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, WNBA players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!
This is our third update.
Here are the 2023 top ten rankings for the WNBA NIHOF CUP:
1 (TIE). Alyssa Thomas: Connecticut Sun, Forward: (#1 Last Week)
53 PTS, 15 Games, 3.53 Cup Points per Game, 14.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 7.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 21.5 PER, 2.9 WS.
Thomas remains a surprise leader, as she is the wrong side of 30, but the three-time All-Star is 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 is averaging a double-double. She is at present the league leader in Rebounds (157), Assists (118) and Steals (30) and her per Game averages are better than ever. It will be interesting to see if she can hold on to the top spot.
1 (TIE). Nneka Ogwumike: Los Angeles Sparks, Forward: (#2 Last Week)
53 PTS, 13 Games, 4.08 Cup Points per Game, 20.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 27.6 PER, 2.8 WS
The 2018 MVP has never finished over 20 Points per Game but Ogwumike is over that now. Currently, Ogwumike fifth in Points (20.2) and Rebounds per Game (9.7), while also being sixth in PER (27.6). She is in a tie with Thomas for the top spot, but has played two less Games, and the pundits have her as a more viable MVP candidate.
3. A’Ja Wilson: Las Vegas Aces, Forward: (#3 Last Week)
49 PTS, 13 Games, 3.77 Cup Points per Game, 19.3 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 30.8 PER, 3.2 WS.
Wilson is the reigning and two-time MVP, and is second in Blocks (2.2), sixth in Rebounds (9.4) and seventh in Points per Game (19.3). She is also second in PER (30.8).
4. Napheesa Collier: Minnesota Lynx, Forward (#7 Last Week)
41 PTS, 13 Games, 3.15 Cup Points per Game, 20.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 25.5 PER, 1.9 WS
The 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year is fourth in Points per Game (20.9) and Steals per Game (1.8).
5 (TIE). Jackie Young: Las Vegas Aces, Guard: (#5 Last Week)
39 PTS, 14 Games, 2.79 Cup Points per Game, 19.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 27.7 PER, 3.3 WS.
Young is fifth in PER (27.7) and is sixth in Points per Game (19.9). The Ace’s Guard has proven herself as one of the top shooters in the league, as she is second True Shooting Percentage (.706) and is the league-leader in Effective Field Goal Percentage (.670).
5 (TIE). Breanna Stewart: New York Liberty, Forward: (#6 Last Week)
39 PTS, 12 Games, 3.25 Cup Points per Game, 22.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 30.5 PER, 3.3 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 third in PER (30.5), and is second in both Points and Rebounds per Game.
7. Satou Sabally: Dallas Wings, Forward: (#4 Last Week)
37 PTS, 14 Games, 2.64 Cup Points per Game, 18.6 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 21.0 PER, 2.0 WS
Like Alyssa Thomas, Sabally is averaging nearly close to a double-double but is nearly doubling last year’s metrics. The fourth-year player is currently fourth in Rebounds (9.9) and is ninth in Points per Game (19.5).
8. Elena Delle Donne: Washington Mystics, Forward: (#8 Last Week)
35 PTS, 12 Games, 2.92 Cup Points per Game, 18.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 22.6 PER, 2.0 WS
The future first ballot Hall of Fame inductee is currently tenth in PPG (18.1) and PER (22.6).
9. Jewell Loyd: Seattle Storm, Guard:
33 PTS, 12 Games, 2.75 Cup Points per Game, 25.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 23.2 PER, 1.3 WS
Loyd is the current leader in PPG (25.4), though this has not generated a lot of wins for Seattle. She is also the league leader in Usage Percentage (32.8).
10. Arike Ogunbowale: Dallas Wings, Guard:
31 PTS, 14 Games, 2.21 Cup Points per Game, 22.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 16.6 PER, 1.2 WS
Ogwunbowale returns to the top ten and is the current leader in Field Goals (108). She is also third in Points per Game (22.4).
Atlanta’s Cheyenne Parker fell off of the top ten.
Our next update will be on the July 3.
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