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 ninth update, as of September 4, 2023.
Here are the 2023 top ten rankings for the WNBA NIHOF CUP:
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE INCLUDING THE COMMISIONERS CUP FINAL IN CUP POINTS.
1. A’Ja Wilson: Las Vegas Aces, Forward: (#1 Last Week)
139 PTS, 39 Games*, 3.56 Cup Points per Game, 22.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 31.7 PER, 9.5 WS.
Wilson, who is the reigning two-time MVP, took over the WNBA Cup lead five weeks ago and will likely hold it until the end. She is the league leader in Blocks per Game (2.2) and PER (31.7), while holding strong in the top three in Points and Rebounds per Game. Wilson, who was named the June and July Player of the Month is a favorite to repeat as MVP, as are her Aces to successfully defend their championship.
2. Breanna Stewart: New York Liberty, Forward: (#2 Last Week)
130 PTS, 38 Games*, 3.42 Cup Points per Game, 22.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 28.9 PER, 9.9 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, though that likely won’t be in the cards. She is second in Points per Game (22.9) and PER (28.9), third in Rebounds per Game (9.4) and Blocks per Game (1.6). Stewart also won two Player of the Month Awards this season, and is the league-leader in Win Shares (9.9).
4. Alyssa Thomas: Connecticut Sun, Forward: (#4 Last Week)
123 PTS, 37 Games, 3.32 Cup Points per Game, 15.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.3 PER, 5.5 WS.
Thomas was knocked off the top spot some time ago, 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 close to averaging a double-double. She is at present the league leader in Rebounds (363), Assists (291) and Rebounds per Game (9.8), and is second in Assists per Game (8.1). Thomas’ overall per Game averages are better than ever, and this could be the season of her life.
4. Nneka Ogwumike: Los Angeles Sparks, Forward: (#3 Last Week)
119 PTS, 35 Games, 3.40 Cup Points per Game, 19.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 25.4 PER, 5.7 WS
The 2018 MVP fought her way to the top, dropped to fourth, which is where she is currently. She has never finished over 20 Points per Game but Ogwumike is only .9 away from that. Currently, Ogwumike is sixth in Rebounds (9.0), Points (19.7) Steals per Game (1.7). She is also fourth in PER (25.4).
5. Napheesa Collier: Minnesota Lynx, Forward: (#5 Last Week)
118 PTS, 35 Games, 3.37 Cup Points per Game, 21.3 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 24.7 PER, 4.8 WS
The 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year is fourth in Points per Game (21.3) and seventh in both Steals (1.6) and Rebounds per Game (9.4). She is also holding strong at fifth in PER (24.7).
6. Jewell Loyd: Seattle Storm, Guard: (#7 Last Week)
99 PTS, 35 Games, 2.83 Cup Points per Game, 24.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.6 PER, 3.5 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 (32.6).
7. DeWanna Bonner: Connecticut Sun, Forward: (#10, Last Week)
88 PTS, 37 Games, 2.38 Cup Points per Game, 17.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 20.6 PER, 5.0 WS
Bonner remains in the top ten, though is not in the top ten in any significant statistical category.
8. (TIE) Satou Sabally: Dallas Wings, Forward: (#6 Last Week)
86 PTS, 35 Games, 2.46 Cup Points per Game, 18.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 22.0 PER, 5.4 WS
Sabally was averaging a double-double up until a last month, but is nearly doubling last year’s metrics. The fourth-year player is in the top ten in Points, Rebounds and Steals per Game, as well as PER and Win Shares.
8. (TIE) Jackie Young: Las Vegas Aces, Guard: (#7 Last Week)
86 PTS, 39* Games, 2.20 Cup Points per Game, 18.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 23.2 PER, 7.4 WS.
Young is seventh in PER (24.5) and is ninth in Points per Game (18.5). The Ace’s Guard has proven herself as one of the top shooters in the league, as she is first in Effective Field Goal Percentage (.618), and second in 3-Point Field Goal Percentage (.453) and True Shooting Percentage (.660).
10. Arike Ogunbowale: Dallas Wings, Guard: (#10 Last Week)
85 PTS, 37 Games, 2.30 Cup Points per Game, 21.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 16.2 PER, 3.5 WS
Ogunbowale remains in the top ten, and she is fifth in Points (21.1) and Steals (1.7) per Game, while leading the WNBA in Minutes per Game (37.2).
Dallas’ Natasha Howard fell off of the top ten.
Our next update will be on at the end of the regular season.
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