’s most human, inspiring stories.
15. Maya Moore – The Comeback Beyond Basketball (2019–2021)
Moore left the game in her prime to focus on social justice and criminal reform. When she returned to the public eye, she did so not for points — but for purpose.
Her comeback reminded everyone that legacy isn’t confined to the court. It’s measured in impact, courage, and conviction.
What Comes Next
Every season brings new setbacks — and new stories of defiance. Maybe the next one starts with a torn ligament, or a team written off by everyone.
The beauty of this league is simple. You can’t count anyone out.
Somewhere right now, the next great comeback is already underway.
Read More: https://sportsorca.com/nba/nba-legends-who-could-still-compete/
