The 29th season of the WNBA kicked off this weekend with an exciting lineup of games. While the early results shouldn’t be taken too seriously, there are some noteworthy observations, especially considering the league has expanded to a 44-game season.
Let’s dive into three of the biggest takeaways from the weekend.
Paige Bueckers Faces Fierce Competition
Entering her rookie season, Paige Bueckers comes in as the recent NCAA champion and the top draft pick. As she geared up for her debut with the Dallas Wings, the Rookie of the Year talk was already heating up.
On paper, she certainly has a compelling case. Bueckers is a phenomenal shooter and passer, and her basketball IQ has an immediate impact on her team. Many consider her to be the standout talent of the draft. Yet, with the early performances from other rookies, it seems that the Rookie of the Year honor may not be so clear-cut.
The Washington Mystics had quite the weekend, finishing with a surprising 2-0 record in their first two games. They were projected to be one of the league’s lottery teams, making their victories even more impressive. They edged out the Atlanta Dream in a close matchup and later secured a more decisive win against the Connecticut Sun. However, perhaps most noteworthy were the standout performances from their rookies.
Washington selected Sonia Citron, Kiki Iliafen, and Georgia Amoore in the first round of last month’s draft. While Amoore is unfortunately sidelined with an ACL injury, Citron and Iliafen have quickly made their mark. In her debut against Atlanta, Citron tallied 19 points, two rebounds, and two assists, hitting all her three-point attempts. She followed that up with another strong showing, scoring 15 points along with a few assists and steals over the weekend.
Iriafen had a rocky start, only scoring four points in her debut and getting into foul trouble, which can be a common hurdle for rookies. However, she rebounded nicely against the Sun, scoring 17 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, shooting an impressive 70 percent from the field. Given the state of Washington’s roster, it seems these rookies will have ample opportunity to shine and could easily enter Rookie of the Year conversations.
As for Bueckers, she made a solid debut with 10 points, seven rebounds, and a block against Minnesota, although her shooting was a bit off at 30%. It’s tough to gauge her performance after just one game, especially since she hasn’t yet played a second game like the Mystics. It’ll be interesting to see how her team dynamic evolves under their new coach, Chris Cochrane.
It’s still early, but I suspect that Citron, Iliafen, and Bueckers will all be in the conversation for Rookie of the Year this season.
Napheesa Collier’s MVP Candidacy
The MVP race is shaping up to be a highly competitive one this season. Last year, A’ja Wilson seemed to secure her spot quite early, but this time Napheesa Collier is making a strong case as well. Last season, Wilson averaged an impressive 26.9 points per game, and she appears to be maintaining that level of performance this year.
In her first game against Dallas, Collier scored 34 points and contributed four rebounds and four assists, helping the Minnesota Lynx to a dominant 99-84 victory. Her next outing against the LA Sparks saw her add 23 points, along with six rebounds, and assisting in another win for the Lynx. On the other hand, Wilson had a solid opening game with 31 points but faced a loss to New York.
When MVP voting rolls around, team records often become decisive factors, which could complicate matters between Collier and Wilson.
New York Liberty Shows Improvement
The New York Liberty appears to be stronger this season, perhaps even better than last. Last year, they spent a significant portion of the season at the top of the standings before eventually winning the championship. The offseason saw them acquire notable players like Natasha Cloud while re-signing Marine Johannes after her absence.
Admittedly, they’ve been challenged by injuries, such as the one affecting Vietniya Rainey Hamilton, yet the team is building resilience and looks primed to defend their title.
Cloud seems to energize the team, bringing enthusiasm on and off the court. Players often thrive in a positive environment, and Cloud’s impact was clear in her home debut, where she scored 22 points, alongside several rebounds and assists.
Breanna Stewart also demonstrated her readiness by scoring 25 points while shooting 71% from the field in the same game.
Overall, the Liberty’s impressive win over the Ace showcases their potential this season. Their defense and strategic adjustments allowed them to focus on limiting Wilson’s support players, which proved effective as they managed to contain others like Jackie Young.
If New York maintains this momentum, they could very well be on track to dominate the WNBA again this year.
