Her Hoop Stats WNBA Top 50 Part V, 10–1
We’ve finally reached the top 10 in our countdown! This is the best of the best. If you’re looking to build a championship team for 2020, these are the players to build around.
In case you’ve missed the rest of our lists, they can be found here:
And now, here are the Top 10!
10. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Age: 37|2018 Stats: 20.7 Points/3.5 Rebounds/5.3 Assists
Some call her the GOAT, others call her White Mamba. She’s one of, if not the, greatest basketball players to ever take the court. A 10-time All WNBA First Team selection, a three-time WNBA Champion, a WNBA MVP, the All-Time WNBA scoring leader - Taurasi has seen and done it all. Due to off-season back surgery, Taurasi was limited to only six games this season. After a full off-season of recovery going into 2020, expect a return to form for the 16-year veteran. No one has risen to the occasion with more success than Diana Taurasi, which is why despite her age and lack of playing time in 2019, I’d never count out White Mamba.
9. Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
Age: 34|2019 Stats: 13.6 Points/8.9 Rebounds/1.5 Assists
One of the best two-way players the WNBA has ever seen, Sylvia Fowles turned in another solid season at age 34. Fowles finished top 10 in field goals made, rebounds, blocks and was the league leader in field goal percentage, hitting 58.8% of her shots. She is a six-time All-WNBA selection, nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, a regular-season MVP, and a two-time WNBA Finals MVP.
8. Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun
Age: 25|2019 Stats: 14.6 Points/9.7 Rebounds/1.5 Assists
Jones had a career year in 2019. She led the league in double-doubles with 15, set career-highs in points, steals, and blocks. She was named to her second All-WNBA team and first All-Defensive team. Jones also finished first in rebounds and blocks per game this season and finished third in MVP voting.
7. Natasha Howard, Seattle Storm
Age: 28|2019 Stats: 18.1 Points/8.2 Rebounds/2.1 Assists
Most Improved Player in 2018, Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, Natasha Howard has kicked her game up a few levels since her arrival in Seattle. She set career-highs in points, field goals made, free throw percentage, rebounds, assists, and steals.
6. Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
Age: 25|2018 Stats: 21.8 Points/8.4 Rebounds/2.5 Assists
Let’s be clear: the only reason Breanna Stewart isn’t fighting for the top spot on this list is due to her unfortunate Achilles's tendon tear that kept her out for the season. However, Stewart is primed to make her return to the court next season for the Seattle Storm. She had an incredible 2018 that culminated in an MVP award and her first WNBA Championship. Stewart finished in the top 10 in points, field-goals made, field-goal percentage, three-pointers made, three-point percentage, free throws made, rebounds, steals, and blocks.
5. Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky
Age: 30|2019 Stats: 11.2 Points/4.3 Rebounds/9.1 Assists
If you looked up unselfish in the dictionary, you’re likely to see a picture of Courtney Vandersloot. In 2019, Vandersloot led the league with 9.1 assists per game, her career-best. It’s the third consecutive year she has been the top passer in the league. In total, she dished 300 assists this season, the highest mark in the league by 98 assists! Her elite passing landed her third All-WNBA selection and even two first-place MVP votes.
4. Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks
Age: 29|2019 Stats: 16.1 Points/8.8 Rebounds/1.8 Assists
The heart of the Los Angeles Sparks had a great year in 2019. Ogwumike was named to her fourth All-WNBA team this season. One of the premier defenders in the league, Ogwumike made All-Defensive First Team for the fourth time in five seasons averaging 1.9 steals and 6.5 defensive rebounds per game.
3. Liz Cambage, Las Vegas Aces
Age: 28|2019 Stats: 15.9 Points/8.2 Rebounds/2.1 Assists
Cambage’s overall numbers took a hit this year after being traded to the Las Vegas Aces. Averaging about four fewer minutes per game, her production was still impressive as she averaged 15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. She also finished in the top 10 in points, field goals made, free throws made, rebounds, and blocks. Cambage was named to her second All-WNBA team this season.
2. Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Age: 29|2019 Stats: 20.7 Points/7.2 Rebounds/2.4 Assists
In 2019, Griner led the league with 20.7 points per game and 2.0 blocks. She finished number one in points per game, field goals made, and blocks. The two-time defensive player of the year is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the court. Griner was named to her fifth All-WNBA team and sixth All-Defensive team this season.
1. Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics
Age: 30|2019 Stats: 19.5 Points/8.2 Rebounds/2.2 Assists
This past season, Elena Delle Donne put together one of the finest seasons by a WNBA player in the history of the league, probably the history of the game. 19.5 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks makes for an impressive stat line. Add to that her 51.5% field goal percentage, 43% three-point percentage and 97.4% free throw percentage and you have the first 50–40–90 season in WNBA history, all while leading the Washington Mystics to a WNBA Championship. Delle Donne was named the 2019 WNBA MVP (her second MVP overall) and was unanimously named to the All-WNBA First Team, her fifth All-WNBA selection. All roads to a championship go through Elena Delle Donne.
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