The list of greatest female high school basketball players in California history is an impressive one.
In addition to the No. 1 and No. 2 all-time leading scorers in WNBA history, the list also includes two players who scored over 100 points in a single game and another who actually signed a professional contact with the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.
We set out to identify the state's all-time greats based on a balance of success at the high school, college and professional level.
Diana Taurasi scored over 3,000 points in her high school career at Chino before going on to fame at UConn and in the WNBA. (Getty Images)
High school: The 6-foot-5 center led Morningside to the state final three times, winning the Division 1 championship in 1989 and 1990. Leslie cemented her status as a legend when she scored 101 points in the first half of a game. The opponent did not come out to play in the second half, adding even more intrigue to an already spectacular performance. Named state player of the year as a junior and senior by Cal-Hi Sports. Also named Parade All-American in 1989 and 1990.
College: Leslie set nearly every Pac-10 career record during her time at USC and was also a three-time All-American. She earned national player of the year honors in 1994.
Professional: A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Leslie was an eight-time All-WNBA selection and a three-time league MVP. She also won gold in four different Olympic Games.
Diana Taurasi, Chino, 2000
High school: The two-time state player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports, Taurasi also earned national player of the year honors by Parade Magazine in 2000. She finished her high school career with 3,047 points.
College: Taurasi won three straight NCAA championships while at Connecticut and was named the winner of the Naismith Award in 2003 and 2004, recognizing her as the NCAA's top player..
Professional: A 10-time All-WNBA selection, Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA and it isn't even close. With 10,108 career points, Taurasi is nearly 2,600 points ahead of the No. 2 player on the list.
Ann Meyers, Sonora (La Habra), 1974
High school: Girls basketball competition in California was limited prior to Title IX, but Meyer led Sonora to an 80-5 record during her time on the varsity.
College: The first four-time All-American in women's basketball, Meyers led UCLA to an AIAW championship in 1978. She was also named the Honda Award winner, recognizing her as the nation's top college player in 1978.
Professional: While there was no WNBA when Meyers played, she still signed a contract with a professional team - the Indiana Pacers of the NBA. Meyers is the only female to ever sign a contract with an NBA team. She later played in the Women's Basketball League (WBL) and was the MVP in 1980.
Tina Thompson, Morningside, 1993
High school: Playing alongside Leslie, Thompson won a state title as a freshman in 1990 and reached the final again as a sophomore in 1991. She earned all-state honors by Cal-Hi Sports as a senior.
College: Thompson earned All-America honors as a senior in 1997 and was honorable mention All-America as a junior. She averaged over 23 points per game her final two seasons and had 2,248 career points.
Professional: A three-time All-WNBA selection, Thompson is the league's second all-time leading scorer behind Taurasi with 7,488 points. She was a nine-time WNBA All-Star and won four WNBA championships.
Cheryl Miller, Poly (Riverside), 1982
High school: Few players, male or female, have accomplished as much on the hardcourt as Miller. She led Poly to a 132-4 record and was a four-time Parade All-American. She set a high school record with 105 points in a single game. She was twice named national player of the year by Street & Smith's.
College: A four-time All-American, Miller won the Naismith Award three times and scored over 3,000 points in her career.
Professional: Miller played in the 1980s, long before the advent of the WNBA. She did coach her alma mater USC and she also coached in the WNBA.
