The highest 25 gamers within the WNBA playoffs

The Las Vegas Aces‘ A’ja Wilson and the New York Liberty‘s Breanna Stewart have been the highest gamers within the WNBA, and the world, for a while, and they’re as soon as once more duking it out for MVP honors, which will likely be introduced by the league Sept. 26.

Regardless of who is called — and regardless of Stewart edging Wilson by one vote for The Associated Press Player of the Year honors — the No. 1 spot in our rating of the highest 25 gamers within the 2023 WNBA playoffs is about, with Wilson’s spectacular second half of the 2023 marketing campaign catapulting her over the Liberty star.

The Aces stumbled a bit after Candace Parker‘s season-ending damage, however Wilson has been sensational in her absence. Earlier than the All-Star break, Wilson was averaging 19.7 factors, 9.3 rebounds and a couple of.1 blocks per recreation. After the break? A league-best 26.2 PPG, to go together with 9.7 RPG and a couple of.3 BPG. She has been environment friendly all 12 months lengthy, behind a career-best 55.7% capturing fee.

A few of Wilson’s particular person recreation performances have been staggering too. Final month, she tied the WNBA single-game scoring report with 53, after a 40-piece 11 days prior.

She additionally stays one of many league’s finest defenders, because the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr. And he or she completed the 2023 common season with 22 double-doubles, behind solely the Connecticut Sun‘s Alyssa Thomas (28).

If Wilson takes dwelling the MVP trophy, which she additionally gained final 12 months, she would turn into the fourth WNBA participant to win the award 3 times. She’ll have performed so earlier than she turns 28.

However the South Carolina nice presently has greater aspirations: main her Aces to back-to-back WNBA titles, one thing that hasn’t been performed within the WNBA for the reason that Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002.

ESPN’s Michael Voepel, Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton debated and mentioned the remainder of the highest 25 rankings, which solely options gamers competing within the postseason. The Aces’ Parker was not included, as all indications level to her being performed for the 12 months.

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2023 stats: 22.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG
Midseason rank: 2

The 2-time MVP may get the glory for a 3rd time after posting career-best averages in factors, rebounds, blocks and subject objective share (55.7). She did it regardless of being fourth on the Aces in minutes performed (30.7). “She’s higher than she was final 12 months,” Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon stated. “She is vibrant. She comes with the identical vitality day by day.” — Voepel

2. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2023 stats: 23.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.8 APG
Midseason rank: 1

It is testomony to how nicely Wilson performed that Stewart may put up profession highs in each PPG and APG and drop a spot to second. Regardless of becoming a member of the star-studded Liberty, Stewart’s offensive highs have been increased than ever earlier than. She scored not less than 40 factors 4 occasions after doing so solely as soon as in six seasons with the Seattle Storm — her ultimate recreation for the group, a loss to Wilson and the Aces in final 12 months’s playoffs. If the present playoff bracket holds, we’ll get an opportunity to see the 2 MVPs sq. off of their third playoff assembly in 4 years, having cut up the primary two. — Pelton

3. Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun

Ahead | 6-foot-2
2023 stats: 15.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 7.9 APG
Midseason rank: 3

Thomas’ profession season — six triple-doubles, 28 double-doubles, almost completed as the primary participant to steer the league in assists and rebounds in a season — catapulted the Solar to the highest quarter of the standings. After the season-ending damage to Brionna Jones, she has taken on extra duty and has solely appeared to thrive. Thomas is a front-runner for MVP, however there’s one factor she really has her sights set on: successful her, and Connecticut’s, first WNBA title. After two Finals runs in 4 years, can she lastly get the Solar over the hump? — Philippou

4. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Ahead | 6-foot-1
2023 stats: 21.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.6 SPG
Midseason rank: 6

Collier has formally taken the reins because the Lynx’s franchise participant since Sylvia Fowles’ retirement final season and has excelled in that position, propelling the group again to the postseason after a one-year hiatus. After lacking nearly all of 2022 due to being pregnant/maternity go away, she has additionally established herself as an MVP contender, along with her motor and skill to influence the sport in so some ways making her one of many league’s most promising younger stars. A giant postseason from her would solely additional cement that. — Philippou

5. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Guard | 6-foot-0
2023 stats: 17.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.8 APG
Midseason rank: 4

Younger had her highest scoring common in her 5 WNBA seasons, and her wonderful progress as a 3-point shooter continued. She made 22 3-pointers mixed her first three seasons, 50 final 12 months and 89 this 12 months. Her efficient subject objective share (which adjusts for the larger worth of 3-pointers) was a career-best 61.7, which led the WNBA. — Voepel

6. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces

Guard | 5-foot-11
2023 stats: 15.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, 4.0 RPG
Midseason rank: 5

Though Grey inevitably could not sustain the heater she was on in final 12 months’s playoffs — when she made 65.5% of her 2-point makes an attempt and shot 54% from 3-point vary — 2023 was nonetheless the very best offensive season of her standout profession. She posted profession highs in each PPG and APG, rating third within the WNBA within the latter class. Her 1.8 3-pointers per recreation have been additionally essentially the most Grey has ever averaged, a part of maybe the league’s most full offensive recreation. — Pelton

7. Satou Sabally, Dallas Wings

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2023 stats: 18.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.4 APG
Midseason rank: 11

Lastly wholesome and having enjoyable on the courtroom once more, Sabally has proven this season why she was taken No. 2 total within the 2020 draft. The German unicorn — a Most Improved Participant and MVP contender — has been the Wings’ most full participant, serving to them end because the No. 4 seed and be the one group to defeat the Aces, Liberty and Solar this season. Her 14 double-doubles rank fourth amongst gamers who’ll seem within the postseason, and he or she additionally recorded the Wings’ first triple-double in July. Sabally can assist the franchise advance previous the primary spherical for the primary time in 14 years, when it was positioned in Detroit because the Shock. — Philippou

8. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty

Guard | 5-foot-11
2023 stats: 17.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.4 APG
Midseason rank: 13

Just like the Liberty as a group, it took some time for Ionescu to click on in a unique position than she’d performed in 2022, when the ball was in her fingers much more steadily. By way of July 5, Ionescu was averaging simply 15.4 PPG and 4.9 APG, knocking her out of the highest 10 of our midseason rankings. Since then, she has emerged because the clear second-best participant on New York’s superteam, averaging 18.4 PPG and 5.6 APG. She’s been on a season-long 3-point scorching streak, making a single-season report 128 at a forty five% clip and setting a report in successful the 3-point contest. — Pelton

9. Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces

Guard | 5-foot-8
2023 stats: 18.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 4.5 APG
Midseason rank: 7

Plum ranked sixth the league in 3-point subject objectives (95) and fifth in efficient subject objective share (56.6). She additionally had her career-best total subject objective share (47.5). She led the Aces in common minutes performed (32.4) and had one of many league’s 40-point video games this season. As dynamic a scorer as Plum will be, Hammon has been very blissful along with her progress as a playmaker over the previous two seasons too. — Voepel

10. Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics

Ahead/guard | 6-foot-5
2023 stats: 16.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.1 APG
Midseason rank: 12

Ankle and hip points restricted Delle Donne to 23 video games this season, eight of these for the reason that All-Star break in mid-July. She has had some superb performances when wholesome. Delle Donne, who turned 34 earlier this month, has labored arduous to beat the bodily illnesses she has handled since her final MVP season in 2019. At her finest, she continues to be a really tough participant to cease offensively. — Voepel

11. Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

Ahead | 6-foot-6
2023 stats: 11.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG
Midseason rank: 23

Jones returning to her dominant methods put the Liberty’s title aspirations again on monitor. Her efficiency within the Commissioner’s Cup championship recreation, the place she gained MVP behind a 16-point, 15-board outing, demonstrated simply how vital her protection, rebounding and paint presence are to New York. If the 2021 MVP can keep out of foul hassle and sustain that exercise on each ends, New York needs to be again within the WNBA Finals for the primary time since 2002. — Philippou

12. Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings

Guard | 5-foot-8
2023 stats: 21.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.5 APG
Midseason rank: 15

Ogunbowale was a rock for the Wings this season, taking part in all 40 video games and main the WNBA in common minutes (37.2). She ranked second within the league in 3-pointers (117) and fifth in scoring, however she additionally registered a profession excessive in assists common. That confirmed she took benefit of Dallas’ improved publish play in serving to the Wings to their first successful report in eight seasons in Dallas. — Voepel

13. Courtney Vandersloot, New York Liberty

Guard | 5-foot-8
2023 stats: 10.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, 3.5 RPG
Midseason rank: 18

Vandersloot does not are usually tremendous flashy on the courtroom, however then on the finish of the sport you test the field rating and see, most of the time, that she has 10-plus assists. Her position because the conductor of New York’s offense — which boasts the highest help share within the league to date this season at 75% — can at occasions be delicate, however can’t be overstated. One other WNBA title would solely add to her legacy, which now features a seventh Peak Performer Award for ending with the very best assists-per-game mark in a season. — Philippou

14. DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun

Ahead | 6-foot-4
2023 stats: 17.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.2 APG
Midseason rank: 17

Bonner skilled the primary vital damage of her professional profession this offseason when she tore what’s casually known as the ACL of the wrist. It has not absolutely healed, however the five-time All-Star nonetheless managed to have a profession season by which she’s put collectively back-to-back 30-point video games, and even a 40-piece efficiency. Consistency within the playoffs will likely be a necessity if she desires to get the Solar again to the Finals for the third time in 5 seasons. — Philippou

15. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Guard | 6-foot-0
2023 stats: 17.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.1 APG
Midseason rank: 19

The Dream traded with Dallas to acquire Grey in January and signed her to a contract extension in March, believing she was a key constructing block for the franchise’s future. Up to now, so good for the previous Rookie of the Yr. Grey had profession highs in scoring, assists and subject objective share (46.5) in main Atlanta again to the playoffs for the primary time since 2018. — Voepel

16. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Guard | 6-foot-2
2023 stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.5 APG
Midseason rank: 16

Howard’s preliminary omission from the All-Star reserves appeared to spark her strongest stretch of the season. She dropped a career-high 43 factors the day after the record was introduced, then 32 the week after — her solely two occasions topping 30 factors all season. In Yr 2 within the WNBA, Howard took stable steps ahead, bettering her capturing percentages each inside and outdoors the arc. The No. 1 choose of the 2022 draft additionally helped lead Atlanta to its first playoff look since 2018. — Pelton

17. Kahleah Copper, Chicago Sky

Guard/ahead | 6-foot-1
2023 stats: 18.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 APG
Midseason rank: 21

Copper really turned the face of the Sky this 12 months, and he or she earned a contract extension, offering the management wanted in a season that included a training change, as James Wade left for the NBA. Most preseason predictions had the Sky lacking the playoffs after the departures of Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker, however Chicago bought the ultimate spot with Copper having a career-best scoring 12 months. — Voepel

18. Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics

Guard | 5-foot-9
2023 stats: 15.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.1 SPG
Midseason rank: 22

The one Washington participant to begin all 40 video games, Sykes was the group’s rock throughout an injury-plagued season. Signed to play a complementary position on offense whereas offering her common stellar protection, she as an alternative posted the best averages of her profession throughout the board. Sykes’ improvement as a shooter was notably necessary. She knocked down 3s at a 35% clip whereas additionally trying extra of them (4.0 per recreation) than ever earlier than. — Pelton

19. Natasha Howard, Dallas Wings

Ahead | 6-foot-2
2023 stats: 16.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.6 APG
Midseason rank: 20

Howard got here to Dallas from New York as a part of a five-team commerce in January, and it is labored out nicely for her and the Wings. She has mixed with Satou Sabally and Teaira McCowan to make Dallas the highest rebounding group within the league. Her 33.1 minutes per recreation are a profession excessive, and her expertise as a two-time WNBA champion (with Seattle) additionally helps Dallas. — Voepel

20. Cheyenne Parker, Atlanta Dream

Heart | 6-foot-4
2023 stats: 15.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG
Midseason rank: 25

It has been an excellent 12 months for Parker, who made her first All-Star Sport look and had career-high averages in factors, rebounds and minutes performed (26.7). She was Atlanta’s solely common starter who appeared in all 40 video games (beginning 38) and helped the Dream navigate a difficult final month of the common season to earn their first playoff berth in since 2018. — Voepel

21. Teaira McCowan, Dallas Wings

Heart | 6-foot-7
2023 stats: 11.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.2 BPG
Midseason rank: NR

In her fifth season within the WNBA and second in Dallas, the native Texan appears at dwelling with the Wings. She missed a lot of June taking part in in EuroBasket with Turkey. However she was sturdy down the stretch in August and September, with seven double-doubles in her final 10 video games. McCowan additionally has been slot in first-year Wings coach Latricia Trammell’s protection. — Voepel

22. Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut Sun

Guard | 5-foot-10
2023 stats: 12.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.6 APG
Midseason rank: NR

The Solar are at their finest when their guards are rolling, and Hayes is essential. In her first 12 months in Uncasville, after spending her total profession in Atlanta, the 2017 All-Star is not a serious focus of the offense like she usually was for the Dream, however she brings expertise to a bunch that introduced in a number of youthful gamers within the offseason. — Philippou

23. Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx

Guard | 5-foot-11
2023 stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.2 APG
Midseason rank: NR

McBride’s sturdy end to the season was a key purpose the Lynx have been in a position to return to the playoffs after a 12 months within the lottery. Starting with a season-high 26 factors in Minnesota’s upset of New York on July 28, she averaged 17.4 PPG over the ultimate 16 video games of the common season. We have not seen that sort of manufacturing from McBride since her early days with the San Antonio Stars and the Aces. That efficiency netted McBride a multiyear extension with the Lynx final week. — Pelton

24. Betnijah Laney, New York Liberty

Ahead | 6-foot-0
2023 stats: 12.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.4 APG
Midseason rank: NR

The Liberty’s superstars are inclined to get many of the focus, however Laney is such a vital participant on that group, as evidenced by the Liberty prioritizing her contract extension earlier than she hit free company in 2024. The 2020 Most Improved Participant and 2021 All-Star has stepped up at occasions for New York this season offensively, but it surely’s her protection and toughness that set her aside and are her calling card on this group. — Philippou

25. Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics

Guard | 5-foot-10
2023 stats: 12.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, 90% FT%
Midseason rank: NR

One of many WNBA’s high distributors, Cloud was compelled to search for her personal offense extra as starters Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins and Shakira Austin missed prolonged stretches. Her scoring common was a profession excessive and jumped to 14.6 PPG in July when the accidents have been at their worst. With Washington getting wholesome, anticipate Cloud to shift again towards playmaking within the playoffs. She handed out 8.3 APG over the group’s final seven video games, together with a career-high 15 on Sept. 8 — Pelton

Additionally receiving votes: Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics; Marina Mabrey, Chicago Sky; Alanna Smith, Chicago Sky; Courtney Williams, Chicago Sky