During the 2021 WNBA season, we noticed a lot of WNBA fans and players taking to Twitter to express their frustration with the announcers’ pronunciation of WNBA players’ names. Then, we read about the New York Liberty’s in-game announcer mispronouncing Dallas Wings star player Arike Ogunbowale’s name for the entire game. Professional athletes should not have to deal with that mental performance inhibitor.
So while the league provides a helpful written pronunciation guide, we thought a verbal guide might help as well. Here, you’ll find every active players’ name being pronounced correctly. It’s organized by team in alphabetical order, and then by player in alphabetical order.
When possible, we tried to include the athlete saying their own name. When we couldn’t find that, we used home arena footage or the trustworthiest reporter we could find (here’s looking at you Ari Chambers, Pepper Persley, and more). For any players that the league’s official pronunciation guide (published May 14, 2021) has a written phonetic pronunciation included for, we’ve included that here as well.
If you are a PR officer, player, or agent, and have a better clip you’d suggest we update the guide with, please drop us a DM. We hope this helps everyone out.
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Atlanta Dream.
First name: AIR-ee
First name: KEN-eh-dee
First name: SHY-ann
First name: TEE-ah-nah
First name: Sheh-KEE-nuh
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Chicago Sky.
First name: ah-stew
Last name: N-Dour (similar to endure) fall
First name: azz-ur-RAY
Last name: VAN-der-SLEWT
First name: kuh-LEE-ah
Last name: HE-bird
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Connecticut Sun.
First name: uh-LISS-uh
First name: BEE-uh-triss
Last name: MOM-prih-meer
First name: bree-ON
First name: DEE-zjahn-ay
First name: john-KWELL
First name: KY-lah
First name: nah-TEE-shuh
Last name: HIDE-uh-mun
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Dallas Wings.
First name: UH-LEE-shuh
First name: uh-REE-kay
Last name: OH-goon-buh-WALL-ay
Last name: AL-uh-ree
Last name: dun-JEE
Last name: MAY-bree
First name: ty-A-shuh
First name: sah-TWO
Last name: sah-buh-LEE
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Indiana Fever.
First name: uh-LEE-uh
Last name: huh-TAR
First name: JANN-tell
Last name: BREE-land
First name: KY-zuhr
Last name: Gone-druh-zick
First name: tee-AIR-uh
Last name: VIHV-ee-ens
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Las Vegas Aces.
First name: A-zhuh (like the continent, Asia)
Last name: mc-CAW-tree
First name: dee-AIR-ick-uh
Last name: HAM-bee
Last name: SLOKE-um
First name: G-SOO
First name: KEY-uh
Last name: cam-BAYZH
First name: rih-QUAHN-uh
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Los Angeles Sparks.
Last name: Zow-EEE BEE
First name: uh-REL-uh
Last name: guh-RAHN-tez
First name: chin-NAY
Last name: Oh-gwoo-ME-kay
Last name: Va-DEE-vah
First name: NEE-uh
First name: NEH-kuh
Last name: Oh-gwoo-ME-kay
First name: TAY-uh
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Minnesota Lynx.
First name: AIR-ee-ul
First name: Duh-MEER-iss
Last name: DAHN-tahs
First name: LAY-shuh
Last name: CLAIR-en-dun
First name: nuh-FEE-suh
Last name: uh-CHON-wuh
Last name: BAN-um
First name: reh-NYE-uh
Last name: FOULS
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the New York Liberty.
First name: buh-NAW-juh
DEE-DEE
First name: Lee-AH-nah
First name: mik-KAY-luh
Last name: own-yen-WEH-day
Last name: yo-NESS-coo
First name: sam-EE
Last name: witt-cum
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Phoenix Mercury.
First name: uh-LON-uh
Last name: tuh-rah-SEE
First name: KEY-uh
First name: KEE-uh
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Seattle Storm.
First name: bre-ANN-na
First name: EH-zee
Last name: MAG-buh-gore
Here’s how to pronounce the names of the players on the Washington Mystics.
First name: AIR-ee-ul
First name: eh-LAY-neh
Last name: DELL-eh-DONN
First name: My-ee-shah
First name: lay-LAH-nee
First name: SHUH-vahn-tay
Last name: ZELL-us
Last name: WEECE (rhymes with REESE)
Last name: play-ZAWNCE
Up next, read all about the evolution of three-ball in the WNBA and how it’s changing the game.
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