LOS ANGELES — The WNBA has spoken. The Lynx have three of the greatest players in league history playing for them right now.

That might help explain Minnesota’s recent run of three championships in the past five seasons, and their 13-0 record after holding off the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday afternoon at Staples Center in what was a historic battle of unbeaten teams.

Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen were announced as three of the WNBA’s 20 greatest and most influential players of all time. Katie Smith, who played six seasons with Minnesota from 1999-2005, also made the list.

The WNBA’s “20@20” list was created for the anniversary of the league’s inaugural regular-season game in 1997.

“It’s pretty unbelievable to think about,” Whalen said. “There have been some amazing players in the league, and to be on that list is something I’ll always cherish.”

Whalen, the only Gophers alum to make the list, has been with the Lynx since 2010 after spending her first six seasons in Connecticut. She is a five-time all-star, three time All-WNBA first team selection and was named All-WNBA second team twice.

A Hutchinson, Minn., native, Whalen ranks third all time in career assists (2,083) and 15th in scoring (4,954 points), just ahead of teammate Augustus, 16th with 4,946).

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Augustus said. “I can remember the 15-year team they did in San Antonio for the All-Star Game, and I missed it. I remember Coach Reeve pulling me to the side and saying, ‘What do all the other players have that you don’t have?’ I said, ‘A championship.’ She was like, ‘Well, you’ve got to get to work and, hopefully, you’ll be on the 20-year team.’ ”

Augustus was selected All-WNBA first team in 2012, has been named All-WNBA second team five times, is a six-time all-star, the 2011 WNBA Finals MVP and the 2006 rookie of the year.

“The 20 women honored today are an extraordinarily accomplished group both on and off the basketball court,” WNBA President Lisa Borders said in a statement. “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.”

Moore is a three-time All-WNBA first-team selection, the 2014 WNBA MVP, the 2011 rookie of the year, the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP and the 2015 All-Star game MVP. She is one of seven players on the list to have won a WNBA title, an NCAA title and an Olympic gold medal.

“It’s kind of hard to put something of that magnitude into words while I’m still playing. It’s kind of mind-boggling,” she said after Tuesday’s victory. “It’s not something I was really thinking about or anticipating. I think it shows the quality of people I’ve been able to play with, even though I’m only in my sixth year. I’ve been able to play with some great players who have allowed me to excel. It really speaks to the people I’ve been around.”

To see the entire list of 20 players, click here.