Her Hoop Stats WNBA Top 50 Part II, 40–31
Our Top 50 WNBA Players list continues today as we count down who we think are the best players heading into the 2020 WNBA season. If you missed our intro to how this list was compiled, you can view that here.
Without further ado, we continue on with numbers 40–31:
40. Courtney Williams, Connecticut Sun
Age: 25|2019 Stats: 13.2 Points/5.6 Rebounds/3.8 Assists
Williams had a great year in 2019, setting career bests in points, steals, and assists. She also had a great run in the playoffs, averaging 17.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Williams had 17 points and 13 rebounds in the series-clinching game against Los Angeles on September 22.
39. Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics
Age: 23|2019 Stats: 10.3 Points/2.8 Rebounds/1.9 Assists
A reliable starter who you can call upon when needed? That’s Ariel Atkins. Washington has made the playoffs in both of her seasons in the W. Atkins has also earned All-Defensive Second Team honors in both seasons, as well. In 18 playoff games, Atkins has averaged 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, hitting double-digit points in half of those games.
38. Candice Dupree, Indiana Fever
Age: 35|2019 Stats: 11.6 Points/5.0 Rebounds/2.5 Assists
Dupree, a 14-year veteran, has done it all. She’s a WNBA champion (with Phoenix in 2014) and a six-time All-Star. In 31 total playoff games, she has shot 57% from the field. Despite a small dip in her offensive output this season, the 35-year-old still proves to be a durable player as she’s only missed a handful of games since 2012.
37. Jasmine Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Age: 30|2019 Stats: 11.1 Points/2.9 Rebounds/5.1 Assists
Thomas has been the picture of consistency for Connecticut. She is one of the best perimeter players in the game and has earned three consecutive All-Defensive First Team selections. She set a career-high in assists and had a solid playoff run. In the series-clinching game against Los Angeles, Thomas went off for a career-high 29 points on 11–14 shooting,
36. Elizabeth Williams, Atlanta Dream
Age: 26|2019 Stats: 9.3 Points/6.5 Rebounds/1.2 Assists
Looking for defense? Williams has got you. She finished fifth in the league with blocks with 1.7. She posted career highs in blocks (8) and points (20) in the Atlanta Dream’s penultimate game against Las Vegas. Expect to see her name among the top defenders in the W for years to come.
35. Dearica Hamby, Las Vegas Aces
Age: 25|2019 Stats: 11.0 Points/7.6 Rebounds/1.9 Assists
The Hamby Heave, as it’s come to be known, will be the lasting memory of Dearica Hamby’s great season. Only starting in nine games for the Aces this season, Hamby still averaged 11 points and 7.6 rebounds, which made her the easy choice for Sixth Woman of the Year. She also averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals for the Las Vegas Aces.
34. Odyssey Sims, Minnesota Lynx
Age: 27|2019 Stats: 14.5 Points/3.4 Rebounds/5.4 Assists
Sims took advantage of an expanded role in her first season as a member of the Minnesota Lynx, nearly doubling her points and assists averages from the previous season. Her playoffs stat line is relatively consistent with her stats in the regular season making her an easy choice for the top 50.
33. Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Age: 27|2019 Stats: 11.6 Points/7.8 Rebounds/3.1 Assists
Thomas’ consistent play from the regular season bled into the playoffs, when she averaged a near double-double with 19 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Her best performance came in game two of the Finals, when she lit up the Washington defense for 21 points and six assists while grabbing 12 rebounds.
32. Teaira McCowan, Indiana Fever
Age: 23|2019 Stats: 10.0 Points/9.0 Rebounds/0.2 Assists
2019 All-Rookie Team selection Teaira McCowan made her presence known in her first season. She finished second in the league in rebounding. Over her last ten games, McCowan averaged 17 points on 55.2% shooting and 11.1 rebounds as she tried to will the Fever to a playoff spot. Although they came up short, the disappointment will likely only fuel her more.
31. Kia Nurse, New York Liberty
Age: 23|2019 Stats: 13.7 Points/2.5 Rebounds/2.3 Assists
Kia Nurse showed some improvement in almost every statistical category during her second WNBA season. She’s a reliable player that can give you a full 40 minutes if called upon (she did it twice this season). Look for her game to improve even more in her third year.
Our countdown continues tomorrow with players ranked 30–21, including multiple Rookie of the Year winners and a couple of defensive specialists.
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