The WNBA is finally back! And this time, it's back for its 25th season and on a whole, new level. The league has let its presence be felt the past few years with more increased viewership, sponsorships with big companies like Amazon Prime Video, new rad jerseys, and persistent contributions to women's empowerment and social justice reform. As the 25th WNBA season begins Friday, May 14th, experienced and veteran players will be looking to push in playoff and championship contention, while rookies will be fresh faces looking to make their mark in the WNBA. Among all the talented and amazing women that make up the WNBA, here are the 25 players that every WNBA fan or spectator should watch.
WNBA 25th Anniversary Season: 25 WNBA Players to Watch in 2021
1. A'ja Wilson - Las Vegas Aces
The 2020 WNBA Season was A'ja Wilson's as she transformed herself into a WNBA superstar. The forward averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, averaging career-highs in three of the four categories. This helped Wilson win the 2020 WNBA MVP, the first in her career. She also was a huge part of the Aces reaching the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Wilson's leadership and dominance from last season can surely carry over this season to help book another trip to the Finals.
2. Breanna Stewart - Seattle Storm
After rupturing her Achilles in the 2019 season, Breanna Stewart bounced back tremendously to lead the Seattle Storm to their fourth championship, and Breanna's second. Averaging 28.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in the champion sweep. Stewart's hungry to be at the top of the league, as well as add another chip to her already immaculate award collection at age 26.
3. Candace Parker - Chicago Sky
Two-time MVP and champion Candace Parker will be returning to the WNBA for her 14th season, but this time in the Windy City. Parker made her decision in late January to play for the Chicago Sky after 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks. Returning to her hometown will be the ultimate chance for Parker to bring home the Sky's first championship. Parker's still a dominant force in the league, winning the 2020 Defensive Player of The Year and averaging nearly a double-double last season. This is also an opportunity for Candice to be a mentor for younger players like Azura Stevens and Diamond DeShields.
4. Liz Cambage - Las Vegas Aces
Although the Las Vegas Aces managed to push all the way to the Finals in the 2020 WNBA Season, there were without their big Liz Cambage, who opted out of playing in the bubble. Not having Cambage in the bubble played a part in the Aces' lack of size that was noticeable in their Finals match-up against the Storm.
With Kelsey Plum returning from a torn Achilles and A'ja Wilson bound to keep improving from her 2020 MVP Season, Cambage will smoothly be back in coach Bill Laimbeer's defensive system. Averaging 15.9 points, and 8.2 rebounds in the 2019 season, her numbers are sure to improve being back in her position and playing more minutes.
5. Sue Bird - Seattle Storm
Entering her 18th season at 40 years old, Sue Bird is continuing to break the barriers of achieving more history in her legendary career. The Storm was 10-1 with Bird on the floor during the regular season and then went on to sweep the Aces in the 2020 Finals, earning Bird her fourth championship. She is always elevating her game, whether it be from scoring to being a pivotal play-maker on the team. During the Finals, she averaged 11 assists per game. There's no telling what more tricks Sue Bird has up her sleeve in achieving more greatness.
6. Elena Delle Donne - Washington Mystics
Elena Delle Donne will make her awaited return to the Washington Mystics squad, after winning a championship in 2019 and not playing in 2020 due to opting out of the bubble and two back surgeries. The six-time All-Star will be back in the lineup with Natasha Cloud and Alysha Clark, reclaiming her place as a top player in the WNBA and a potential MVP-caliber season.
7. Skylar Diggins-Smith - Phoenix Mercury
After playing her first season with the Phoenix Mercury, Skylar Diggins-Smith proved herself to be a key part of the Mercury core consisting of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. Diggins-Smith averaged 20.9 points per game, shooting a career-high 39 percent from three. Phoenix benefits a lot as a team when she scores, as her scoring efforts mean a lot in big games, like the first-round playoff match-up against the season against Washington where she scored 10 out of the 11 points in the Mercury's fourth-quarter comeback. Diggins-Smith has a chance this season to be the scoring champ, as well as help Phoenix make a deeper run into the playoffs.
8. Natasha Cloud - Washington Mystics
After opting out of the 2020 WNBA season to focus on social justice reforms, Natasha Cloud is ready to return to the court for the Mystics. Cloud will return with teammates Elena Delle Donne and Tina Charles to re-surge the team that won the championship in 2019. She averaged a career-high 9 points in 2019, which is bound to go up as she's ready to play more minutes for the Mystics, who's looking to get back to the championship-contending stepping grounds.
9. Sabrina Ionescu - New York Liberty
After a historic senior year at Oregon, Sabrina Ionescu was ready to take the WNBA by storm her rookie year. However, a severe ankle sprain totaled her rookie campaign after playing just three games. Now, Ionescu is back to be in the spotlight, as she and the New York Liberty will headline the season opener on May 14 against the Indiana Fever. In her second and final full game of the WNBA season, Sabrina exploded for 33 points off 55 percent shooting. Expect a 100% Sabrina to do the same thing again and make a big impact in the WNBA and for the Liberty.
10. Arike Ogunbowale - Dallas Wings
Arike Ogunbowale was unstoppable offensively last season, becoming the 2020 scoring champ, averaging 22.8 points per game. Ogunbowale can score at all levels on the floor, as well as give the same effort defensively. As the Dallas Wings continue to add more offensive and defensive definition to their lineup, having Arike at the forefront and help the Wings become a team to watch out for in the 2021 season.
11. Napheesa Collier - Minnesota Lynx
Only 3 years fresh in the league, Napheesa Collier had made a great path for herself in the WNBA. Finishing 5th in MVP voting last season, Collier has shown her growth on the offensive and defensive ends of the ball, averaging nearly 20 points and 9 rebounds a game, as well as shooting 40.8 percent from three. Collier's big improvements made a huge impact on the Minnestoa Lynxy reaching the 2020 Semifinals. With her as an emerging star and off-season additions, the Lynx's playoff expectations have reached new heights.
12. DeWanna Bonner- Connecticut Sun
DeWanna Bonner was a great pickup last season for the Connecticut Sun, as she leads the team in scoring (19.7 points) and second in rebounding (7.8 rebounds). She also meshed well with Alyssa Thomas, making a solid frontcourt for the Sun. While Thomas is recovering from an Achilles injury this season, this gives Bonner an opportunity to dominate more in the frontcourt and still be in the high rankings of defensive players.
13. Diamond DeShields - Chicago Sky
Although Diamond DeShields only played 13 games in 2020 and had to depart the 2020 season with an injury, her comeback will be amazing to watch this season, especially more with her and Parker on the same team at Chicago. In her 2019 sophomore season, she averaged 16.2 points per game and was a WNBA All-Star. Now going into the 2021 season healthy, the Sky will get back a DeShields that's explosive at the rim, athletic and elite up and down the court.
14. Chennedy Carter - Atlanta Dream
Coming out of Texas A&M, Chennedy Carter her swift, tough guard play to Atlanta, averaging 17.4 points per game her rookie. However, the Dream missing the playoffs and miss six games due to an ankle injury played a key part in Carter missing out on being Rookie of The Year, despite impressive numbers. Now in her sophomore campaign, Chennedy can be a stronger player for the Dream, with hopes to get to the playoffs. She can also continue her scoring bursts, as her 35 points against Seattle, last season made her become the youngest WA player to score 30 or more points in a game (21 years, 9 months).
15. Dearica Hamby - Las Vegas Aces
Dearica Hamby won WNBA Sixth Woman of The Year for the second consecutive time last season, averaging 13 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.68 steals coming off the bench. On top of being a supermom in the bubble, Hamby was also was super for the Aces, ranking sixth in the WNBA in goal field percentage (53.9) and three-point percentage (47.4). This season can be a historic one, as she is set up to be the Sixth Woman of The Year three times in a row, or move up to starting lineup, is well-deserving for Dearica who improves every year in shooting and scoring.
16. Jewell Loyd - Seattle Storm
Jewell Loyd has been making drastic improvements in her development that helped the Storm sweep in the 2020 Finals. During the Finals in the bubble, Loyd averaged 17.8 points, shooting 63% from the field. Loyd this season will be looking to be playing an even bigger role for the Storm defensively after the departure of Alysha Clark, as well maintain her scoring that makes up a lot of the Storm's elite offensive.
17. Aari McDonald - Atlanta Dream
After languishing at the bottom of the draft board for a while, Arizona Aari McDonald's outstanding NCAA Tournament performance propelled her to the No. 3 overall pick by the Atlanta Dream. McDonald not only has incredible speed and can score in a variety of ways, but she is also an excellent defender for a 5-foot-6 point guard, holding UConn Paige Bueckers to 38% shooting in the women's semifinals. Many WNBA fans are excited to see Aari McDonald team up with Atlanta Dream guard Chennedy Carter, who was a standout player at Texas A&M for her speed and athleticism.
18. Satou Sabally - Dallas Wings
Satou Sabally was impressive as a rookie last season for the Wings, averaging 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team. She is a talented forward that can make plays, as well as finish in the paint strong with both hands. Most likely playing alongside Charli Collier in the frontcourt for Dallas, Sabally is a young defensive to watch if she continues to dominate the paint and improve her shooting.
19. Kristi Toliver- Los Angeles Sparks
Kristi Toliver is making a return to the Los Angeles Sparks after spending the last three seasons with the Mystics, as well as winning a championship. The veteran will make a positive impact again for Los Angeles, as she still's lethal with the ball from her hands and making perimeter shots. Shooting a career-high 49 percent last season, Toliver can improve her scoring and add more offensive variety to the Sparks.
20. Charli Collier- Dallas Wings
Former Texas forward Charli Collier was selected No.1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2021 WNBA Draft. At 19-year-old, Collier has the size and athleticism to be WNBA-ready.
She is also a skilled scorer from close range. Collier averaged 19 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 51.1 percent her junior year at Texas. She'll join a young team led by Arike Ogunbowale, the league's leading scorer last season, and Satou Sallaby, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 Draft.
21. Kia Nurse - Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury picked up Kia Nurse from the New York Liberty in the 2020 free agency period. Nurse, a great shooter will fit seamlessly into the Mercury with other great shooters and scorers like Skylar Diggins-Smith. She is one of only eight players who has made 30 or more threes in each of the last three seasons. Nurse is shooting a career 30 percent from three, as well as 86.9 percent from the free-throw line. Being a part of the Mercury will add lots of value to a team that finished second in the WNBA in total threes last season (185).
22. Aerial Powers- Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota addressed their perimeter shooting woes by adding the two-way wing, who averaged 16.3 points per game, shooting 46 percent from three in six games during the 2020 season before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. Her sharp-shooting was a plus in Washington during their 2019 championship run, and will surely be a plus for the Lynx lead by Collier. A dynamic scorer and an excellent three-point shooter, Powers can be the key to the Lynx making it deep in the playoffs.
23. Courtney Vandersloot - Chicago Sky
Courtney Vandersloot has been a great contribution to the Chicago Sky, from her great play-making abilities and shooting. Vandersloot broke the WNBA season in 2020 for the most assists per game (10). She also averaged a career-high 39 percent from the three-point range. Now that Candace Parker's in the lineup, it'll be something to watch Vandersloot and Parker create great plays on the court.
24. Kysre Gondrezick - Indiana Fever
Kysre Gondrezick made headlines as she was selected No.4 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2021 Draft, many expecting her to be a second or third-round pick. Gondrezick had a solid senior year at West Virginia, averaging 19.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals. While the Fever already has an elite guard in Kelsey Mitchell, Gondrezick can add lots of value in the backcourt, as she's a swift play-maker and a strong shooter (36.4 three-point percent).
25. Micaela Kelly - Connecticut Sun
Central Michigan senior guard Micaela Kelly was selected 21st overall by the Connecticut Sun, becoming the second player in school history to be picked in the draft.
Kelly set major records at Central Michigan, finishing second all-time in scoring (2,173 points) and setting a program record of 23.9 points per game in the regular season. Connecticut adds an athletic and dynamic guard to its roster. Kelly is also an excellent rebounder who can play both on and off the ball offensively.
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