Including this season, 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, WNBA players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!
Here are the 2023 top ten rankings for the WNBA NIHOF CUP:
1. Alyssa Thomas: Connecticut Sun, Forward:
35 PTS, 10 Games, 3.50 Cup Points per Game, 14.1 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 19.3 PER, 1.5 WS.
Thomas is a surprise leader, as she is the three-time All-Star is on the wrong side of 30, but is posting the best numbers of her career. Her traditional metrics are the significantly higher than in previous years, and she is averaging a double-double. She is at present second in Rebounds and Steals per Game. It will be interesting to see if she can hold the top spot, as many of the stars below her have games in hand. Our bet is that it will be a tough ask, and this rank will fall quickly.
2. A’Ja Wilson: Las Vegas Aces, Forward:
33 PTS, 9 Games, 3.67 Cup Points per Game, 20.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 31.5 PER, 2.3 WS.
Wilson is the reigning and two-time MVP, and is fourth in Blocks (2.1), seventh and Rebounds (8.2) and eighth in Points per Game (20.1). She is also third in PER (31.5).
3 (TIE). Setou Sabally: Dallas Wings, Forward:
31 PTS, 9 Games, 3.44 Cup Points per Game, 21.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 24.4 PER, 1.8 WS
Like Alyssa Thomas, Sabally is averaging a double-double but is nearly doubling last year’s metrics. The fourth-year player is currently leading the WNBA in Rebounds (11.2) and is sixth in Points per Game (21.2).
3 (TIE). Nneka Ogwumike: Los Angeles Sparks, Forward:
31 PTS, 7 Games, 4.43 Cup Points per Game, 21.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 30.8 PER, 1.7 WS
The 2018 MVP has never finished over 20 Points per Game but Ogwumike is well over that now. Currently, Ogwumike is fifth in both Points (21.3) and Rebounds per Game (9.7), and is fourth in PER (30.8).
5. Breanna Stewart: New York Liberty, Forward:
28 PTS, 8 Games, 3.50 Cup Points per Game, 24.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.9 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 34.9 PER, 2.5 WS
Stewart is on fire thus far in her first season in New York, and is averaging a double-double; a mark she has never finished a season with. She is the WNBA leader in PER (34.9), and in the top four in Points, Rebounds, Steals and Blocks per Game. This is incredible!
6. Napheesa Collier: Minnesota Lynx, Forward
26 PTS, 9 Games, 3.22 Cup Points per Game, 20.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 24.2 PER, 1.2 WS
The 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year is seventh in Points per Game (20.2) and fifth in Steals per Game (1.8). She has also made the most Free Throws this season (49).
7. Jackie Young: Las Vegas Aces, Guard:
25 PTS, 9 Games, 2.78 Cup Points per Game, 19.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 27.2 PER, 2.0 WS.
Young is fifth in PER (27.2) and is ninth in Points per Game (19.7). The Ace’s Guard has proven herself as one of the top shooters in the league, as she is second True Shooting Percentage (.700) and is the league-leader in Effective Field Goal Percentage (.664).
8. Brittney Griner: Phoenix Mercury, Center:
23 PTS, 7 Games, 3.29 Cup Points per Game, 22.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.7 BPG, 33.8 PER, 1.6
Griner picked up where she left off after her Russian incarceration, and her advanced stats are better than ever. She is the league-leader in Field Goal Percentage (.648) and Blocks per Game (2.7), while also being third in PPG (22.7). If she had an extra game (or two or three), she would be in the top three.
9 (TIE). Arike Ogunbowale: Dallas Wings, Guard:
22 PTS, 9 Games, 2.44 Cup Points per Game, 22.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 16.3 PER, 0.7 WS
Ogunbowale is leading the WNBA in Field Goals (71) and Points (204) and is fourth in Points per Game (22.7).
9 (TIE). Jewell Loyd: Seattle Storm, Guard:
22 PTS, 7 Games, 3.14 Cup Points per Game, 24.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 21.8 PER, 0.5 WS
Loyd is the current leader in PPG, though this has not generated a lot of wins for Seattle. She is also the league leader in Usage Percentage (34.0).
9. (TIE) Elena Delle Donne: Washington Mystics, Forward:
22 PTS, 8 Games, 2.75 Cup Points per Game, 18.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 21.8 PER, 1.2 WS
The future first ballot Hall of Fame inductee is currently tenth in PPG (18.4).
Our next update will be on the June 21.
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