Including this year, we have awarded the NIHOF NBA Cup by awarding the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1. Obviously, we can’t watch all the games, but box scores and write ups give an approximate idea as to who were each game’s top five.

This year, we decided to the same for the WNBA.

The top players for the WNBA NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points.  It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.  

Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency, but snapshots of each game.

Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.  

So, like we said the last two years in other leagues, WNBA players!  Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is our seventh update, as of August 3, 2023.

Here are the 2023 top ten rankings for the WNBA NIHOF CUP:

1. A’Ja Wilson: Las Vegas Aces, Forward: (#1 Last Week)

93 PTS, 26 Games, 3.58 Cup Points per Game, 20.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 31.4 PER, 6.8 WS.

Wilson, who is the reigning two-time MVP, took over the WNBA Cup lead two weeks ago. She is the league leader in Blocks per Game (2.3) and PER (31.4), while holding strong in the top five in Points and Rebounds per Game. Wilson is a favorite to repeat as MVP, as are her Aces to successfully defend their championship.

2. (TIE) Nneka Ogwumike: Los Angeles Sparks, Forward: (#1 Last Week)

87 PTS, 25 Games, 3.48 Cup Points per Game, 19.9 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 26.6 PER, 4.3 WS

The 2018 MVP fought her way to the top, dropped to fourth, and is again threatening to take back #1. She has never finished over 20 Points per Game but Ogwumike is only .1 away from that. Currently, Ogwumike is sixth in Points (19.9) and Rebounds per Game (9.0) and fifth in Steals (1.7). She is also third in PER (26.6).

2. (TIE) Breanna Stewart: New York Liberty, Forward: (#5 Last Week)

87 PTS, 26 Games, 3.36 Cup Points per Game, 22.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 28.0 PER, 6.4 WS

Stewart has been phenomenal thus far in her first season in New York, and is close to averaging a double-double; a mark she has never finished a season with. She is second in both Points per Game (22.9) and PER (28.0) and is fourth in RPG (9.3).

4. Alyssa Thomas: Connecticut Sun, Forward: (#2 Last Week)

86 PTS, 26 Games, 3.31 Cup Points per Game, 14.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 8.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.7 PER, 4.2 WS.

Thomas was knocked off the top spot, but the three-time All-Star is still posting the best numbers of her career, which included her setting a WNBA record with her fourth WNBA regular season triple-double. Her traditional metrics are the significantly higher than in previous years, and she averaging a double-double. She is at present the league leader in Rebounds (264), Assists (214), Rebounds per Game (10.2), Assists per Game (8.2) and her overall per Game averages are better than ever.

5. Napheesa Collier: Minnesota Lynx, Forward: (#3 Last Week)

80 PTS, 24 Games, 3.33 Cup Points per Game, 21.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 25.4 PER, 3.3 WS

The 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year is fourth in Points per Game (21.4) and ninth in Rebounds per Game (7.9). She is also holding strong at fifth in PER (25.3). Collier is currently out of action with an ankle injury.

6. Satou Sabally: Dallas Wings, Forward: (#9 Last Week)

66 PTS, 26 Games, 2.54 Cup Points per Game, 17.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 20.8 PER, 4.0 WS

Sabally was averaging a double-double up until a few weeks ago week, but is nearly doubling last year’s metrics. The fourth-year player is fifth in Rebounds per Game (9.2) and is sixth in Steals per Game (1.6).

7. Jewell Loyd: Seattle Storm, Guard: (#10 Last Week)

64 PTS, 24 Games, 2.67 Cup Points per Game, 24.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 21.3 PER, 2.4 WS

Loyd is the current leader in PPG (24.6), though this has not generated a lot of wins for Seattle. She is also the league leader in Usage Percentage (32.2).

8. Arike Ogunbowale: Dallas Wings, Guard: (#8 Last Week)

63 PTS, 26 Games, 2.42 Cup Points per Game, 21.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 17.4 PER, 3.2 WS

Ogunbowale remains in the top ten, and is third in PPG (21.9).

9. Jackie Young: Las Vegas Aces, Guard: (#6 Last Week)

62 PTS, 26 Games, 2.39 Cup Points per Game, 18.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 25.0 PER, 5.5 WS.

Young is sixth in PER (25.0) and is ninth in Points per Game (18.8) The Ace’s Guard has proven herself as one of the top shooters in the league, as she is first in 3-Point Field Goal Percentage (.473) and Effective Field Goal Percentage (.635), and Offensive Rating (125).

10. (TIE) DeWanna Bonner: Connecticut Sun, Forward: (Not in the Top Ten, Last Week)

60 PTS, 26 Games, 2.31 Cup Points per Game, 19.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 21.2 PER, 3.8 WS

Bonner makes her first top ten appearance and is currently ninth in Points per Game (19.1).

10. (TIE) Natasha Howard: Dallas Wings, Forward: (#7 Last Week)

60 PTS, 26 Games, 2.31 Cup Points per Game, 16.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 17.8 PER, 2.9 WS

Howard’s rank gives the Wings three in the top ten.

Nobody fell off of the top ten.

Our next update will be on the morning of August 10.