Top Five WNBA Sophomores to watch in 2021
Ranking the top second year players in the WNBA entering the 2021 season
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The WNBA is entering a historic 25th season, and the competition has never been higher. With the season just around the corner, it is time to look forward to some of the young rising talent that the league currently has. After their rookie seasons took place in the WNBA bubble environment last season, there are some excellent players entering their second year in the league. There are so many WNBA sophomores, but a few have separated themselves from everyone else. Five sophomores in particular stand out. All sophomores are talented and have the ability to have a very special season. Listed below are the top five sophomores primed for a big season.
Sabrina Ionescu - Guard - New York Liberty
Sabrina Ionescu tops the WNBA sophomores list because of her skills as a point guard as well as her ability to rack up triple-doubles. In college, she left as the all-time NCAA leader among women in triple-doubles with 26, 14 more than the second player on the list. No other younger player entering the league this season has higher expectations placed on them. There will be more eyes on her to see what parts of her game she improved upon during the WNBA off-season. She averaged 18.3 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game and 4.0 assists per game, before an injury derailed her promising rookie season. Ionescu is now the franchise star for the Liberty and she will get to play alongside WNBA veterans Natasha Howard, Sami Whitcomb, Rebecca Allen, etc. Those WNBA veterans will help Sabrina Ionescu shine and be the top WNBA sophomore to watch.
Chennedy Carter - Guard - Atlanta Dream
Chennedy Carter is the second WNBA sophomore to watch because of her style of play as well as her ability to score. She plays with a certain flair which is fun to watch and she is only going to get better. Carter is coming off a terrific rookie season for the Atlanta Dream. She averaged 17.4 points per game and shot 47.3% from mid-range. Last season, she only had three games in which she failed to score double digits in. Her ability to score in such a unique way sets her apart from the other WNBA sophomores. This is why she is the second WNBA sophomore to watch entering the 2021 season.
Satou Sabally - Forward - Dallas Wings
Satou Sabally can play multiple positions and is on the list because she makes it look easy. Her ability to defend also makes her stand out. Sabally averaged 13.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game last season. She had five games with double-doubles. Sabally is currently playing for Turkish superpower, Fenerbahçe alongside WNBA veterans Kayla McBride, Jasmine Thomas, Kiah Stokes and Kia Vaughn. Her overseas experience should help her improve and be even better this upcoming season. She will be expected back in May, after the Turkish season wraps up.
Crystal Dangerfield - Minnesota Lynx
Crystal Dangerfield had an outstanding rookie season. Her consistency is what sets her apart and she is on the top WNBA sophomore list because of it. She won the Rookie of the Year honors, after her teammate and fellow UConn alum, Napheesa Collier won it in 2019. She averaged 16.2 points per game and 3.6 assists per game. Dangerfield only failed to score in double digits just twice last season. She was able to help the Lynx by being a scoring threat last season. She was a part of the Lynx team that went to the WNBA Playoffs last year but lost to the defending WNBA champions, the Seattle Storm. It will get tougher for Dangerfield in her sophomore season due to WNBA defenses paying more attention to her, but if there is one player who can handle it, it’s Crystal Dangerfield.
Te’a Cooper - Guard - Los Angeles Sparks
Te’a Cooper comes in as the fifth top WNBA sophomore to watch for this upcoming WNBA season because she was able to make a name for herself during her rookie season. She was drafted in the second round and not only managed to make a roster, but played well during the minutes she was given. So much so, that the Sparks re-signed Cooper to a training camp contract during the WNBA off-season. Cooper showed flashes of what kind of player she was going to be last year and she will get even more opportunity this upcoming season. She will be one of the top 5 WNBA sophomores to watch for because she will be even more improved and show that WNBA second-rounders can make it.
Those are the top five sophomores to keep an eye on during the WNBA season. Some are high draft picks, some are low draft picks who made the most out of their opportunity. Each of the players mentioned above are going to have a strong season as second year players in the WNBA which tips off on May 14th.
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These sophomores are going to be fun to watch