One of the wonderful things about the WNBA, like all of basketball, is the diversity of ways that players can achieve success.
For instance, last Sunday, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson passed newly-minted Hall of Famer Becky Hammon for the second-most points in Utah Starzz/San Antonio (Silver) Stars/Las Vegas Aces franchise history. The 6-foot-4 Wilson thrives on close-range face ups and post ups, accumulating and-1s due to her combination of power and finesse. The 5-foot-6 Hammon, in contrast, relied on a sweet stroke from deep and cunning contortions in the paint to overcome her apparent physical limitations and still get buckets.
An under-appreciated distinction between the different players that populate the W is how they navigate the 94 feet of hardwood. Or simply, how they run. As a former runner, I find the stylistic nuances of how players carry themselves up and down the court, both with and without the ball, fascinating.
Here’s a look at five players whose on-court sprints, jogs, skips and ambles capture the WNBA’s spectrum of athletic characteristics:
Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)
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