Champions for America's Future releases the report, "Quality PE Puts Kids on the Inside Track to Achieving a Healthy Life  during a news conference at Woodland Elementary School in Oak Ridge, TN., Monday, December 8, 2015. One of the speakers was WNBA All-Star and former Lady Vol Tamika Catchings. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)

SHARE LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 6: Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks smiles during the game against the San Antonio Silver Stars at Staples Center on July 6, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

By News Sentinel Staff

In celebration of the WNBA's landmark 20th season, the league unveiled the 20 greatest and most influential players in its history on Tuesday, and Tennessee alums Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker made the list.

The announcement of the WNBA Top 20@20 presented by Verizon was made on ESPN's SportsCenter: Face-to-Face with Hannah Storm.

The announcement was made Tuesday to honor the date of the league's inaugural regular-season game played on June 21, 1997, when the New York Liberty defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, 67-57, at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Ca.

"The 20 women honored today are an extraordinarily accomplished group both on and off the basketball court," WNBA President Lisa Borders said in a release. "On the court, they represent the absolute best in women's professional basketball and are in so many ways larger than life. Off the court, they represent their teams, hometowns and communities in which they live and work with the utmost professionalism. And most importantly, they represent the hopes and dreams of generations of young girls all over the world — the future of the WNBA."

There were seven other current players picked: Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Maya Moore, Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen.

Eleven former players are also among the honorees: Cynthia Cooper, Yolanda Griffith, Becky Hammon, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Deanna Nolan, Ticha Penicheiro, Katie Smith, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson and Teresa Weatherspoon.

Parker has played in 206 career WNBA games in nine seasons. She has averaged 17.8 points per game and 9 rebounds per game.

Catchings is in her 15th season and has played in 436 career games, averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists.