Some kind of WNBA off-season this has been, right? Two super-teams formed on opposite coasts. A couple of legends, Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, left the game for good, and another legend, Brittney Griner, will get reintegrated into the league. That’s without mentioning the fresh crop of talent entering following Monday’s draft. It’s all made the upcoming season (which begins May 19) that much more anticipated. With free agency in the rearview mirror and the draft in the books, the 2023 season is within arms’ reach. It’s now safe to project.
Shall we?
A word on the rookies
Any surprises? Although it became apparent throughout the year that Haley Jones wasn’t going to be a top three pick, I still can’t come to grips with the fact that she slid to Atlanta at No. 6. Nevertheless, Jones ends up in a good situation, where she’ll join Rhyne Howard, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, to help the Dream rebuild.
Speaking of ROTY, is it too early to talk about awards? I like to look ahead, but trying to project awards before training camps feels wrong. Yet, I’m here for going against the grain.
There’s no true pattern when it comes to the WNBA’s rookie award. The winners have ranged from No. 1 overall picks to second-rounders. So while the obvious candidates are players like…
