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 fifth update, as of July 25, 2023.
Please note, that die to the All-Star break, we elected to give this update after two weeks, so when it gives the previous rank for Last Week, it is actually for two.
Here are the 2023 top ten rankings for the WNBA NIHOF CUP:
1. A’Ja Wilson: Las Vegas Aces, Forward: (#2 Last Week)
84 PTS, 23 Games, 3.65 Cup Points per Game, 20.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 31.0 PER, 6.0 WS.
Wilson, who is the reigning two-time MVP, finally took over the WNBA Cup lead. She is the league leader in Rebounds per Game (9.8), Blocks per Game (2.1) and PER (31.0), while climbing to fifth in PPG (20.5). Wilson is a favorite to repeat as MVP, as are her Aces to successfully defend their championship.
2. Alyssa Thomas: Connecticut Sun, Forward: (#2 Last Week)
78 PTS, 23 Games, 3.39 Cup Points per Game, 14.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.6 PER, 3.8 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 is nearly averaging a double-double. She is at present the league leader in Assists (184), Steals (43), Steals per Game (1.9) and overall per per Game averages are better than ever.
3. Napheesa Collier: Minnesota Lynx, Forward: (#4 Last Week)
75 PTS, 23 Games, 3.26 Cup Points per Game, 21.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 25.3 PER, 3.3 WS
The 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year is third in Points per Game (21.7) and sixth in Steals per Game (1.7). She is also the league leader in Field Goals (184), and is holding strong at sixth in PER (25.3).
4. Nneka Ogwumike: Los Angeles Sparks, Forward: (#1 Last Week)
74 PTS, 21 Games, 3.52 Cup Points per Game, 19.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 26.0 PER, 3.4 WS
The 2018 MVP fought her way to the top, but plummeted to three spots over the last two weeks. She has never finished over 20 Points per Game but Ogwumike is only .4 away from that. Currently, Ogwumike is sixth in Points (19.6), and fifth in Steals (1.7) and Rebounds per Game (9.3). She is also fifth in PER (26.0).
5. Breanna Stewart: New York Liberty, Forward: (#5 Last Week)
70 PTS, 21 Games, 3.33 Cup Points per Game, 22.7 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 28.2 PER, 5.2 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 (22.7) and PER (28.2) and is fourth in PPG (22.7).
6. Jackie Young: Las Vegas Aces, Guard: (#6 Last Week)
58 PTS, 23 Games, 2.52 Cup Points per Game, 19.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 25.4 PER, 5.3 WS.
Young is fourth in PER (25.4) and is seventh in Points per Game (19.02. 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 (.486) and Effective Field Goal Percentage (.656), and is second in True Shooting Percentage (.588). Young’s rank gives Las Vegas the first to have two players.
7. Natasha Howard: Dallas Wings, Forward: (#7 Last Week)
56 PTS, 22 Games, 2.54 Cup Points per Game, 18.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 18.8 PER, 2.6 WS
Howard is the first of three consecutive Wings in the top ten.
8. Arike Ogunbowale: Dallas Wings, Guard: (Unranked Last Week)
55 PTS, 22 Games, 2.50 Cup Points per Game, 21.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 17.6 PER, 2.7 WS
Ogunbowale returns to the top ten, and is at present second has logged the most Minutes per Game (37.1). She is third in PPG (21.9).
9. Satou Sabally: Dallas Wings, Forward: (#7 Last Week)
54 PTS, 22 Games, 2.46 Cup Points per Game, 17.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 21.2 PER, 3.4 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 sixth in Rebounds per Game (9.1) and is seventh in Steals per Game (1.5).
10. Jewell Loyd: Seattle Storm, Guard: (#9 Last Week)
51 PTS, 20 Games, 2.55 Cup Points per Game, 24.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 20.5 PER, 1.6 WS
Loyd is the current leader in PPG (24.3), though this has not generated a lot of wins for Seattle. She is also the league leader in Usage Percentage (32.1).
Phoenix’ Brittney Griner fell off of the top ten.
Our next update will be on the morning of August 1.
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