With the announcement of a new logo, new game ball, and new uniforms, the WNBA is making sure everyone is aware that this upcoming season will be the 25th. “Count It” because it is bound to be a great year. Below are the top 25 players to watch for the upcoming 2021 season.
25. Myisha Hines – Allen – WAS
Hines – Allen came out of nowhere last year. With Elena Della Donne taking the season off and an Aerial Powers injury, Hines-Allen was forced to step up. She averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds a game in 2020. Her previous best was 12.9 and 9.9 in 2018. She will not be as productive with the return of Delle Donne and the acquisition of Alysha Clark but look for another productive season out of Hines – Allen.
24. Betnijah Laney – NYL
Laney is another player that had a breakout season in 2020 for the Atlanta Dream. She went from averaging 1.7 assists and a field goal percentage of .362 in 2019 to 4.0 assists and shooting .481 from the field. Laney was also a member of the All-Defensive Team in 2020. Now in New York, playing alongside Natasha Howard and Sabrina Ionescu she will be a key part of the team on both sides of the ball.
23. Nneka Ogwumike – LAS
Former number one overall pick and MVP, Nneka Ogwumike is always someone that opposing teams need to worry about. She has also been either All-Defensive First or Second Team for five of the last six years. Normally someone with these accolades would be higher up the list, but her minutes per game have been slowly declining since 2015. The loss of Candace Parker will also be tough on Nneka who will now draw more attention on offense. She will still be a leader and an asset to this team but will have her work cut out for her this season.
22. Teaira McCowan – IND
McCowan is probably the biggest surprise on the list. With the loss of Natalie Achonwa, McCowan will have to fill the role. Kelsey Mitchell and Julie Allemand both need to be contested on the perimeter, this leaves more space underneath for McCowan to excel. At 6’7 not only is she going to be grabbing a lot of rebounds, but she will be tough to guard under the rim.
21. Satou Sabally – DAL
Entering her sophomore season, Sabally will only get better. Dallas has both the first and second overall pick in the 2021 draft. After only winning eight games last season Sabally will have to get more involved if they want to see the playoffs this year. Last season she averaged 17.8 points and just under 10 rebounds a game. If she can get her field goal percentage closer to 40% she will be scary to play against especially with Allisha Gray signing a new contract with the team, and gaining the top two players entering the league this year.
20. Crystal Dangerfield – MIN
2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield was the first woman drafted outside of the first round to win this award. The Lynx suffered a few injuries as well as Odyssey Sims joining the team late. This gave room for Dangerfield to step up. Kayla McBride should compliment Dangerfield’s game very well and they should both inflate each other’s numbers this coming season.
19. Chelsea Gray – LV
Gray is a three-time All-Star that spent the last five seasons with the Sparks. Now with even a stronger team behind her, Gray will fit well in Las Vegas. Her assists should improve joining A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage. There will also be opportunities for her defensive ability to shine through. We have seen some great things from Gray and this year will not be any different.
18. Cheyenne Parker – ATL
Parker has finally got a chance to prove herself last year. She started in 13 games while only starting 12 the previous five seasons. Now in Atlanta, a team that is in a rebuilding phase she really has the option to show off her full skillset. Last year she averaged 19.3 points per game, this year that should improve in the new larger role she has acquired. There is a lot of talent at her position, but it would not be surprising if she makes the All-Star Game this year.
17. Sylvia Fowles – MIN
2017 MVP and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Sylvia Fowles has accomplished so much in her career. At 35 years old, and coming off of a year where she missed 2/3 of the games, she will not be as much of a weapon as she used to be. The Lynx adding Achonwa and Aerial Powers will take away from playing time that would have originally gone to Fowles. She is a force to be reckoned with, but on a team full of weapons the ball will be dispersed more, and naturally, her numbers will go down.
16. Kelsey Mitchell – IND
Mitchell continues to improve and will improve even more. With Achonwa and Candice Dupree gone, Mitchell and McCowan will need to step up. Mitchell is very aggressive and has a great long-range shot. She averaged over 20 points per game last season and should do that again this year. If the Fever can run a faster-paced offense, her skillset will be even more apparent.
15. Alysha Clark – WAS
Clark is now a member of the Washington Mystics. Alongside Della Donne and Hines-Allen, this defensive specialist will continue to do what she does best. Although she only averaged 10 points per game last season, her value is not necessarily aligned with personal stats. The Storm had the least points allowed last season in large part to Clark. Coach Mike Thibault has said that Clark is a leader in the locker room. That is another stat that cannot be measured. Whether it shows on her stat line or not, her contributions will be seen in the win column for the Mystics.
14. Skylar Diggins – Smith – PHX
Diggins-Smith sat out in 2019 due to pregnancy. When she came back in 2020, she was as good as ever. She dropped over 20 points and 5 assists per game in her first season with the Mercury. With a very similar team as last year, Diggins – Smith should be expected to produce similar numbers. There is no reason she will not see her fifth all-star game this season.
13. Arike Ogunbowale – DAL
Ogunbowale is a star in a rebuilding Wings lineup. Her ball control is incredible and leads to a lot of open shots. Ogunbowale has averaged 20.6 points in her short career and that number should increase this year especially with more rebounding help in the frontcourt leading to second-chance opportunities.
12. Sabrina Ionescu – NYL
Ionescu has only played three games in her WNBA career. Even in this short time, we saw a glimpse of what she was capable of and how good of a leader this young player can be. With a young team now with another year under their belts as well as new additions Howard and Laney, there will be more confidence coming from the Liberty locker room and this will show on the court. Anyone that has seen Ionescu play in Oregon knows that there are very few flaws in this woman’s game.
11. DeWanna Bonner – CON
Last season Bonner and Alyssa Thomas worked well together. This chemistry should be equally as strong this year. Jonquel Jones may take away some rebounds but has the potential to draw the defense away from Bonner. As long as her numbers are relatively close to last year she will earn her spot as the fourth-highest guard on this list.
10. Sue Bird – SEA
Bird only played half of the season last year due to injury. At 40 years old, she is no longer getting the playing time she used to get. She is capable of a heavier workload, but with the depth, the Storm has in the backcourt it is unnecessary. Jewell Loyd, Jordin Canada, and Epiphanny Prince are more than capable of running the offense. Bird is high on the list because of her leadership, even on the sidelines last season she was yelling out plays and words of encouragement to her teammates. Whether the numbers display her as a top 10 player or not, her leadership and presence will be crucial factors for each of the Storm’s wins this season.
9. Courtney Vandersloot – CHI
Vandersloot has led the league in assists for the last three seasons. It does not look like she will slow down anytime soon. She is currently leading Euroleague Women in assists this season as well. Keeping the only major loss the Sky had this offseason was Cheyenne Parker, but Candace Parker is taking her place which only creates more opportunities for Vandersloot to keep her streak going. It helps that the team is full of shooters, but she gives them the best opportunities to make their shots.
8. Alyssa Thomas – CON
Thomas is a very tenacious player. She hustles the whole time she is on the court and is always looking to find the contact. She has been listed on the All-Defense Team in three of the last four seasons. Her ability in the paint to either make a contested shot or get to the line is admirable and she is going to be a problem for a lot of defenses.
7. Elena Delle Donne – WAS
Delle Donne sat out last season for medical reasons. As a perennial all-star that will not stop her from dominating the game again this season. She is now playing with a great passer in Leilani Mitchell and lockdown defender Clark. These players will help elevate the two-time MVP’s game even further and keep her at the top of the game for a while longer.
6. Diana Taurasi – PHX
Taurasi is arguably the greatest player of all-time. She is also 38 years old. Much like the argument made against Fowles, after a while, a person’s athleticism starts to decline. She is still a fantastic player just outside of the top 5. She can do it all. She can pass well, shoot well, and plays tough defense. As long as she is on the court opponents need to worry.
5. A’ja Wilson – LV
Wilson is the reigning league MVP and for good reason. She led the league in blocks per game and was second in points per game. Now with Gray as her point guard who likes to move the ball around even more opportunities will be created for Wilson to score.
4. Napheesa Collier – MIN
Collier is the 2019 Rookie of the Year. She has become the main focus for the Lynx. She can play defense, rebound, score, anything they need. She is one of those players that elevates the game of everyone around her. New addition Aerial Powers should complement Collier’s game very well along with her growing chemistry with Dangerfield.
3. Candace Parker – CHI
Same talent, new city. With Parker joining Chicago’s star-studded lineup she is set for a career year. This is setting the bar high for a two-time MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Candace knows how to win. She is high energy and like Bird, knows how to be a leader. With a team full of sharpshooters, defenses will have to spread out. This will create a lot more opportunities than Parker saw last season with the Sparks.
2. Liz Cambage – LV
Cambage sat out last season. Returning to the Aces will be a perfect fit for this three-time All-Star. Wilson and Cambage are two very big players that demand respect in the post. It will be tough for a defense to cover either one of them, let alone trying to block both. One of them should be open a majority of the time, and as previously mentioned Gray is a great passer which will add to Cambage’s success.
1. Breanna Stewart – SEA
The center has proven to be the most crucial position in the WNBA. The best center on the best team naturally rounds out this list. Stewart was the 2020 Finals MVP. She is great on defense and has a career average of 19.9 points per game. Seattle is a team with a lot of talent. With the losses of Howard and Clark, now more than ever, Stewart will be the main look for scoring down low.
Honorable Mentions
These players fall just outside of the Top 25 Players.
- Jewell Loyd
- Diamond DeShields
- Elizabeth Williams
- Jonquel Jones
- Dearica Hamby
For more articles about the WNBA and other women’s sports visit Beyond Women’s Sports.
