Editing Slam dunk (section)

==Dunking in women's play==
[[File:Sylvia Fowles 2019.jpg|thumb|Sylvia Fowles is one of seven players to dunk during a WNBA game.]]
Dunking is much less common in [[women's basketball]] than in men's play. Dunking is slightly more common during practice sessions, but many coaches advise against it in competitive play because of the risks of injury or failing to score.<ref>{{cite news|last=Palmer|first=Brian|title=Below the Rim: Why are there so few dunks in women's basketball?|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/explainer/2012/03/brittney_griner_dunk_why_are_there_so_few_jams_in_women_s_basketball_.html|access-date=25 March 2012|newspaper=[[Slate Magazine]]|date=23 March 2012}}</ref>

In 1978, [[Cardte Hicks]] became the first woman to dunk in a professional game<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/basketball/aces-wnba/pioneers-cardte-hicks-musiette-mckinney-embrace-las-vegas-aces/|title=Pioneers Cardte Hicks, Musiette McKinney embrace Las Vegas Aces|newspaper=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]|access-date=2018-04-02}}</ref> during a men's professional game in the [[Netherlands]].

In 1984, [[Georgeann Wells]], a 6'7" (201&nbsp;cm) junior playing for [[West Virginia Mountaineers|West Virginia University]], became the first woman to score a slam dunk in women's collegiate play, in a game against the [[University of Charleston]] on 21 December.<ref>wsj.com, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123750766297390343 The First Dunk: A Sports Milestone in Women's Basketball]. Retrieved 9 October 2009.</ref> On December 4, 1994, [[Charlotte Smith (basketball)|Charlotte Smith]], then a member of the UNC Tar Heels women's basketball team, became the second collegiate women's player ever to dunk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2016/12/04/pioneer-dunker-lady-tar-heel-charlotte-smith|title=Pioneer Dunker, Lady Tar Heel Charlotte Smith|access-date=2023-10-19 }}</ref>

As of 2024, at least 37 dunks have been scored by 8 different [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] players. The first and second were scored by [[Lisa Leslie]] of the [[Los Angeles Sparks]], on 30 July 2002 (against the [[Miami Sol]]), and 9 July 2005. Other WNBA dunks have been scored by [[Michelle Snow]] (first during an All-Star game), [[Candace Parker]] (twice), [[Sylvia Fowles]], [[Brittney Griner]], [[Jonquel Jones]], [[Elena Delle Donne]], [[Liz Cambage]], and [[Awak Kuier]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/wnba-basketball-news-which-wnba-player-has-the-maximum-dunks-in-league-history/|title=Which WNBA Player Has the Maximum Dunks in League History?|website=EssentiallySports|language=en|access-date=2024-10-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/news/wnba-players-dunk-record-brittney-griner-2024/934de9277f292a8beac56a1d|title=WNBA players who can dunk: Brittney Griner stands alone in 2024 with record-setting rim prowess|website=SportingNews|language=en|access-date=2024-10-26}}</ref>

The record for the most WNBA dunks belongs to [[Brittney Griner]], with 25 career dunks as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/37987383/mercury-brittney-griner-dunks-game-first-wnba-season|title=Brittney Griner dunks for first time this season in Mercury win|date=2023-07-09|website=ESPN|language=en|access-date=2024-10-26}}</ref> Griner was also the first player to dunk twice in one game (27 May 2013, her WNBA debut) and the first to dunk in a playoff game (25 August 2014).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/griner-dunks-twice-in-wnba-debut/|title=Griner Dunks Twice In WNBA Debut|date=2013-05-28|website=CBSNews|language=en|access-date=2024-10-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/08/watch-brittney-griner-slam-down-the-first-dunk-in-wnba-playoff-history|title=Watch Brittney Griner slam down the first dunk in WNBA playoff history|date=2014-08-25|website=For The Win|language=en|access-date=2019-07-05}}</ref> Griner was also prolific in high school and college: as a high school senior, she dunked 52 times in 32 games and set a single-game record of seven dunks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=64166 |title=Baylor University &#124;&#124; the Lariat Online &#124;&#124; News |website=www.baylor.edu |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719020441/http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=64166 |archive-date=19 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a standout at [[Baylor Lady Bears basketball|Baylor University]], Griner became the seventh player to dunk during a women's college basketball game<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010210aac.html |title=Griner Dunks Twice in WBB's 99-18 Win |publisher=Baylorbears.com |date=2010-01-02 |access-date=3 April 2010 |archive-date=26 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126172619/http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010210aac.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the second woman to dunk twice in a single college game.<ref>[http://www.interbasket.net/news/2010/01/03/video-brittney-griner-dunks-twice-baylor-wins-by-81/ Brittney Griner dunks twice, Baylor wins by 81 (video)].</ref>

At the [[Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2012 London Olympics]], [[Liz Cambage]] of the [[Australia women's national basketball team|Australian Opals]] became the first woman to dunk in the [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympics]], scoring against [[Russia women's national basketball team|Russia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/video-first-dunk-by-female-player-in-olympics-history/|title=VIDEO: First dunk by female player in Olympics history|website=www.cbssports.com|access-date=26 October 2024 |date=2012-08-03}}</ref>

===Women in dunk contests===

In 2004, as a high school senior, [[Candace Parker]] was invited to participate in the [[McDonald's All-American Game]] and accompanying festivities where she competed in and won the slam dunk contest.<ref>[[McDonald's All-American Game#Sprite/Powerade Jam Fest Award Winners]] McDonald's All-American Game :: Past Slam Dunk Contest winners at Wikipedia</ref> In subsequent years other women have entered the contest; though [[Kelley Cain]], [[Krystal Thomas]], and [[Maya Moore]] were denied entry into the same contest in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://girlshoops.scout.com/2/630414.html |title=Scout.com: Girls Can't Dunk? |access-date=2012-06-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520122207/http://girlshoops.scout.com/2/630414.html |archive-date=20 May 2012 }} Article at GirlsHoops.com about the Ladies being denied participation in the '07 Contest.</ref> Brittney Griner intended to participate in the 2009 McDonald's Dunk Contest but was unable to attend the event due to the attendance policy of her high school.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-02 |title=Hoop Gurlz: Griner isn't allowed to attend McDonald's game |url=https://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/story/_/id/3946509/griner-attend-mcdonald-game |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Breanna Stewart]], at 6'3" (191&nbsp;cm), [[Alexis Prince]] (6'2"; 188&nbsp;cm), and [[Brittney Sykes]] (5'9"; 175&nbsp;cm) competed in the 2012 contest; Prince and Sykes failed to complete their dunks, while Stewart landed two in the first round but missed her second two attempts in the final round.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20200114171749/http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/2012JamFestResults.pdf Results of 2012 Contest.</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20121013220229/http://lovewomensbasketball.com/2012/03/27/video-breanna-stewart-dunks-twice-during-powerade-jam-fest-dunk-championship/ Review of 2012 Contest.</ref>