Stephanie Okechukwu, Lauren Betts and the greatest female basketball players of all time

THE NCAA just got seven feet taller. Texas Tech women’s basketball announced in early January that it had signed Stephanie Okechukwu, a 7-foot-1 center from Umunneochi, Nigeria. The 21-year-old will officially be the tallest player in NCAA women’s basketball history. However, the question of when she will be able to play for the Lady Raiders still looms as we are still waiting for the NCAA to make an eligibility decision.

Texas Tech associate coach Erik DeRoo spoke to the media about Okechukwu, saying, “We all know the headlines will be highlighted by its obvious size of 7 feet tallbut Stephanie is an incredible person in every aspect of her life. “And he’s absolutely right, there’s more to Okechukwu than just her height. He then developed her “fantasy story.” Okechukwu attended Fukuchiyama Seibi High School in Kyoto, Japan. She can speak three languages ​​- English, Igbo and Japanese. She also has aspirations of set up a basketball camp for the young girls of her hometown.

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Obviously, with its historic size, you can imagine what it will bring to the NCAA. Texas Tech head coach Krista Gerlich highlighted these talents: “Her ability to protect the rim and modify shots will be unique to each. She has excellent hands and touch around the basket and will clearly provide a large interior target at the edge“.

Stephanie Okechukwu officially tops the NCAA height rankings, but who else is on that list? Here are the tallest women basketball players other than Okechukwu.

Margo Dydek, 7 feet 2 inches

Nicknamed “Large Marge,” Dydek still holds the title of tallest player in WNBA history. She did not play in the NCAA, but played professionally in Europe before being drafted first overall in the WNBA in 1998. Dydek also holds the WNBA all-time record with 877 during her 11 seasons in the league.

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Han Xu, 6 feet 11 inches

Han Xu spent a few years with the New York Liberty as the WNBA’s current tallest player, but has since focused on her role with the Chinese national team and playing in the Australian WBNL while recovering from injury.

Bernadett Hatr, 6 feet 10 inches

Hatr was signed as a free agent with the Indiana Fever in 2021. She spent the 2023 season with the Connecticut Sun, her rights then being traded to the Washington Mystics in 2024. Hatr is now playing overseas in Italy.

Brittney Griner, 6 feet 9 inches

Griner is currently the tallest player in the WNBA who was on an active roster last year. Griner’s accolades could last forever. She is a dominant player in the paint, mainly due to her size. She is also one of the tallest players in the NCAA, having spent her college years with Baylor. BG is second, behind Margo Dydek, in total career blocks, and is on pace to break the record in the 2026 WNBA season.

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Liz Cambage, 6 feet 8 inches

The Australian native was drafted second overall by the Tulsa Shock in the 2011 WNBA Draft. She played in the league for 6 seasons, being named an All-Star in four of them. Cambage still holds the record for most points scored in a WNBA game with 53 against the New York Liberty in 2018.

Haixia Zheng, 6 feet 8 inches

Zheng joined the WNBA after being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 1997. She only played two seasons in the W, but was considered a legend for her role on the Chinese national team in four Olympics. Zheng became the first Chinese player selected to the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame.

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Maria Stepanova, 6 feet 8 inches

Stepanova was the eighth overall pick in the 1998 WNBA Draft, selected by the Phoenix Mercury. She played five total seasons with Phoenix and was an important shot blocker.

Kara Wolters, 6 feet 7 inches

Kara Wolters’ career began at UConn, winning the NCAA national championship in 1995 and AP National College Player of the Year in 1997. She was drafted by the Houston Comets in 1999, winning a WNBA championship in her rookie season and was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team that won gold.

Teaira McCowan, 6 feet 7 inches

McCowan was drafted out of Mississippi State by the Indiana Fever in 2019. She spent three years with Indiana before being traded to the Dallas Wings, where she spent the last four seasons. She has been consistent on the field for most of her years.

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Kamilla Cardoso, 6 feet 7 inches

Cardoso was a staple on Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks teams that won national championships in 2022 and 2024. During that 2024 run, she was named Final Four MVP. She was drafted third overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In Chicago, she showed off her size with her abilities in the paint.

Lauren Betts, 6 feet 7 inches

Let’s end this with a player still in the NCAA. UCLA senior star Lauren Betts is making her size known as one of the tallest players in college women’s basketball today. She was named the 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, she also held the program’s single-season record at UCLA with 67. She is expected to place in the top three in the upcoming season. 2026 WNBA Draft.

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This article was originally published on www.fanside.com under the title Stephanie Okechukwu, Lauren Betts and the greatest female basketball players of all time.