2019 WNBA Rookie Report #1
By Christopher Zwart, Keith Geswein, Michelle Kim, Aseem Rastogi, and Alyssa Graham
Rookie Power Rankings through June 5, 2019
1. Napheesa Collier
14.5 PTS, 54.5 FG%, 4.5 REB
2. Arike Ogunbowale
11.5 PTS, 2.5 REB, 1.5 AST
3. Asia Durr
9.7 PTS, 1.3 REB, 1.3 AST
4. Jessica Shephard
4.0 PTS, 6.0 REB, 3.3 AST
5. Teaira McCowan
4.7 PTS, 5.0 REB, 1.6 BLK
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx (6th Overall)
What we’ll be watching for this season:
Alyssa Graham: Although she played more power forward minutes in college, the switch to small forward seems to suit Napheesa Collier just fine after competing in her first professional game. Collier scored the second-most points in a rookie debut with 27 points in the WNBA’s 23-year history (Candace Parker holds the record with 34 points in her WNBA debut on May 17, 2008).
Collier dipped down to single scoring total digits in the two games that followed the home opener, but returned to double digits with 17 points scored in the Lynx’s loss to the Seattle Storm. With the Lynx’s top stars gone this season (Lindsay Whalen retiring and Maya Moore taking a year off), Collier is off to an impressive start in the WNBA and Minnesota fans have something to be excited about.
Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings (5th Overall)
What we’ll be watching for this season:
Alyssa Graham: Arike Ogunbowale continues to have her signature confidence to take shots. With only two games under her belt, her shots aren’t quite falling at the rate we’re used to seeing (her college field goal percentage was 44.6% whereas Ogunbowale’s WNBA debut is currently at 34.4%), but that shouldn’t discourage Dallas Wings fans. It should be noted that her first two games were against opponents that had two of the top four defenses last year. Ogunbowale did have the most shot attempts of her Dallas teammates in her first game and fans should see the trend continue. Coming off a storied career at Notre Dame averaging 21.8 points per game last season, Ogunbowale will continue to take and make shots this season.
Asia Durr, New York Liberty (2nd Overall Pick)
What we’ll be watching for this season:
Michelle Kim: The New York Liberty have long been looking for a reliable second scoring option behind Tina Charles, and they are hoping Durr is the answer. Her outside shooting prowess in college should eventually translate to the pros, despite her being undersized for a modern WNBA guard. It is apparent that the size and strength of WNBA defenders are impacting her in the early going. Of her 20 shot attempts so far this season, only 2 were at the rim. She is averaging 10 points on 40% shooting from two and 20% from three. She trails only Tina Charles on the team in field goal attempts, but she is clearly still looking to find her footing.
It’s hard to predict when Durr will hit her stride. A streaky scorer in college, she could easily drop 47 on a team one night and score in the single digits the next, especially as she was asked to carry more of a load at the point her senior year. An unselfish player, Durr will eventually realize that the single best thing she can do for the Liberty is to put up points. When she does, WNBA fans can expect to be treated to one of the smoothest jumpers we’ve seen in some time.
Jessica Shepard, Minnesota Lynx (16th Overall)
What we’ll be watching for this season:
Alyssa Graham: While it may seem that Napheesa Collier stole the spotlight for the Minnesota Lynx, Jessica Shepard carved out her own space with an outstanding start to her WNBA career with a record 13 rebounds, tying DeTrina White (May 21, 2004 for New York) for a rookie debut.
Shepard doesn’t have to score to be an impressive player. With solid passing, she can help find open shots (adding to Naphessa’s stats) and the Lynx needed a change with Maya Moore out. Jessica Shepard helps to facilitate the offense by getting the ball to open shooters and leads our top 5 rookies with an impressive average of 6 rebounds per game. With her rebounding and passing abilities, be on the lookout for Shepard to secure a triple-double in her future.
Teaira McCowan, Indiana Fever (3rd Overall Pick)
What we’ll be watching for this season:
Keith Geswein: Indiana was one of the worst defensive teams in the league last year because they were undersized in the interior.
Not anymore.
Fever coach Pokey Chatman has been impressed with how many shots McCowan has contested, altered, or blocked. McCowan, a 6-foot-7 center from Mississippi State, leads the team with five blocks through three games. She’s second on the Fever with 15 rebounds. She’s only taken nine shots (one of which won a game at the buzzer), but Chatman doesn’t want her to worry about scoring right now. Her interior defense and rebounding are what the Fever need in order to improve this year. Those are things McCowan can contribute immediately.
“(McCowan’s) presence, when other players are fouling her, we’re getting to the free throw line six to eight extra times because of that,” Chatman said after Indiana’s preseason victory over Chicago on May 16. “Also, there’s not a lot of shots in the paint (against us) because she’s deterring people from going in there.”
After the preseason, McCowan said she wants to work on getting in position to catch pocket passes. Unlike in college, most other WNBA centers will be about as tall as her, so she can’t just expect her teammates to lob the ball in to her. She is also working on her footwork, getting quicker, and adjusting to how WNBA referees officiate physical post players.
“I’m eager to get with my team and elevate where they were last year,” McCowan said during Indiana’s Media Day on May 20. “I just want to focus on my team, get the strength of my team down, and get us gelling together so we can turn this franchise around.”
Other Rookies we’re watching:
Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (1st Overall Pick)
What we’ll be watching for this season:
Aseem Rastogi: Only the third junior ever to be drafted #1 coming out of college (Candace Parker in 2008, Jewell Loyd in 2015), Young steps into an explosive Aces lineup where her versatility can shine. Thus far, she has hit on just under 44% of her field goal attempts, including going 4/4 in her debut against the Sparks on May 26. The Aces will look to use her with multiple lineups in several different roles, to include running the point whether Kelsey Plum is out there or not. Admittedly, she is still getting used to the speed of the game, but with Lindsay Allen out for the season and Moriah Jefferson departing as part of the Liz Cambage trade, Young’s role will expand daily.
The Aces currently play at the third-fastest pace in the league, behind only Chicago and LA. With Young’s ability to push tempo and as an excellent passer, she is seemingly in an ideal situation for a do-it-all player as she adjusts to the pace and physicality of the pro game. This clip below signifies her ability to positively affect the Aces gameplan.
Marina Mabrey, Los Angeles Sparks (19th Overall Pick)
What we’ll be watching for this season:
Christopher Zwart: One of the surprises among this year’s rookie class is Marina Mabrey. The 2nd round pick out of Notre Dame has seen action in all four of Los Angeles’ games this season and has contributed in each. She took advantage of the 20 minutes Coach Derek Fisher gave her in the season opener against the Las Vegas Aces scoring six points (2–4 shooting, hitting 2 of 3 from deep), racking up two steals and three rebounds. In her next two games, she totaled only 15 minutes, scored only three points and recorded only one rebound and one assist. Mabrey bounced back in last night’s game against Connecticut. scoring 14 points (3–7 from beyond the arc) to go along with two rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Los Angeles ranked near the bottom of the league in 2018 in three-pointers made (6.0 per game) and three-point attempts (17.3). With Mabrey’s three-point prowess, she should help improve those numbers as she gets more comfortable in her role.
Paris Kea, Indiana Fever (25th Overall Pick)
What We’ll Be Watching For This Season:
Keith Geswein: Choosing McCowan with the third pick in the draft was easy for Fever coach and general manager Pokey Chatman.
Choosing Paris Kea at 25 was just as easy.
“Full disclosure, I was elated she was on the draft board,” Chatman said during the Fever’s Media Day on May 20. “I didn’t even make a predraft call to her because I didn’t think she would be there at 25. So that’s how blessed we were to have her…she’s quick, she’s athletic, and she’s eager to learn. So we were elated that she was there.”
During Kea’s first regular season game against New York on June 1, the former North Carolina star showed why. Kea scored 10 points on 4–6 shooting and dished out three assists in 14 minutes.
Kea is one of just six players on WNBA rosters who was drafted in the third round.
Like all rookies, Kea is adjusting to the speed of the WNBA.
“At this level, I have to call plays a lot quicker. I have to make reads a lot quicker, I think that’s my biggest adjustment,” Kea said after Indiana’s preseason game against Chicago on May 16. “Getting open shots isn’t a problem, just making the quick reads is what I’m adjusting to.”
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